← 30 Nov Sunday 1 December 2019 · to 23:59 UTC 2 Dec →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
11,661 stories about harm· Trends· Every past day

We measure how the world's news covered people being harmed — and the help and hope within it.

How to read these numbers →

Protests in Tsim Sha Tsui (Hong Kong), wildfires in Brazil and deaths in Tunis drew the news. the UK's coverage was about twice as fearful as the world's. Across the world, the tone of the words was much harsher than usual.

Reports of people injured ran at about twice the usual rate, most often about the UK and the US → Help and hope: reports of people freed or reunited ran at about three times the usual rate →
Part of lifeRights & justice 27 in 100 of the stories about harm · less than usual Country that rose mostMalta 68 in 100 of its 188 stories, usually 30
RegionLatin America & Caribbean 35 in 100 of its stories, usually 27
Tone of the words Much harsher than usual across the world's stories about harm

What the world's news was about today

how these are picked →
Protests & strikes

Hong Kong

142 of its 224 stories (63%) were about people being harmed, usually 41%. Tsim Sha Tsui accounted for 106 of Hong Kong's 142 stories about harm, carried by 325 outlets. 106 of Tsim Sha Tsui's 106 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of arrests ran at about twice the usual rate (59 stories). Landslides were named in 12 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual. Its coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's.

Hong Kong over 30 days → its stories → Tsim Sha Tsui stories →
Disasters & accidents

Brazil

90 of its 202 stories (45%) were about people being harmed, usually 17%. Reports of people injured ran at about 7 times the usual rate (5 stories). Wildfires were named in 28 of its stories about harm, about 4 times usual. Its coverage was about one and a half times as warm as the world's.

Brazil over 30 days → its stories →
Deaths & injuries, cause not given

Tunisia

32 of its 62 stories (52%) were about people being harmed, usually 21%. Tunis accounted for 25 of Tunisia's 32 stories about harm, carried by 53 outlets. Reports of people injured ran at more than ten times the usual rate (22 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.

Tunisia over 30 days → its stories → Tunis stories →
Conflict & violence

UK

1,160 of its 4,104 stories (28%) were about people being harmed, usually 18%. Reports of people injured ran at about 9 times the usual rate (378 stories). Typhoon was named in 14 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual. Its coverage was about twice as fearful as the world's. Anger in its coverage rose to about twice its own usual.

UK over 30 days → its stories →
6 more places the news pointed at
Protests & strikes

Malta

127 of its 188 stories (68%) were about people being harmed, usually 30%. Valletta accounted for 95 of Malta's 127 stories about harm, carried by 315 outlets. 66 of Valletta's 95 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of arrests ran at about twice the usual rate (38 stories). Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's. Anger in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

its stories →
Protests & strikes

Iraq

188 of its 257 stories (73%) were about people being harmed, usually 66%. Baghdad accounted for 126 of Iraq's 188 stories about harm, carried by 440 outlets. 120 of Baghdad's 126 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of arrests ran at about three times the usual rate (19 stories). Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.

its stories →
Disasters & accidents

Namibia

30 of its 70 stories (43%) were about people being harmed, usually 21%. Reports of arrests ran at about three times the usual rate (14 stories). Drought was named in 14 of its stories about harm, about 4 times usual. Its coverage was about one and a half times as warm as the world's.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Mexico

184 of its 327 stories (56%) were about people being harmed, usually 32%. Reports of people injured ran at about three times the usual rate (50 stories). Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's. Fear in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Netherlands

57 of its 156 stories (37%) were about people being harmed, usually 18%. Reports of arrests ran at about 5 times the usual rate (27 stories). Its coverage was about twice as fearful as the world's.

its stories →
Rights & justice

South Africa

141 of its 370 stories (38%) were about people being harmed, usually 22%. Reports of people injured ran at about twice the usual rate (9 stories). Fear in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: typhoon in Philippines (32 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); drought in Namibia (14 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); illness in Bangladesh (17 of its stories, about three times its usual); snowstorms in US (402 of its stories, about 9 times its usual); house fires in Canada (13 of its stories, about 4 times its usual).

