← 3 Jan Saturday 4 January 2020 · to 23:59 UTC 5 Jan →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
13,743 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 →

The news turned to landslides in Indonesia, violence in Tehran and protests in Nankana Sahib (Pakistan). Iran's coverage was about twice as angry as the world's. Everywhere we counted, the words were much harsher than usual.

Reports of evacuations ran at about twice the usual rate, most often about Australia and Indonesia → Help and hope: reports of people freed or reunited ran at about one and a half times the usual rate →
Part of lifeConflict & violence 28 in 100 of the stories about harm · much more than usual Country that rose mostCambodia 86 in 100 of its 58 stories, usually 27
RegionMiddle East & North Africa 54 in 100 of its stories, usually 34
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 →
Disasters & accidents

Indonesia

151 of its 231 stories (65%) were about people being harmed, usually 34%. Jakarta accounted for 135 of Indonesia's 151 stories about harm, carried by 364 outlets. Reports of people affected ran at about three times the usual rate (69 stories). Landslides were named in 105 of its stories about harm, about 5 times usual, with heavy rain, hypothermia and drownings. Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.

Indonesia over 30 days → its stories → Jakarta stories →
Conflict & violence

Iran

1,151 of its 1,979 stories (58%) were about people being harmed, usually 46%. Tehran accounted for 570 of Iran's 1,151 stories about harm, carried by 1,248 outlets. Reports of abductions ran at about three times the usual rate (31 stories). Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's. Grief in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

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

Cambodia

50 of its 58 stories (86%) were about people being harmed, usually 27%. Phnom Penh accounted for 35 of Cambodia's 50 stories about harm, carried by 97 outlets. Reports of people injured ran at more than ten times the usual rate (37 stories). Building collapse was named in 22 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Israel

101 of its 205 stories (49%) were about people being harmed, usually 32%. Drownings were named in 10 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual. Grief in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Burkina Faso

26 of its 28 stories (93%) were about people being harmed, usually 73%. Reports of people injured ran at about three times the usual rate (25 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.

its stories →
Protests & strikes

North Korea

11 of its 49 stories (22%) were about people being harmed, usually 11%. 8 of Pyongyang's 8 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of arrests ran at more than ten times the usual rate (10 stories).

its stories →
Health

China

193 of its 945 stories (20%) were about people being harmed, usually 14%. Reports of people killed ran at about twice the usual rate (56 stories). Respiratory illness was named in 53 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual, with outbreaks, flu and covid.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

France

89 of its 405 stories (22%) were about people being harmed, usually 16%. Reports of people injured ran at about 9 times the usual rate (41 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's.

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: building collapse in Cambodia (22 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); respiratory illness in China (53 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); helicopter crash in Taiwan (16 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); flu in Poland (13 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); illness in Philippines (13 of its stories, about three times its usual).

23 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 19; 21 the day before
23 in 10016 in 1006 Dec13 Dec20 Dec27 Dec4 Jan6 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 10021 Dec: 19 in 10022 Dec: 20 in 10023 Dec: 19 in 10024 Dec: 18 in 10025 Dec: 19 in 10026 Dec: 19 in 10027 Dec: 20 in 10028 Dec: 21 in 10029 Dec: 22 in 10030 Dec: 21 in 10031 Dec: 20 in 1001 Jan: 21 in 1002 Jan: 19 in 1003 Jan: 21 in 1004 Jan: 23 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 4 Jan. 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 13,743 stories about harm among 58,692 counted on 4 Jan.

Read the day's briefing

No day had a higher share of stories about people being harmed since 8 September 2019. the news turned to Indonesia for the fourth day running. 23 in every 100 of the day's 58,692 news stories were about people being harmed, above the usual 19. On the side of help, reports of people freed or reunited ran at about one and a half times the usual rate.

Written by code from the day's numbers.

