We measure how the world's news covered people being harmed — and the help and hope within it.
19 of its 27 stories (70%) were about people being harmed, usually 23%. Presov accounted for 15 of Slovakia's 19 stories about harm, carried by 52 outlets. Reports of people affected ran at about 6 times the usual rate (7 stories). Gas explosion was named in 17 of its stories about harm, about 7 times usual.
185 of its 218 stories (85%) were about people being harmed, usually 65%. Baghdad accounted for 131 of Iraq's 185 stories about harm, carried by 319 outlets. 125 of Baghdad's 131 stories were about protests or strikes. Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.
1,386 of its 4,313 stories (32%) were about people being harmed, usually 18%. Reports of abductions ran at about 4 times the usual rate (59 stories). Tsunami was named in 26 of its stories about harm, about 9 times usual, with poisoning. Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.
263 of its 512 stories (51%) were about people being harmed, usually 17%. Reports of people injured ran at more than ten times the usual rate (159 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.
105 of its 251 stories (42%) were about people being harmed, usually 28%. Reports of people killed ran at about twice the usual rate (66 stories). Building collapse was named in 11 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual, with drownings. Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's. Anger in its coverage rose to about twice its own usual.
90 of its 331 stories (27%) were about people being harmed, usually 17%. Reports of people injured ran at about 5 times the usual rate (13 stories). Flooding was named in 21 of its stories about harm, about 7 times usual, with heavy rain.
30 of its 76 stories (39%) were about people being harmed, usually 14%. Reports of arrests ran at about 4 times the usual rate (6 stories).
56 of its 348 stories (16%) were about people being harmed, usually 6%. Reports of people killed ran at about three times the usual rate (24 stories).
11 of its 17 stories (65%) were about people being harmed, usually 35%. Reports of people injured ran at about twice the usual rate (5 stories).
9 of its 22 stories (41%) were about people being harmed, usually 17%. Reports of arrests ran at about twice the usual rate (5 stories).
Also named far more than usual: earthquake in Armenia (16 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); flooding in New Zealand (21 of its stories, about 7 times its usual); road crashes in Thailand (13 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); hypothermia in Spain (16 of its stories, about 8 times its usual); storms in Ireland (19 of its stories, more than ten times its usual).
Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 7 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 12,837 stories about harm among 65,295 counted on 7 Dec.
Slovakia's news was 70% about people being harmed, against a usual 23%. For the second day running, the news turned to Slovakia. Stories about people being harmed made up 20 in every 100 of the day's 65,295 stories, above the usual 17. On 7 December 2018, a year earlier, the share was 18 in every 100, against 20 today.
Written by code from the day's numbers.
Countries with at least 50 stories that day.
Stories, not people.
Each country shaded by how much of its news was about people being harmed, against the world's 20 in 100 that day. Stronger colour: further above. A country with few stories is drawn closer to the world's. Click a country.
Stories, not people. Countries with at least 50 stories.
Of the stories about people being harmed, what part of life each was about. The mark is usual.
Stories that report it, not people: we count what reporters wrote, not what happened.
The words in the day's stories were much harsher than usual. Filled dot: today. Ring: usual.
From the words reporters used across the whole day, never one story. Fear is the weakest of the four measures. How?
Unlock a year of trends, free. Follow up to 5 countries, with a bell when their news changes, and 👍 vote for Pro — ten years of the archive, any period, daily alerts.
Create a free accountSign in · a username, an email and a password.