21 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 17; 20 the day before
21 in 10016 in 1002 Nov9 Nov16 Nov23 Nov1 Dec2 Nov: 18 in 1003 Nov: 18 in 1004 Nov: 16 in 1005 Nov: 16 in 1006 Nov: 16 in 1007 Nov: 16 in 1008 Nov: 16 in 1009 Nov: 17 in 10010 Nov: 18 in 10011 Nov: 17 in 10012 Nov: 17 in 10013 Nov: 17 in 10014 Nov: 17 in 10015 Nov: 17 in 10016 Nov: 18 in 10017 Nov: 18 in 10018 Nov: 17 in 10019 Nov: 17 in 10020 Nov: 16 in 10021 Nov: 16 in 10022 Nov: 16 in 10023 Nov: 17 in 10024 Nov: 19 in 10025 Nov: 17 in 10026 Nov: 18 in 10027 Nov: 18 in 10028 Nov: 18 in 10029 Nov: 17 in 10030 Nov: 20 in 1001 Dec: 21 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 1 Dec. The big dot is this day; the shaded band is a normal day (the 30 days before it). Click a day to open it. Based on 11,661 stories about harm among 55,906 counted on 1 Dec.

Read the day's briefing

It was the highest share of stories about people being harmed since 21 September 2019. On the side of help, reports of people freed or reunited ran at about three times the usual rate. Reports of people injured ran at about twice the usual rate, most often about the UK and the US. 21 in every 100 of the day's 55,906 news stories were about people being harmed, above the usual 17. This week the news turned most often to Congo, on 3 of 7 days; help rose on 3 of them. Over November, 17 in every 100 stories were about people being harmed, against 20 in November 2018.

Written by code from the day's numbers.

Where harm was most of the news all →

Iraq73 in 100 of its 257 stories · usually 66 · mostly rights & justice Malta68 in 100 of its 188 stories · usually 30 · mostly conflict & violence Syria65 in 100 of its 82 stories · usually 61 · mostly conflict & violence Hong Kong63 in 100 of its 224 stories · usually 41 · mostly rights & justice Mexico56 in 100 of its 327 stories · usually 32 · mostly conflict & violence

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

Baghdad Iraq120 stories about protests or strikes, of its 126 Tsim Sha Tsui Hong Kong106 stories about protests or strikes, of its 106 Hyderabad India73 stories about protests or strikes, of its 159 Valletta Malta66 stories about protests or strikes, of its 95 Washington US52 stories about protests or strikes, of its 226

Stories, not people.