Where harm was most of the news all →

Cambodia86 in 100 of its 58 stories · usually 27 · mostly disasters & accidents Iraq67 in 100 of its 1,225 stories · usually 63 · mostly conflict & violence Indonesia65 in 100 of its 231 stories · usually 34 · mostly disasters & accidents Syria64 in 100 of its 66 stories · usually 63 · mostly conflict & violence Iran58 in 100 of its 1,979 stories · usually 46 · mostly conflict & violence

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

Baghdad Iraq276 stories about protests or strikes, of its 775 Tehran Iran257 stories about protests or strikes, of its 570 Washington US97 stories about protests or strikes, of its 414 Nankana Sahib Pakistan88 stories about protests or strikes, of its 123 Delhi India56 stories about protests or strikes, of its 152

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'sVietnam: feelings about like the world'sVenezuela: 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'sGuam: 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: feelings about like the world'sCayman Islands: feelings about like the world'sIsle of Man: too little coverage to readUnited Arab Emirates: feelings about like the world'sUkraine: feelings about like the world'sUganda: feelings about like the world'sTurkmenistan: feelings about like the world'sTunisia: feelings about like the world'sTrinidad & Tobago: feelings about like the world'sTonga: too little coverage to readTogo: too little coverage to readTimor-Leste: too little coverage to readThailand: feelings about like the world'sTanzania: feelings about like the world'sTajikistan: too little coverage to readTaiwan: feelings about like the world'sSwitzerland: feelings about like the world'sEswatini: too little coverage to readSuriname: too little coverage to readSouth Sudan: feelings about like the world'sSri Lanka: feelings about like the world'sSpain: feelings about like the world'sSouth Africa: feelings about like the world'sSomaliland: too little coverage to readSolomon Islands: too little coverage to readSlovakia: 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'sSaudi Arabia: feelings about like the world'sSão Tomé: too little coverage to readSamoa: feelings about like the world'sSt Vincent: too little coverage to readSt. Lucia: feelings about like the world'sRwanda: feelings about like the world'sRussia: feelings about like the world'sRomania: feelings about like the world'sQatar: too little coverage to readPortugal: feelings about like the world'sPoland: feelings about like the world'sPhilippines: feelings about like the world'sPeru: feelings about like the world'sParaguay: feelings about like the world'sPapua New Guinea: feelings about like the world'sPanama: feelings about like the world'sPalau: too little coverage to readOman: feelings about like the world'sNorth Korea: feelings about like the world'sNigeria: feelings about like the world'sNiger: feelings about like the world'sNicaragua: feelings about like the world'sNew Zealand: 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: feelings about like the world'sMongolia: too little coverage to readMoldova: too little coverage to readMexico: feelings about like the world'sMauritius: feelings about like the world'sMauritania: feelings about like the world'sMalta: feelings about like the world'sMalaysia: feelings about like the world'sMalawi: feelings about like the world'sMadagascar: too little coverage to readNorth Macedonia: feelings about like the world'sLuxembourg: feelings about like the world'sLithuania: feelings about like the world'sLiberia: feelings about like the world'sLesotho: too little coverage to readLebanon: feelings about like the world'sLatvia: too little coverage to readLaos: too little coverage to readKyrgyzstan: feelings about like the world'sKuwait: feelings about like the world'sKosovo: too little coverage to readKiribati: too little coverage to readKenya: feelings about like the world'sKazakhstan: 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'sIreland: feelings about like the world'sIndia: feelings about like the world'sIceland: feelings about like the world'sHungary: feelings about like the world'sHaiti: 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'sGhana: feelings about like the world'sGeorgia: feelings about like the world'sGambia: feelings about like the world'sGabon: feelings about like the world'sSt 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: too little coverage to readEquatorial Guinea: too little coverage to readEl Salvador: feelings about like the world'sEgypt: feelings about like the world'sEcuador: feelings about like the world'sDominican Republic: 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'sCzech Republic: feelings about like the world'sN. Cyprus: too little coverage to readCuba: feelings about like the world'sCroatia: feelings about like the world'sCôte d'Ivoire: too little coverage to readCosta Rica: feelings about like the world'sDR Congo: feelings about like the world'sCongo: feelings about like the world'sComoros: too little coverage to readColombia: feelings about like the world'sChina: feelings about like the world'sHong Kong: feelings about like the world'sChile: feelings about like the world'sChad: feelings about like the world'sCentral African Republic: feelings about like the world'sCape Verde: too little coverage to readCanada: feelings about like the world'sMyanmar: feelings about like the world'sBurundi: feelings about like the world'sBulgaria: feelings about like the world'sBrunei: too little coverage to readBrazil: feelings about like the world'sBotswana: too little coverage to readBosnia and Herzegovina: too little coverage to readBolivia: feelings about like the world'sBhutan: feelings about like the world'sBenin: feelings about like the world'sBelize: feelings about like the world'sBelgium: feelings about like the world'sBelarus: too little coverage to readBarbados: feelings about like the world'sBangladesh: feelings about like the world'sAzerbaijan: feelings about like the world'sAustria: feelings about like the world'sAustralia: feelings about like the world'sHeard & McDonald Islands: too little coverage to readAntigua & Barbuda: too little coverage to readAngola: feelings about like the world'sAndorra: feelings about like the world'sAlgeria: feelings about like the world'sAlbania: feelings about like the world'sAksai Chin: 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 readCrimea: feelings about like the world'sEast Jerusalem: feelings about like the world'sVatican City: too little coverage to readMarshall Islands: feelings about like the world'sNorthern Mariana Islands: feelings about like the world'sAmerican 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: feelings about like the world'sBritish Virgin Islands: feelings about like the world'sTurks & Caicos Islands: too little coverage to readMontserrat: too little coverage to readGuernsey: feelings about like the world'sSan Marino: too little coverage to readSt Kitts & Nevis: too little coverage to readCook Islands: too little coverage to readAruba: too little coverage to readNauru: 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: too little coverage to readNorfolk Island: too little coverage to readSint Maarten: too little coverage to readChristmas Island: too little coverage to readGibraltar: feelings about like the world'sMayotte: too little coverage to readYemen: coverage a little angrier than the world'sUK: coverage a little warmer than the world'sTürkiye: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sSyria: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sSweden: coverage a little warmer than the world'sSudan: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sSouth Korea: coverage a little warmer than the world'sSomalia: coverage a little angrier than the world'sPakistan: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sNorway: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sMali: coverage a little angrier than the world'sLibya: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sJamaica: coverage a little warmer than the world'sIraq: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sIran: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sIndonesia: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sHonduras: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sGermany: coverage a little warmer than the world'sFrance: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sEthiopia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sCyprus: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sCameroon: coverage a little angrier than the world'sCambodia: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sBurkina Faso: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sBahrain: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sBahamas: coverage a little warmer than the world'sArmenia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sArgentina: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sAfghanistan: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sKashmir: coverage about three times as fearful as the world'sKashmir: coverage about three times as fearful as the world'sKashmir: coverage about three times as fearful as the world'sKashmir: coverage about three times as fearful as the world'sJersey: coverage a little more grief-stricken 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

