We measure how the world's news covered people being harmed — and the help and hope within it.
291 of its 440 stories (66%) were about people being harmed, usually 27%. Lamu accounted for 141 of Kenya's 291 stories about harm, carried by 187 outlets. Reports of people injured ran at about 5 times the usual rate (46 stories). Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.
74 of its 94 stories (79%) were about people being harmed, usually 30%. Reports of people injured ran at about 7 times the usual rate (52 stories). Building collapse was named in 48 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.
111 of its 326 stories (34%) were about people being harmed, usually 13%. Reports of people injured ran at more than ten times the usual rate (87 stories). Avalanche was named in 16 of its stories about harm, about 5 times usual, with road crashes. Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.
230 of its 861 stories (27%) were about people being harmed, usually 15%. Reports of people affected ran at about three times the usual rate (28 stories). Respiratory illness was named in 66 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual, with outbreaks, flu and bird flu.
139 of its 181 stories (77%) were about people being harmed, usually 36%. Tripoli accounted for 134 of Libya's 139 stories about harm, carried by 206 outlets. Reports of people injured ran at more than ten times the usual rate (96 stories). Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's. Grief in its coverage rose to about twice its own usual.
1,524 of its 2,456 stories (62%) were about people being harmed, usually 48%. Tehran accounted for 909 of Iran's 1,524 stories about harm, carried by 1,379 outlets. Reports of abductions ran at more than ten times the usual rate (429 stories). Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.
81 of its 158 stories (51%) were about people being harmed, usually 35%. Jakarta accounted for 61 of Indonesia's 81 stories about harm, carried by 129 outlets. Reports of people affected ran at about twice the usual rate (39 stories). Heavy rain was named in 26 of its stories about harm, about three times usual, with dengue.
1,105 of its 2,158 stories (51%) were about people being harmed, usually 29%. Reports of evacuations ran at about three times the usual rate (91 stories). Hunger was named in 20 of its stories about harm, about 6 times usual, with power cuts.
286 of its 869 stories (33%) were about people being harmed, usually 26%. Reports of people injured ran at about three times the usual rate (22 stories). Gas explosion was named in 32 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual, with outbreaks.
Baghdad accounted for 500 of Iraq's 569 stories about harm, carried by 737 outlets. Reports of abductions ran at about 7 times the usual rate (59 stories). Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.
Also named far more than usual: heavy rain in Indonesia (26 of its stories, about three times its usual); wildfires in Russia (12 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); wildfires in New Zealand (13 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); gas explosion in Nigeria (32 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); avalanche in Canada (24 of its stories, about 5 times its usual).
Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 5 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 12,285 stories about harm among 51,224 counted on 5 Jan.
The share of stories about people being harmed was the highest since 2 September 2019. Reports of abductions ran at about 6 times the usual rate, most often about Iran and Iraq. of the day's 51,224 news stories, 24 in every 100 were about people being harmed, above the usual 19. Reports of people freed or reunited, a sign of help, ran at about twice the usual rate. This week the news turned most often to Cyprus, on 4 of 7 days; help rose on 5 of them.
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 24 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?
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