← 7 Dec Sunday 8 December 2019 · to 23:59 UTC 9 Dec →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
10,714 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 →

Most of the day's attention went to protests in Causeway Bay (Hong Kong), a disaster in Delhi and building collapse in Kenya. Hong Kong's coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's. Across the world, the tone of the words was much harsher than usual.

Part of lifeRights & justice 30 in 100 of the stories about harm · about as usual Country that rose mostSaudi Arabia 38 in 100 of its 547 stories, usually 19
RegionSouth Asia 34 in 100 of its stories, usually 22
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

112 of its 194 stories (58%) were about people being harmed, usually 42%. Causeway Bay accounted for 82 of Hong Kong's 112 stories about harm, carried by 318 outlets. 79 of Causeway Bay's 82 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of arrests ran at about three times the usual rate (74 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's.

Hong Kong over 30 days → its stories → Causeway Bay stories →
Rights & justice

India

1,287 of its 3,589 stories (36%) were about people being harmed, usually 18%. Delhi accounted for 550 of India's 1,287 stories about harm, carried by 906 outlets. Reports of people injured ran at about 5 times the usual rate (218 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.

India over 30 days → its stories → Delhi stories →
Disasters & accidents

Kenya

78 of its 218 stories (36%) were about people being harmed, usually 28%. Reports of people injured ran at about 4 times the usual rate (11 stories). Building collapse was named in 14 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual. Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's. Anger in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

Kenya over 30 days → its stories →
Conflict & violence

Saudi Arabia

207 of its 547 stories (38%) were about people being harmed, usually 19%. Reports of people injured ran at about 7 times the usual rate (118 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's. Grief in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

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

Iraq

91 of its 120 stories (76%) were about people being harmed, usually 65%. Baghdad accounted for 61 of Iraq's 91 stories about harm, carried by 73 outlets. 57 of Baghdad's 61 stories were about protests or strikes. Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's. Fear in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

its stories →
Protests & strikes

China

221 of its 998 stories (22%) were about people being harmed, usually 16%. 63 of Beijing's 95 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of people injured ran at about 5 times the usual rate (29 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.

its stories →
Deaths & injuries, cause not given

Russia

116 of its 498 stories (23%) were about people being harmed, usually 16%. Reports of people displaced ran at about 10 times the usual rate (7 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as warm as the world's.

its stories →
Disasters & accidents

New Zealand

144 of its 582 stories (25%) were about people being harmed, usually 18%. Reports of people injured ran at about three times the usual rate (14 stories). Heavy rain was named in 25 of its stories about harm, about 4 times usual, with landslides.

its stories →
Protests & strikes

Nigeria

339 of its 1,098 stories (31%) were about people being harmed, usually 25%. 66 of Abuja's 91 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of people displaced ran at about 6 times the usual rate (23 stories).

its stories →
Rights & justice

Pakistan

147 of its 496 stories (30%) were about people being harmed, usually 24%. Reports of abductions ran at about three times the usual rate (11 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: storms in Ireland (33 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); polio in Malaysia (23 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); landslides in Uganda (11 of its stories, about 7 times its usual); heavy rain in New Zealand (25 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); earthquake in South Africa (13 of its stories, more than ten times its usual).

19 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 18; 20 the day before
21 in 10016 in 1009 Nov16 Nov23 Nov30 Nov8 Dec9 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 1002 Dec: 18 in 1003 Dec: 17 in 1004 Dec: 16 in 1005 Dec: 17 in 1006 Dec: 18 in 1007 Dec: 20 in 1008 Dec: 19 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 8 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 10,714 stories about harm among 54,949 counted on 8 Dec.

Read the day's briefing

Of the day's 54,949 news stories, 19 in every 100 were about people being harmed, above the usual 18. A year earlier, on 8 December 2018, 19 in every 100 stories were about people being harmed, the same as today. This week the news turned most often to Samoa, on 4 of 7 days; help rose on 1 of them.

Written by code from the day's numbers.

Where harm was most of the news all →

Samoa91 in 100 of its 55 stories · usually 75 · mostly health Iraq76 in 100 of its 120 stories · usually 65 · mostly rights & justice Syria66 in 100 of its 102 stories · usually 62 · mostly conflict & violence Hong Kong58 in 100 of its 194 stories · usually 42 · mostly rights & justice Afghanistan50 in 100 of its 145 stories · usually 56 · mostly conflict & violence

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

Causeway Bay Hong Kong79 stories about protests or strikes, of its 82 Abuja Nigeria66 stories about protests or strikes, of its 91 Beijing China63 stories about protests or strikes, of its 95 Baghdad Iraq57 stories about protests or strikes, of its 61 Delhi India35 stories about protests or strikes, of its 550

