← 14 Mar Sunday 15 March 2020 · to 23:59 UTC 16 Mar →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
22,167 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 day's news pointed at people killed in Spain, violence in Baghdad and a disaster in Puerto Rico. Iraq's coverage was about 4 times as angry as the world's. Across the world, the tone of the words was much softer than usual.

Part of lifeHealth 82 in 100 of the stories about harm · much more than usual Country that rose mostSpain 49 in 100 of its 617 stories, usually 19
RegionCentral Asia 54 in 100 of its stories, usually 22
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 →
Health

Spain

304 of its 617 stories (49%) were about people being harmed, usually 19%. Reports of people killed ran at about 5 times the usual rate (203 stories). Respiratory illness was named in 32 of its stories about harm, about 5 times usual. Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.

Spain over 30 days → its stories →
Health

Italy

526 of its 846 stories (62%) were about people being harmed, usually 44%. Reports of people injured ran at about twice the usual rate (12 stories). Plague was named in 33 of its stories about harm, about 5 times usual, with tsunami. Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.

Italy over 30 days → its stories →
6 more places the news pointed at
Health

Philippines

417 of its 627 stories (67%) were about people being harmed, usually 40%. Manila accounted for 219 of the Philippines' 417 stories about harm, carried by 74 outlets. Reports of people killed ran at about three times the usual rate (191 stories).

its stories →
Health

US

7,666 of its 17,768 stories (43%) were about people being harmed, usually 25%. Reports of people falling ill ran at about twice the usual rate (89 stories). Dengue was named in 51 of its stories about harm, about 9 times usual.

its stories →
Health

Zimbabwe

75 of its 196 stories (38%) were about people being harmed, usually 29%. Reports of people killed ran at about three times the usual rate (34 stories). Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.

its stories →
Health

China

Wuhan accounted for 409 of China's 1,051 stories about harm, carried by 406 outlets. Reports of people injured ran at about three times the usual rate (26 stories). Tuberculosis was named in 29 of its stories about harm, about 10 times usual, with measles.

its stories →
Health

Iran

Tehran accounted for 113 of Iran's 224 stories about harm, carried by 265 outlets. Respiratory illness was named in 34 of its stories about harm, about 7 times usual. Its coverage was about three times as grief-stricken as the world's.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Syria

Idlib accounted for 60 of Syria's 100 stories about harm, carried by 117 outlets. Reports of arrests ran at about three times the usual rate (6 stories). Its coverage was about 4 times as angry as the world's. Grief in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: respiratory illness in Iran (34 of its stories, about 7 times its usual); malaria in Germany (12 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); gas explosion in Nigeria (13 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); tuberculosis in China (29 of its stories, about 10 times its usual); dengue in US (51 of its stories, about 9 times its usual).

37 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 25; 36 the day before
37 in 10020 in 10015 Feb22 Feb29 Feb7 Mar15 Mar15 Feb: 22 in 10016 Feb: 23 in 10017 Feb: 21 in 10018 Feb: 20 in 10019 Feb: 20 in 10020 Feb: 20 in 10021 Feb: 20 in 10022 Feb: 21 in 10023 Feb: 21 in 10024 Feb: 21 in 10025 Feb: 22 in 10026 Feb: 22 in 10027 Feb: 23 in 10028 Feb: 24 in 10029 Feb: 26 in 1001 Mar: 25 in 1002 Mar: 24 in 1003 Mar: 25 in 1004 Mar: 25 in 1005 Mar: 25 in 1006 Mar: 26 in 1007 Mar: 27 in 1008 Mar: 28 in 1009 Mar: 27 in 10010 Mar: 28 in 10011 Mar: 29 in 10012 Mar: 31 in 10013 Mar: 33 in 10014 Mar: 36 in 10015 Mar: 37 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 15 Mar. 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 22,167 stories about harm among 59,809 counted on 15 Mar.