Where the news was warmest

feelings in full →
Feelings Events Harm Warmth
Zimbabwe: about as warm as its own usual or lessZambia: about as warm as its own usual or lessYemen: about as warm as its own usual or lessVietnam: about as warm as its own usual or lessVenezuela: about as warm as its own usual or lessVanuatu: too little coverage to readUzbekistan: about as warm as its own usual or lessUruguay: about as warm as its own usual or lessMicronesia: about as warm as its own usual or lessU.S. Virgin Islands: about as warm as its own usual or lessGuam: about as warm as its own usual or lessPuerto Rico: too little coverage to readUnited States: too little coverage to readSouth Georgia & South Sandwich Islands: too little coverage to readFalkland Islands: too little coverage to readCayman Islands: too little coverage to readIsle of Man: too little coverage to readUnited Kingdom: about as warm as its own usual or lessUnited Arab Emirates: about as warm as its own usual or lessUkraine: about as warm as its own usual or lessUganda: about as warm as its own usual or lessTurkmenistan: about as warm as its own usual or lessTurkey: about as warm as its own usual or lessTunisia: about as warm as its own usual or lessTrinidad & Tobago: about as warm as its own usual or lessTonga: too little coverage to readTogo: too little coverage to readTimor-Leste: too little coverage to readThailand: too little coverage to readTanzania: about as warm as its own usual or lessTajikistan: too little coverage to readTaiwan: about as warm as its own usual or lessSyria: about as warm as its own usual or lessSwitzerland: about as warm as its own usual or lessSweden: about as warm as its own usual or lessEswatini: about as warm as its own usual or lessSuriname: about as warm as its own usual or lessSouth Sudan: about as warm as its own usual or lessSudan: about as warm as its own usual or lessSri Lanka: about as warm as its own usual or lessSpain: about as warm as its own usual or lessSouth Korea: about as warm as its own usual or lessSouth Africa: about as warm as its own usual or lessSomalia: about as warm as its own usual or lessSomaliland: too little coverage to readSolomon Islands: about as warm as its own usual or lessSlovakia: about as warm as its own usual or lessSlovenia: too little coverage to readSingapore: about as warm as its own usual or lessSierra Leone: about as warm as its own usual or lessSeychelles: about as warm as its own usual or lessSerbia: too little coverage to readSenegal: about as warm as its own usual or lessSaudi Arabia: about as warm as its own usual or lessSão Tomé: too little coverage to readSamoa: about as warm as its own usual or lessSt Vincent: too little coverage to readSt. Lucia: too little coverage to readRwanda: about as warm as its own usual or lessRussia: about as warm as its own usual or lessRomania: about as warm as its own usual or lessQatar: about as warm as its own usual or lessPortugal: about as warm as its own usual or lessPoland: about as warm as its own usual or lessPhilippines: about as warm as its own usual or lessPeru: about as warm as its own usual or lessParaguay: too little coverage to readPapua New Guinea: about as warm as its own usual or lessPanama: about as warm as its own usual or lessPalau: too little coverage to readPakistan: about as warm as its own usual or lessOman: too little coverage to readNorway: about as warm as its own usual or lessNorth Korea: about as warm as its own usual or lessNigeria: about as warm as its own usual or lessNiger: too little coverage to readNicaragua: about as warm as its own usual or lessNew Zealand: about as warm as its own usual or lessNiue: too little coverage to readNetherlands: about as warm as its own usual or lessCuraçao: too little coverage to readNepal: about as warm as its own usual or lessMozambique: about as warm as its own usual or lessMorocco: about as warm as its own usual or lessWestern Sahara: about as warm as its own usual or lessMontenegro: too little coverage to readMongolia: about as warm as its own usual or lessMoldova: too little coverage to readMexico: about as warm as its own usual or lessMauritius: about as warm as its own usual or lessMauritania: too little coverage to readMalta: about as warm as its own usual or lessMali: about as warm as its own usual or lessMalaysia: about as warm as its own usual or lessMalawi: about as warm as its own usual or lessMadagascar: too little coverage to readNorth Macedonia: about as warm as its own usual or lessLuxembourg: about as warm as its own usual or lessLithuania: about as warm as its own usual or lessLibya: about as warm as its own usual or lessLiberia: about as warm as its own usual or lessLesotho: too little coverage to readLebanon: about as warm as its own usual or lessLatvia: about as warm as its own usual or lessLaos: about as warm as its own usual or lessKyrgyzstan: too little coverage to readKuwait: about as warm as its own usual or lessKosovo: too little coverage to readKiribati: too little coverage to readKenya: about as warm as its own usual or lessKazakhstan: too little coverage to readJordan: about as warm as its own usual or lessJapan: about as warm as its own usual or lessJamaica: about as warm as its own usual or lessIsrael: about as warm as its own usual or lessPalestine: about as warm as its own usual or lessIreland: about as warm as its own usual or lessIraq: about as warm as its own usual or lessIran: about as warm as its own usual or lessIndonesia: about as warm as its own usual or lessIndia: about as warm as its own usual or lessIceland: too little coverage to readHungary: about as warm as its own usual or lessHonduras: too little coverage to readHaiti: about as warm as its own usual or lessGuyana: about as warm as its own usual or lessGuinea-Bissau: too little coverage to readGuinea: about as warm as its own usual or lessGuatemala: about as warm as its own usual or lessGrenada: too little coverage to readGreece: about as warm as its own usual or lessGhana: about as warm as its