← 16 Jan Friday 17 January 2020 · to 23:59 UTC 18 Jan →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
21,009 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 Tehran (Iran), violence in Baghdad and people affected in Panama. Panama's coverage was about three times as grief-stricken as the world's. In the world's news as a whole, the wording was much softer than usual.

Reports of people falling ill ran at about three times the usual rate, most often about China and the US →
Part of lifeRights & justice 29 in 100 of the stories about harm · about as usual Country that rose mostPanama 74 in 100 of its 94 stories, usually 23
RegionEvery region about as usual
Tone of the words Much softer than usual across the world's stories about harm

What the world's news was about today

how these are picked →
Protests & strikes

Iran

748 of its 1,214 stories (62%) were about people being harmed, usually 55%. Tehran accounted for 530 of Iran's 748 stories about harm, carried by 1,097 outlets. 276 of Tehran's 530 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of evacuations ran at about twice the usual rate (8 stories). Poisoning was named in 26 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual. Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.

Iran over 30 days → its stories → Tehran stories →
Conflict & violence

Iraq

Baghdad accounted for 79 of Iraq's 167 stories about harm, carried by 159 outlets. Reports of evacuations ran at about three times the usual rate (7 stories). Illness was named in 22 of its stories about harm, about 10 times usual. Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.

Iraq over 30 days → its stories → Baghdad stories →
Rights & justice

Panama

70 of its 94 stories (74%) were about people being harmed, usually 23%. Reports of people affected ran at about 7 times the usual rate (22 stories). Its coverage was about three times as grief-stricken as the world's.

Panama over 30 days → its stories →
Disasters & accidents

Philippines

315 of its 644 stories (49%) were about people being harmed, usually 41%. Reports of people displaced ran at about twice the usual rate (19 stories). Polio was named in 12 of its stories about harm, about 5 times usual.

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

Lebanon

63 of its 155 stories (41%) were about people being harmed, usually 32%. Beirut accounted for 44 of Lebanon's 63 stories about harm, carried by 51 outlets. 40 of Beirut's 44 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of people injured ran at about twice the usual rate (21 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's.

its stories →
Protests & strikes

Malawi

32 of its 71 stories (45%) were about people being harmed, usually 33%. 11 of Lilongwe's 18 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of arrests ran at about twice the usual rate (10 stories).

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Kashmir

66 of its 140 stories (47%) were about people being harmed, usually 39%. Jammu accounted for 41 of Kashmir's 66 stories about harm, carried by 28 outlets. Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.

its stories →
Health

China

Reports of people falling ill ran at about 9 times the usual rate (58 stories). Covid was named in 264 of its stories about harm, about 5 times usual, with ebola and tuberculosis. 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.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Libya

Tripoli accounted for 65 of Libya's 73 stories about harm, carried by 84 outlets. Reports of people displaced ran at about twice the usual rate (15 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's.

its stories →
Health

UK

Reports of evacuations ran at about three times the usual rate (17 stories). Respiratory illness was named in 35 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 →

Also named far more than usual: covid in China (264 of its stories, about 5 times its usual); storms in Switzerland (25 of its stories, about 5 times its usual); heavy rain in Tonga (10 of its stories, about 5 times its usual); natural hazards in Kenya (17 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); earthquake in Mexico (11 of its stories, about 8 times its usual).

18 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 20; 17 the day before
24 in 10017 in 10019 Dec26 Dec2 Jan9 Jan17 Jan19 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 1005 Jan: 24 in 1006 Jan: 20 in 1007 Jan: 20 in 1008 Jan: 21 in 1009 Jan: 20 in 10010 Jan: 21 in 10011 Jan: 23 in 10012 Jan: 22 in 10013 Jan: 19 in 10014 Jan: 19 in 10015 Jan: 18 in 10016 Jan: 17 in 10017 Jan: 18 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 17 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 21,009 stories about harm among 113,799 counted on 17 Jan.

