← 19 Dec Friday 20 December 2019 · to 23:59 UTC 21 Dec →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
19,441 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 illness in Kivu, refugees in Venezuela and protests in Delhi (India). India's coverage was about twice as angry as the world's. In the world's news as a whole, the wording was softer than usual.

Help and hope: reports of volunteers ran at about twice the usual rate →
Part of lifeRights & justice 33 in 100 of the stories about harm · about as usual Country that rose mostDR Congo 82 in 100 of its 56 stories, usually 60
RegionCentral Asia 20 in 100 of its stories, usually 14
Tone of the words Softer than usual across the world's stories about harm

What the world's news was about today

how these are picked →
Health

DR Congo

46 of its 56 stories (82%) were about people being harmed, usually 60%. Kivu accounted for 16 of the DR Congo's 46 stories about harm, carried by 37 outlets. Reports of people falling ill ran at more than ten times the usual rate (17 stories). Haemorrhagic fever was named in 17 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual.

DR Congo over 30 days → its stories → Kivu stories →
Displacement

Venezuela

32 of its 74 stories (43%) were about people being harmed, usually 26%. Reports of refugees ran at about 4 times the usual rate (14 stories). Hunger was named in 13 of its stories about harm, about 8 times usual. Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.

Venezuela over 30 days → its stories →
Protests & strikes

India

1,874 of its 5,922 stories (32%) were about people being harmed, usually 23%. 445 of Delhi's 596 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of people injured ran at about twice the usual rate (284 stories). Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.

India over 30 days → its stories → Delhi stories →
Conflict & violence

Philippines

209 of its 606 stories (34%) were about people being harmed, usually 25%. Reports of arrests ran at about twice the usual rate (40 stories). Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.

Philippines over 30 days → its stories →
6 more places the news pointed at
Disasters & accidents

Australia

704 of its 2,335 stories (30%) were about people being harmed, usually 21%. Reports of people injured ran at about 5 times the usual rate (109 stories). Heatwave was named in 117 of its stories about harm, about three times usual, with road crashes.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Pakistan

257 of its 795 stories (32%) were about people being harmed, usually 27%. HIV was named in 11 of its stories about harm, about three times usual. Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Guinea

15 of its 19 stories (79%) were about people being harmed, usually 23%. Reports of people killed ran at about 4 times the usual rate (12 stories).

its stories →
Rights & justice

Nauru

9 of its 9 stories (100%) were about people being harmed, usually 33%. Reports of arrests ran at about 4 times the usual rate (7 stories).

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Rwanda

28 of its 51 stories (55%) were about people being harmed, usually 35%. Its coverage was about three times as grief-stricken as the world's.

its stories →
Health

Zambia

19 of its 49 stories (39%) were about people being harmed, usually 21%. Reports of people killed ran at about three times the usual rate (8 stories).

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: illness in Congo (22 of its stories, about three times its usual); storms in Mexico (31 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); heatwave in Australia (117 of its stories, about three times its usual); hiv in Zimbabwe (11 of its stories, about 5 times its usual); snowstorms in Canada (27 of its stories, about 5 times its usual).

17 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 18; 17 the day before
21 in 10016 in 10021 Nov28 Nov5 Dec12 Dec20 Dec21 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 1009 Dec: 18 in 10010 Dec: 18 in 10011 Dec: 18 in 10012 Dec: 17 in 10013 Dec: 16 in 10014 Dec: 18 in 10015 Dec: 19 in 10016 Dec: 17 in 10017 Dec: 17 in 10018 Dec: 17 in 10019 Dec: 17 in 10020 Dec: 17 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 20 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 19,441 stories about harm among 111,596 counted on 20 Dec.

Read the day's briefing

On the side of help, reports of volunteers ran at about twice the usual rate. Stories about people being harmed made up 17 in every 100 of the day's 111,596 stories, as usual. Mentions of haemorrhagic fever ran more than ten times their usual in the DR Congo's news. In the DR Congo, 82% of the news was about people being harmed, where 60% is usual. On 20 December 2018, a year earlier, the share was 18 in every 100, against 17 today.

Written by code from the day's numbers.

Where harm was most of the news all →

DR Congo82 in 100 of its 56 stories · usually 60 · mostly health Syria56 in 100 of its 187 stories · usually 61 · mostly conflict & violence Rwanda55 in 100 of its 51 stories · usually 35 · mostly conflict & violence Sudan51 in 100 of its 51 stories · usually 57 · mostly rights & justice Afghanistan51 in 100 of its 206 stories · usually 56 · mostly conflict & violence

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

Delhi India445 stories about protests or strikes, of its 596 Mangaluru India119 stories about protests or strikes, of its 142 Washington US105 stories about protests or strikes, of its 528 Sydney Australia100 stories about protests or strikes, of its 309 Lucknow India83 stories about protests or strikes, of its 151

Stories, not people.