own usual or lessGermany: about as warm as its own usual or lessGeorgia: about as warm as its own usual or lessGambia: about as warm as its own usual or lessGabon: too little coverage to readFrance: about as warm as its own usual or lessSt Pierre & Miquelon: too little coverage to readFrench Polynesia: too little coverage to readNew Caledonia: about as warm as its own usual or lessFrench Southern Territories: too little coverage to readÅland Islands: too little coverage to readFinland: about as warm as its own usual or lessFiji: too little coverage to readEthiopia: about as warm as its own usual or lessEstonia: about as warm as its own usual or lessEritrea: about as warm as its own usual or lessEquatorial Guinea: too little coverage to readEl Salvador: about as warm as its own usual or lessEgypt: about as warm as its own usual or lessEcuador: about as warm as its own usual or lessDominican Republic: about as warm as its own usual or lessDominica: too little coverage to readDjibouti: too little coverage to readGreenland: too little coverage to readFaroe Islands: too little coverage to readDenmark: about as warm as its own usual or lessCzech Republic: too little coverage to readN. Cyprus: too little coverage to readCyprus: about as warm as its own usual or lessCuba: about as warm as its own usual or lessCroatia: too little coverage to readCôte d'Ivoire: about as warm as its own usual or lessCosta Rica: too little coverage to readDR Congo: about as warm as its own usual or lessCongo: about as warm as its own usual or lessComoros: about as warm as its own usual or lessColombia: about as warm as its own usual or lessChina: about as warm as its own usual or lessChile: about as warm as its own usual or lessChad: about as warm as its own usual or lessCentral African Republic: about as warm as its own usual or lessCape Verde: too little coverage to readCanada: about as warm as its own usual or lessCameroon: about as warm as its own usual or lessCambodia: about as warm as its own usual or lessMyanmar: about as warm as its own usual or lessBurundi: about as warm as its own usual or lessBurkina Faso: about as warm as its own usual or lessBulgaria: too little coverage to readBrunei: too little coverage to readBotswana: about as warm as its own usual or lessBosnia and Herzegovina: too little coverage to readBolivia: about as warm as its own usual or lessBhutan: too little coverage to readBenin: too little coverage to readBelize: too little coverage to readBelgium: about as warm as its own usual or lessBelarus: too little coverage to readBarbados: about as warm as its own usual or lessBahrain: about as warm as its own usual or lessBahamas: about as warm as its own usual or lessAzerbaijan: too little coverage to readAustria: about as warm as its own usual or lessHeard & McDonald Islands: too little coverage to readArmenia: about as warm as its own usual or lessArgentina: about as warm as its own usual or lessAntigua & Barbuda: about as warm as its own usual or lessAngola: about as warm as its own usual or lessAndorra: too little coverage to readAlgeria: about as warm as its own usual or lessAlbania: about as warm as its own usual or lessJammu & Kashmir: too little coverage to readAksai Chin: about as warm as its own usual or lessGaza: about as warm as its own usual or lessWest Bank: about as warm as its own usual or lessWestern Sahara (Moroccan-controlled): about as warm as its own usual or lessWestern Sahara (Free Zone): about as warm as its own usual or lessAzad Kashmir & Gilgit-Baltistan: too little coverage to readSiachen Glacier: too little coverage to readCrimea: about as warm as its own usual or lessEast Jerusalem: about as warm as its own usual or lessAzad Kashmir & Gilgit-Baltistan: too little coverage to readVatican City: too little coverage to readMarshall Islands: too little coverage to readNorthern Mariana Islands: too little coverage to readAmerican Samoa: too little coverage to readChagos Islands: too little coverage to readSt. Helena: too little coverage to readPitcairn: too little coverage to readAnguilla: too little coverage to readBermuda: too little coverage to readBritish Virgin Islands: about as warm as its own usual or lessTurks & Caicos Islands: too little coverage to readMontserrat: about as warm as its own usual or lessJersey: too little coverage to readGuernsey: too little coverage to readSan Marino: too little coverage to readSt Kitts & Nevis: about as warm as its own usual or lessCook Islands: too little coverage to readAruba: too little coverage to readNauru: too little coverage to readMonaco: about as warm as its own usual or lessMaldives: about as warm as its own usual or lessLiechtenstein: too little coverage to readWallis & Futuna: too little coverage to readSt. Martin: too little coverage to readSt. Barthélemy: too little coverage to readMacao: about as warm as its own usual or lessNorfolk Island: about as warm as its own usual or lessSint Maarten: too little coverage to readChristmas Island: too little coverage to readGibraltar: too little coverage to readMayotte: too little coverage to readNamibia: warmth about its own usualItaly: warmth about its own usualHong Kong: warmth about its own usualBrazil: warmth about one and a half times its own usualBangladesh: warmth about its own usualAustralia: warmth about its own usualAfghanistan: warmth about its own usualBrasilia, Brazil -- disasters & accidents: 17 stories, carried by 108 outletsWagga Wagga, Australia -- rights & justice: 10 stories, carried by 39 outletsWindhoek, Namibia -- conflict & violence: 12 stories, carried by 15 outletsKabul, Afghanistan -- conflict & violence: 51 stories, carried by 49 outletsMichigan, US -- health: 12 stories, carried by 16 outletsWinnipeg, Canada -- disasters & accidents: 10 stories, carried by 19 outletsNasiriyah, Iraq -- rights & justice: 14 stories, carried by 24 outletsAnn Arbor, US -- rights & justice: 10 stories, carried by 11 outlets
Warmer than its own usual The warmest eventsAbout as warm or lessToo little news