● Kashmir few stories about three times as fearful as the world's · 39 stories about harm ● Iraq about twice as grief-stricken as the world's · 825 stories about harm ● Iran about twice as angry as the world's · 1,151 stories about harm ● Afghanistan about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's · 60 stories about harm ● Burkina Faso few stories about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's · 26 stories about harm ● France about one and a half times as angry as the world's · 89 stories about harm

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Conflict & violence28% 3,766 stories · much more than usual (usually 14%) Rights & justice23% 3,113 stories · much less than usual (usually 30%) Disasters & accidents20% 2,723 stories · about as usual Health17% 2,282 stories · less than usual (usually 22%) Deaths & injuries, cause not given5% 707 stories · about as usual Shelter & services3% 462 stories · about as usual Displacement2% 255 stories · about as usual Food & livelihood2% 223 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 killed5,071 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about the US and Iran Stories reporting arrests1,564 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people affected1,533 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people injured994 at about the usual rate Stories reporting evacuations198 at about twice the usual rate · most about Australia and Indonesia Stories reporting abductions150 at about the usual rate Stories reporting refugees111 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about the US and India Stories reporting people displaced77 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about Indonesia and Canada Stories reporting people falling ill22 at about the usual rate

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 one and a half times usual
● Warmthabout as usual
● Griefabout one and a half times usual
● Feara little more than 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 →

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 account

Sign in · a username, an email and a password.

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.