Read the day's briefing

37 in every 100 of the day's 59,809 news stories were about people being harmed, above the usual 25. No day had a higher share of stories about people being harmed in all 1536 days held. Spain stood out: 49% of its news was about people being harmed, usually 19%. Mentions of respiratory illness ran about 7 times their usual in Iran's news. This week the news turned most often to Iraq, on 5 of 7 days; help rose on 2 of them.

Written by code from the day's numbers.

Where harm was most of the news all →

Syria71 in 100 of its 140 stories · usually 73 · mostly conflict & violence Iraq67 in 100 of its 141 stories · usually 59 · mostly conflict & violence Philippines67 in 100 of its 627 stories · usually 40 · mostly health China66 in 100 of its 1,601 stories · usually 61 · mostly health Iran65 in 100 of its 342 stories · usually 62 · mostly health

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

Washington US50 stories about protests or strikes, of its 1214 Delhi India38 stories about protests or strikes, of its 357 Wuhan China33 stories about protests or strikes, of its 409 Idlib Syria24 stories about protests or strikes, of its 60 Milan Italy21 stories about protests or strikes, of its 124

Stories, not people.

The emotional weather

feelings in full →
Feelings Events Harm Warmth
Zambia: feelings about like the world'sVanuatu: feelings about like the world'sUzbekistan: feelings about like the world'sUruguay: too little coverage to readMicronesia: too little coverage to readU.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: 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'sUkraine: feelings about like the world'sUganda: feelings about like the world'sTurkmenistan: feelings about like the world'sTrinidad & Tobago: feelings about like the world'sTonga: feelings about like the world'sTogo: too little coverage to readTimor-Leste: too little coverage to readThailand: feelings about like the world'sTanzania: feelings about like the world'sTajikistan: feelings about like the world'sSwitzerland: feelings about like the world'sEswatini: feelings about like the world'sSuriname: too little coverage to readSouth Sudan: feelings about like the world'sSudan: feelings about like the world'sSri Lanka: feelings about like the world'sSouth Africa: feelings about like the world'sSomaliland: too little coverage to readSolomon Islands: feelings about like the world'sSingapore: 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 readSt Vincent: feelings about like the world'sSt. Lucia: too little coverage to readRwanda: feelings about like the world'sRomania: feelings about like the world'sQatar: feelings about like the world'sPortugal: feelings about like the world'sPoland: 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'sNorway: feelings about like the world'sNorth Korea: feelings about like the world'sNiger: feelings about like the world'sNiue: too little coverage to readCuraçao: too little coverage to readNamibia: 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: too little coverage to readMauritania: feelings about like the world'sMalta: feelings about like the world'sMali: feelings about like the world'sMalaysia: feelings about like the world'sMalawi: feelings about like the world'sMadagascar: feelings about like the world'sNorth Macedonia: feelings about like the world'sLuxembourg: feelings about like the world'sLithuania: feelings about like the world'sLesotho: too little coverage to readLebanon: feelings about like the world'sLatvia: feelings about like the world'sLaos: feelings about like the world'sKyrgyzstan: too little coverage to readKuwait: 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'sJamaica: feelings about like the world'sPalestine: feelings about like the world'sIreland: feelings about like the world'sIndonesia: feelings about like the world'sIndia: feelings about like the world'sIceland: feelings about like the world'sHonduras: 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: feelings about like the world'sGhana: feelings about like the world'sGeorgia: feelings about like the world'sGambia: feelings about like the world'sGabon: too little coverage to readSt Pierre & Miquelon: too little coverage to readFrench Polynesia: feelings about like the world'sNew 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'sEritrea: too little coverage to readEquatorial Guinea: 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'sN. Cyprus: too little coverage to readCyprus: too little coverage to readCroatia: feelings about like the world'sCôte d'Ivoire: feelings about like the world'sCosta Rica: feelings about like the world'sDR Congo: too little coverage to readCongo: too little coverage to readComoros: too little coverage to readColombia: feelings about like the world'sChile: feelings about like the world'sChad: feelings about like the world'sCape Verde: too little coverage to readCanada: feelings about like the world'sCameroon: feelings about like the world'sMyanmar: feelings about like the world'sBurundi: too little coverage to readBurkina Faso: feelings about like the world'sBrunei: feelings about like the world'sBotswana: feelings about like the world'sBosnia and Herzegovina: feelings about like the world'sBolivia: too little coverage to readBhutan: feelings about like the world'sBenin: too little coverage to readBelize: too little coverage to readBelgium: 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'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 readArgentina: feelings about like the world'sAntigua & Barbuda: feelings about like the world'sAngola: feelings about like the world'sAndorra: too little coverage to readAlbania: 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: feelings about like the world'sMarshall Islands: too little coverage to readNorthern 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: feelings about like the world'sBritish Virgin Islands: too little coverage to readTurks & Caicos Islands: too little coverage to readMontserrat: feelings about like the world'sGuernsey: 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: too little coverage to readMaldives: 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: feelings about like the world'sSint Maarten: too little coverage to readChristmas Island: too little coverage to readGibraltar: feelings about like the world'sMayotte: too little coverage to readZimbabwe: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sYemen: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sVietnam: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sVenezuela: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sUK: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sTürkiye: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sTunisia: coverage a little angrier than the world'sTaiwan: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sSyria: coverage about 4 times as angry as the world'sSweden: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sSpain: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sSouth Korea: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sSomalia: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sSlovakia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sSlovenia: 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'sRussia: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sPhilippines: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sPakistan: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sNigeria: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sNicaragua: coverage a little angrier than the world'sNew Zealand: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sNetherlands: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sNepal: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sLibya: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sLiberia: coverage a little angrier than the world'sKenya: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sJapan: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sItaly: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sIsrael: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sIraq: coverage about 4 times as angry as the world'sIran: coverage about three times as grief-stricken as the world'sHungary: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sGreece: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sGermany: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sFrance: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sFiji: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sEthiopia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sEstonia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sEl Salvador: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sEgypt: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sCzechia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sCuba: coverage a little warmer than the world'sChina: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sHong Kong: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sCentral African Republic: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sCambodia: coverage a little angrier than the world'sBulgaria: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sBrazil: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sBangladesh: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sArmenia: coverage a little angrier than the world'sAlgeria: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sAfghanistan: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sKashmir: coverage about twice as fearful as the world'sChina: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sKashmir: coverage about twice as fearful as the world'sKashmir: coverage about twice as fearful as the world'sKashmir: coverage about twice as fearful as the world'sJersey: coverage a little warmer 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 about twice as fearful as the world's · 57 stories about harm ● Iraq about 4 times as angry as the world's · 94 stories about harm ● Syria about 4 times as angry as the world's · 100 stories about harm ● Iran about three times as grief-stricken as the world's · 224 stories about harm ● Spain about twice as grief-stricken as the world's · 304 stories about harm ● Greece about twice as grief-stricken as the world's · 53 stories about harm

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Health82% 17,977 stories · much more than usual (usually 52%) Rights & justice6% 1,381 stories · much less than usual (usually 19%) Disasters & accidents4% 902 stories · much less than usual (usually 11%) Conflict & violence3% 752 stories · much less than usual (usually 9%) Shelter & services2% 387 stories · about as usual Deaths & injuries, cause not given2% 339 stories · less than usual (usually 4%) Displacement1% 159 stories · about as usual Food & livelihood1% 140 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 killed5,578 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about the US and the UK Stories reporting people affected1,608 at about the usual rate Stories reporting arrests792 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about the US and India Stories reporting people injured559 at about the usual rate Stories reporting evacuations135 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people falling ill122 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about the US and China Stories reporting people displaced101 at about the usual rate Stories reporting refugees83 at about half the usual rate · most about Syria and Türkiye Stories reporting abductions69 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 softer than usual. Filled dot: today. Ring: usual.

● Angerabout two-thirds of usual
● Warmthabout as usual
● Griefabout two-thirds of 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.