Each country shaded by the warmth in its news — care, help, gratitude — against its own last 30 days. Stronger colour: further above. Dots: the events whose coverage carried the most warmth, even where the event itself began as harm. Warm words, not good outcomes. Click a country or a dot.

Warmest news

● Brazil warmth about one and a half times usual

Warmest events

● Brasilia Brazil about twice as warm as the day's news · disasters & accidents · 17 stories ● Wagga Wagga Australia about twice as warm as the day's news · rights & justice · 10 stories ● Windhoek Namibia about twice as warm as the day's news · conflict & violence · 12 stories ● Kabul Afghanistan about one and a half times as warm as the day's news · conflict & violence · 51 stories ● Michigan US about one and a half times as warm as the day's news · health · 12 stories

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Rights & justice27% 3,131 stories · less than usual (usually 30%) Disasters & accidents23% 2,609 stories · much more than usual (usually 18%) Health19% 2,127 stories · much less than usual (usually 24%) Conflict & violence19% 2,126 stories · more than usual (usually 14%) Deaths & injuries, cause not given5% 568 stories · about as usual Shelter & services4% 469 stories · about as usual Displacement2% 259 stories · about as usual Food & livelihood2% 199 stories · about as usual

Of the stories about people being harmed, what part of life each was about. The mark is usual.

Harm reported 30 days →

Stories reporting people killed3,395 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about the US and the UK Stories reporting arrests1,403 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people injured1,315 at about twice the usual rate · most about the UK and the US Stories reporting people affected1,236 at about the usual rate Stories reporting refugees137 at about the usual rate Stories reporting abductions131 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about Australia and India Stories reporting evacuations102 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about the US and the UK Stories reporting people displaced69 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people falling ill10 at about half the usual rate · most about Brazil and the US

Stories that report it, not people: we count what reporters wrote, not what happened.

How it felt 30 days →

harshwarm

The words in the day's stories were much harsher than usual. Filled dot: today. Ring: usual.

● Angera little more than usual
● Warmthabout as usual
● Griefa little more than usual
● Fearabout as usual

From the words reporters used across the whole day, never one story. Fear is the weakest of the four measures. How?

The weekly briefing · 19 Oct – 25 Oct

The week in human impact

Read the week →

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How to read these numbers →

These are counts of stories, not counts of suffering. Most of what happens to people is never reported at all.