Read the day's briefing

People falling ill were reported at about three times the usual rate, most often about China and the US. Iran's news was 62% about people being harmed, against a usual 55%. On 17 January 2019, a year earlier, the share was 18 in every 100, the same as today. Stories about people being harmed made up 18 in every 100 of the day's 113,799 stories, below the usual 20.

Written by code from the day's numbers.

Where harm was most of the news all →

Puerto Rico76 in 100 of its 185 stories · usually 77 · mostly disasters & accidents Panama74 in 100 of its 94 stories · usually 23 · mostly rights & justice Fiji72 in 100 of its 99 stories · usually 39 · mostly disasters & accidents Syria71 in 100 of its 157 stories · usually 64 · mostly conflict & violence Iran62 in 100 of its 1,214 stories · usually 55 · mostly conflict & violence

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

Tehran Iran276 stories about protests or strikes, of its 530 Delhi India128 stories about protests or strikes, of its 402 Washington US106 stories about protests or strikes, of its 577 Richmond US74 stories about protests or strikes, of its 131 Beijing China41 stories about protests or strikes, of its 99

Stories, not people.

The emotional weather

feelings in full →
Feelings Events Harm Warmth
Zambia: 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: too little coverage to readGuam: too little coverage to readPuerto 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: too little coverage to readIsle of Man: too little coverage to readUnited Arab Emirates: feelings about like the world'sUganda: 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: too little coverage to readThailand: feelings about like the world'sTanzania: feelings about like the world'sTajikistan: feelings about like the world'sTaiwan: feelings about like the world'sSweden: feelings about like the world'sEswatini: feelings about like the world'sSuriname: too little coverage to readSpain: feelings about like the world'sSouth Korea: 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: feelings about like the world'sSerbia: too little coverage to readSenegal: feelings about like the world'sSão Tomé: too little coverage to readSamoa: feelings about like the world'sSt. Lucia: too little coverage to readRussia: feelings about like the world'sRomania: feelings about like the world'sQatar: feelings about like the world'sPortugal: feelings about like the world'sPhilippines: feelings about like the world'sPeru: feelings about like the world'sPapua New Guinea: feelings about like the world'sPalau: too little coverage to readPakistan: feelings about like the world'sOman: 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'sMorocco: feelings about like the world'sWestern Sahara: too little coverage to readMontenegro: too little coverage to readMongolia: too little coverage to readMoldova: feelings about like the world'sMauritius: feelings about like the world'sMauritania: too little coverage to readMalaysia: feelings about like the world'sMadagascar: feelings about like the world'sNorth Macedonia: feelings about like the world'sLuxembourg: feelings about like the world'sLiberia: feelings about like the world'sLesotho: feelings about like the world'sLatvia: feelings about like the world'sLaos: 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'sIreland: feelings about like the world'sIndonesia: feelings about like the world'sHonduras: feelings about like the world'sGuyana: feelings about like the world'sGuinea-Bissau: feelings about like the world'sGuinea: feelings about like the world'sGuatemala: feelings about like the world'sGrenada: feelings about like the world'sGreece: feelings about like the world'sGhana: feelings about like the world'sGeorgia: 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'sEthiopia: feelings about like the world'sEstonia: feelings about like the world'sEritrea: feelings about like the world'sEquatorial Guinea: too little coverage to readEgypt: 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 readCzech 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 readHong Kong: feelings about like the world'sChile: feelings about like the world'sCentral African Republic: feelings about like the world'sCape Verde: feelings about like the world'sCanada: feelings about like the world'sCameroon: feelings about like the world'sCambodia: feelings about like the world'sBrunei: feelings about like the world'sBrazil: feelings about like the world'sBotswana: feelings about like the world'sBosnia and Herzegovina: feelings about like the world'sBolivia: feelings about like the world'sBhutan: feelings about like the world'sBenin: too little coverage to readBelize: feelings about like the world'sBelarus: feelings about like the world'sBarbados: feelings about like the world'sBahrain: feelings about like the world'sBahamas: feelings about like the world'sAustria: feelings about like the world'sHeard & McDonald Islands: too little coverage to readArgentina: feelings about like the world'sAntigua & Barbuda: feelings about like the world'sAngola: feelings about like the world'sAndorra: too little coverage to readAlgeria: feelings about like the world'sAlbania: feelings about like the world'sWestern Sahara (Moroccan-controlled): too little coverage to readWestern Sahara (Free Zone): too little coverage to readVatican City: feelings about like the world'sMarshall Islands: too little coverage to readNorthern 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 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: feelings about like the world'sSan Marino: feelings about like the world'sSt Kitts & Nevis: too little coverage to readCook Islands: too little coverage to readAruba: too little coverage to readNauru: too little coverage to readMonaco: too little coverage to readLiechtenstein: 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: feelings about like the world'sSint Maarten: too little coverage to readChristmas Island: too little coverage to readGibraltar: too little coverage to readMayotte: too little coverage to readZimbabwe: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sYemen: coverage a little angrier than the