The emotional weather

feelings in full →
Feelings Events Harm Warmth
Zimbabwe: feelings about like the world'sZambia: feelings about like the world'sVanuatu: feelings about like the world'sUzbekistan: feelings about like the world'sUruguay: feelings about like the world'sMicronesia: feelings about like the world'sU.S. Virgin Islands: feelings about like the world'sPuerto Rico: feelings about like the world'sUnited States: feelings about like the world'sSouth Georgia & South Sandwich Islands: too little coverage to readFalkland Islands: too little coverage to readCayman Islands: feelings about like the world'sIsle of Man: too little coverage to readUnited Arab Emirates: feelings about like the world'sTurkmenistan: feelings about like the world'sTunisia: feelings about like the world'sTonga: feelings about like the world'sTogo: feelings about like the world'sTimor-Leste: feelings about like the world'sTanzania: feelings about like the world'sTajikistan: feelings about like the world'sTaiwan: feelings about like the world'sSwitzerland: feelings about like the world'sSweden: feelings about like the world'sEswatini: feelings about like the world'sSuriname: too little coverage to readSri Lanka: feelings about like the world'sSpain: feelings about like the world'sSomalia: feelings about like the world'sSomaliland: too little coverage to readSolomon Islands: feelings about like the world'sSlovakia: feelings about like the world'sSlovenia: too little coverage to readSingapore: feelings about like the world'sSierra Leone: feelings about like the world'sSeychelles: too little coverage to readSerbia: too little coverage to readSenegal: feelings about like the world'sSão Tomé: too little coverage to readSt Vincent: feelings about like the world'sSt. Lucia: feelings about like the world'sRomania: feelings about like the world'sQatar: feelings about like the world'sPoland: feelings about like the world'sPeru: feelings about like the world'sParaguay: feelings about like the world'sPalau: too little coverage to readOman: too little coverage to readNorway: feelings about like the world'sNorth Korea: feelings about like the world'sNigeria: feelings about like the world'sNicaragua: feelings about like the world'sNiue: too little coverage to readNetherlands: feelings about like the world'sCuraçao: too little coverage to readNepal: feelings about like the world'sNamibia: feelings about like the world'sMozambique: feelings about like the world'sMorocco: feelings about like the world'sWestern Sahara: too little coverage to readMontenegro: too little coverage to readMongolia: feelings about like the world'sMoldova: too little coverage to readMexico: feelings about like the world'sMauritius: feelings about like the world'sMauritania: feelings about like the world'sMali: feelings about like the world'sMadagascar: feelings about like the world'sNorth Macedonia: feelings about like the world'sLuxembourg: too little coverage to readLithuania: feelings about like the world'sLiberia: feelings about like the world'sLatvia: feelings about like the world'sLaos: feelings about like the world'sKyrgyzstan: feelings about like the world'sKuwait: feelings about like the world'sKosovo: too little coverage to readKiribati: too little coverage to readKazakhstan: feelings about like the world'sJordan: feelings about like the world'sJapan: feelings about like the world'sItaly: feelings about like the world'sIsrael: feelings about like the world'sPalestine: feelings about like the world'sIndonesia: feelings about like the world'sIceland: feelings about like the world'sHungary: feelings about like the world'sHonduras: feelings about like the world'sGuyana: feelings about like the world'sGuinea-Bissau: too little coverage to readGuinea: feelings about like the world'sGuatemala: feelings about like the world'sGrenada: too little coverage to readGreece: feelings about like the world'sGeorgia: feelings about like the world'sGabon: too little coverage to readSt Pierre & Miquelon: too little coverage to readFrench Polynesia: too little coverage to readNew Caledonia: feelings about like the world'sFrench Southern Territories: too little coverage to readÅland Islands: too little coverage to readFinland: feelings about like the world'sFiji: feelings about like the world'sEstonia: feelings about like the world'sEritrea: feelings about like the world'sEquatorial Guinea: feelings about like the world'sEl Salvador: feelings about like the world'sEgypt: feelings about like the world'sEcuador: feelings about like the world'sDominica: too little coverage to readDjibouti: too little coverage to readGreenland: feelings about like the world'sFaroe Islands: too little coverage to readDenmark: feelings about like the world'sN. Cyprus: too little coverage to readCyprus: feelings about like the world'sCroatia: feelings about like the world'sCôte d'Ivoire: feelings about like the world'sCosta Rica: feelings about like the world'sComoros: too little coverage to readChile: feelings about like the world'sCentral African Republic: feelings about like the world'sCape Verde: too little coverage to readCameroon: feelings about like the world'sCambodia: feelings about like the world'sBurundi: feelings about like the world'sBulgaria: feelings about like the world'sBrunei: too little coverage to readBotswana: feelings about like the world'sBenin: feelings about like the world'sBarbados: feelings about like the world'sBahrain: feelings about like the world'sAzerbaijan: feelings about like the world'sAustria: feelings about like the world'sHeard & McDonald Islands: too little coverage to readArmenia: feelings about like the world'sArgentina: feelings about like the world'sAntigua & Barbuda: feelings about like the world'sAngola: feelings about like the world'sAndorra: feelings about like the world'sAlgeria: feelings about like the world'sAlbania: feelings about like the world'sJammu & Kashmir: feelings about like the world'sGaza: feelings about like the world'sWest Bank: feelings about like the world'sWestern Sahara (Moroccan-controlled): too little coverage to readWestern Sahara (Free Zone): too little coverage to readAzad Kashmir & Gilgit-Baltistan: feelings about like the world'sSiachen Glacier: feelings about like the world'sEast Jerusalem: feelings about like the world'sAzad Kashmir & Gilgit-Baltistan: feelings about like the world'sMarshall Islands: feelings about like the world'sNorthern 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: feelings about like the world'sGuernsey: too little coverage to readSan Marino: too little coverage to readSt Kitts & Nevis: too little coverage to readCook Islands: too little coverage to readAruba: too little coverage to readMonaco: feelings about like the world'sMaldives: feelings about like the world'sLiechtenstein: too little coverage to readWallis & Futuna: too little coverage to readSt. Martin: too little coverage to readSt. Barthélemy: too little coverage to readMacao: feelings about like the world'sNorfolk Island: too little coverage to readSint Maarten: too little coverage to readChristmas Island: too little coverage to readGibraltar: too little coverage to readMayotte: too little coverage to readYemen: coverage a little angrier than the world'sVietnam: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sVenezuela: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sGuam: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sUK: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sUkraine: coverage a little angrier than the world'sUganda: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sTürkiye: coverage about twice as fearful as the world'sTrinidad & Tobago: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sThailand: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sSyria: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sSouth Sudan: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sSudan: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sSouth Korea: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sSouth Africa: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sSaudi Arabia: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sSamoa: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sRwanda: coverage about three times as grief-stricken as the world'sRussia: coverage a little warmer than the world'sPortugal: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sPhilippines: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sPapua New Guinea: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sPanama: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sPakistan: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sNiger: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sNew Zealand: coverage a little warmer than the world'sMalta: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sMalaysia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sMalawi: coverage a little angrier than the world'sLibya: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sLesotho: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sLebanon: coverage a little warmer than the world'sKenya: coverage a little warmer than the world'sJamaica: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sIreland: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sIraq: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sIran: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sIndia: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sHaiti: coverage a little warmer than the world'sGhana: coverage a little warmer than the world'sGermany: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sGambia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sFrance: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sEthiopia: coverage a little angrier than the world'sDominican Republic: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sCzechia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sCuba: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sDR Congo: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sCongo: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sColombia: coverage a little warmer than the world'sChina: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sHong Kong: coverage a little angrier than the world'sChad: coverage a little angrier than the world'sCanada: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sMyanmar: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sBurkina Faso: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sBrazil: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sBosnia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sBolivia: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sBhutan: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sBelize: coverage a little angrier than the world'sBelgium: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sBelarus: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sBangladesh: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sBahamas: coverage a little warmer than the world'sAustralia: coverage a little angrier than the world'sAfghanistan: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sChina: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sUkraine: coverage a little angrier than the world'sVatican City: coverage a little angrier than the world'sNauru: coverage a little more fearful than the world's
AngerGriefFearWarmth Like the world'sToo little news