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: too little coverage to readU.S. Virgin Islands: too little coverage to readGuam: about as warm as its own usual or lessPuerto Rico: too little coverage to readUnited States: about as warm as its own usual or lessSouth 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 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: about as warm as its own usual or lessTogo: 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: about as warm as its own usual or lessTaiwan: 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: too little coverage to readSuriname: too little coverage to readSouth 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: too little coverage to readSouth 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: too little coverage to readSerbia: 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: about as warm as its own usual or lessRwanda: too little coverage to readRomania: 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: about as warm as its own usual or lessNorway: 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: about as warm as its own usual or lessNicaragua: too little coverage to readNew 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 lessNamibia: 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: too little coverage to readMoldova: too little coverage to readMexico: about as warm as its own usual or lessMauritius: about as warm as its own usual or lessMauritania: about as warm as its own usual or lessMalta: 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: too little coverage to readLibya: 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: too little coverage to readLaos: 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 lessItaly: 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: too little coverage to readIraq: 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: about as warm as its own usual or lessHungary: about as warm as its own usual or lessHonduras: about as warm as its own usual or lessHaiti: 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: too little coverage to readGrenada: 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: too little coverage to readFrench 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: too little coverage to readEquatorial Guinea: too little coverage to readEl Salvador: too little coverage to readEgypt: 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: about as warm as its own usual or lessGreenland: about as warm as its own usual or lessFaroe Islands: too little coverage to readDenmark: about as warm as its own usual or lessCzech Republic: about as warm as its own usual or lessN. Cyprus: too little coverage to readCyprus: about as warm as its own usual or lessCuba: about as warm as its own usual or lessCroatia: about as warm as its own usual or lessCôte 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: too little coverage to readColombia: 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 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 readBrazil: about as warm as its own usual or lessBotswana: too little coverage to readBosnia and Herzegovina: about as warm as its own usual or lessBolivia: about as warm as its own usual or lessBhutan: about as warm as its own usual or lessBenin: about as warm as its own usual or lessBelize: about as warm as its own usual or lessBelgium: about as warm as its own usual or lessBelarus: about as warm as its own usual or lessBarbados: about as warm as its own usual or lessBangladesh: 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: about as warm as its own usual or lessAustria: about as warm as its own usual or lessAustralia: 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: too little coverage to readAntigua & Barbuda: too little coverage to readAngola: 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 lessAfghanistan: about as warm as its own usual or lessJammu & Kashmir: about as warm as its own usual or lessAksai 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: about as warm as its own usual or lessSiachen Glacier: about as warm as its own usual or lessEast Jerusalem: about as warm as its own usual or lessAzad Kashmir & Gilgit-Baltistan: about as warm as its own usual or lessVatican City: too little coverage to readMarshall Islands: about as warm as its own usual or lessNorthern 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: too little coverage to readTurks & Caicos Islands: too little coverage to readMontserrat: too little coverage to readJersey: 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: too little coverage to readMaldives: 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: too little coverage to readSint Maarten: too little coverage to readChristmas Island: too little coverage to readGibraltar: too little coverage to readMayotte: about as warm as its own usual or lessUkraine: warmth about its own usualRussia: warmth about one and a half times its own usualHong Kong: warmth about its own usualMyanmar: warmth about its own usualUkraine: warmth about its own usualFort Rucker, US -- displacement: 13 stories, carried by 155 outletsLas Vegas, US -- health: 11 stories, carried by 142 outletsNaypyitaw, Myanmar -- conflict & violence: 12 stories, carried by 40 outletsKremlin, Russia -- deaths & injuries, cause not given: 71 stories, carried by 113 outletsKyiv, Ukraine -- conflict & violence: 23 stories, carried by 129 outletsMerseyside, UK -- food & livelihood: 17 stories, carried by 12 outletsYorkshire, UK -- health: 11 stories, carried by 87 outletsStockholm, Sweden -- health: 10 stories, carried by 23 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

● Russia warmth about one and a half times usual

Warmest events

● Fort Rucker US about twice as warm as the day's news · displacement · 13 stories ● Las Vegas US about one and a half times as warm as the day's news · health · 11 stories ● Naypyitaw Myanmar about one and a half times as warm as the day's news · conflict & violence · 12 stories ● Kremlin Russia about one and a half times as warm as the day's news · deaths & injuries, cause not given · 71 stories ● Kyiv Ukraine about one and a half times as warm as the day's news · conflict & violence · 23 stories

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Rights & justice30% 3,121 stories · about as usual Disasters & accidents21% 2,194 stories · more than usual (usually 18%) Health18% 1,927 stories · less than usual (usually 23%) Conflict & violence16% 1,658 stories · about as usual Deaths & injuries, cause not given7% 775 stories · about as usual Shelter & services4% 376 stories · about as usual Food & livelihood3% 284 stories · about as usual Displacement2% 226 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 killed3,810 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about the US and India Stories reporting people affected1,238 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about the US and India Stories reporting arrests1,210 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people injured1,079 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about the US and India Stories reporting people displaced134 at about twice the usual rate · most about Nigeria and Syria Stories reporting refugees128 at about the usual rate Stories reporting abductions124 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about India and Nigeria Stories reporting evacuations70 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people falling ill11 at about half the usual rate · most about the US and the United Arab Emirates

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.

● Angerabout as 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.