world'sU.S. Virgin Islands: coverage a little angrier than the world'sUK: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sUkraine: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sTürkiye: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sTrinidad & Tobago: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sSyria: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sSwitzerland: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sSouth Sudan: coverage a little warmer than the world'sSudan: coverage a little warmer than the world'sSri Lanka: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sSouth Africa: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sSomalia: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sSaudi Arabia: coverage a little angrier than the world'sSt Vincent: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sRwanda: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sPoland: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sParaguay: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sPanama: coverage about three times as grief-stricken as the world'sNorway: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sNorth Korea: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sNigeria: coverage a little warmer than the world'sNiger: coverage a little angrier than the world'sNew Zealand: coverage a little warmer than the world'sMozambique: coverage a little warmer than the world'sMexico: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sMalta: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sMali: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sMalawi: coverage a little angrier than the world'sLithuania: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sLibya: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sLebanon: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sKyrgyzstan: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sKenya: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sJamaica: coverage a little angrier than the world'sIsrael: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sPalestine: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sIraq: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sIran: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sIndia: coverage a little angrier than the world'sIceland: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sHungary: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sHaiti: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sGermany: coverage a little angrier than the world'sGambia: coverage a little warmer than the world'sFrance: coverage a little angrier than the world'sEl Salvador: coverage a little angrier than the world'sDenmark: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sCyprus: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sColombia: coverage a little warmer than the world'sChina: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sChad: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sMyanmar: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sBurundi: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sBurkina Faso: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sBulgaria: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sBelgium: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sBangladesh: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sAzerbaijan: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sAustralia: coverage a little warmer than the world'sArmenia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sAfghanistan: coverage a little warmer than the world'sKashmir: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sChina: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sPalestine: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sPalestine: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sKashmir: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sKashmir: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sUkraine: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sPalestine: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sKashmir: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sBermuda: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sMaldives: 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

● Panama about three times as grief-stricken as the world's · 70 stories about harm ● Iran about twice as angry as the world's · 748 stories about harm ● Syria about twice as angry as the world's · 111 stories about harm ● Kashmir about one and a half times as fearful as the world's · 66 stories about harm ● Iraq about twice as angry as the world's · 167 stories about harm ● Türkiye about one and a half times as fearful as the world's · 93 stories about harm

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Rights & justice29% 5,975 stories · about as usual Health24% 4,881 stories · more than usual (usually 21%) Disasters & accidents22% 4,464 stories · about as usual Conflict & violence12% 2,572 stories · less than usual (usually 17%) Deaths & injuries, cause not given6% 1,174 stories · about as usual Shelter & services4% 758 stories · about as usual Food & livelihood2% 427 stories · about as usual Displacement2% 373 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 killed5,239 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about the US and Iran Stories reporting arrests2,729 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people affected2,119 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people injured1,043 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about the US and Iran Stories reporting refugees219 at about the usual rate Stories reporting abductions194 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about the US and Nigeria Stories reporting evacuations194 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people displaced182 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people falling ill95 at about three times the usual rate · most about China and the US

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

● Angera little less than usual
● Warmthabout as usual
● Griefa little less 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.