Each country in the colour of the feeling its news carried most, against the world's news that day. Stronger colour: further above the world. Click a country.

Strongest feelings

● Rwanda few stories about three times as grief-stricken as the world's · 28 stories about harm ● Türkiye about twice as fearful as the world's · 105 stories about harm ● India about twice as angry as the world's · 1,874 stories about harm ● Syria about one and a half times as angry as the world's · 105 stories about harm ● Russia a little warmer than the world's · 241 stories about harm ● Philippines about twice as grief-stricken as the world's · 209 stories about harm

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Rights & justice33% 6,327 stories · about as usual Health24% 4,582 stories · about as usual Disasters & accidents17% 3,173 stories · about as usual Conflict & violence11% 2,150 stories · less than usual (usually 14%) Deaths & injuries, cause not given5% 1,042 stories · about as usual Shelter & services5% 862 stories · about as usual Displacement3% 481 stories · about as usual Food & livelihood2% 431 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 killed5,098 at about the usual rate Stories reporting arrests2,679 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people affected2,228 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people injured1,396 at about the usual rate Stories reporting refugees273 at about the usual rate Stories reporting abductions205 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people displaced169 at about the usual rate Stories reporting evacuations153 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people falling ill70 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about the US and the DR Congo

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 softer than usual. Filled dot: today. Ring: usual.

● Angerabout as usual
● Warmthabout as usual
● Griefabout as 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

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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.