← 18 Mar Thursday 19 March 2020 · to 23:59 UTC 20 Mar →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
52,851 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 illness in Ouagadougou, arrests in Lebanon and protests in Windhoek (Namibia). Iraq's coverage was about three times as angry as the world's. Over the whole world, the tone was much softer than usual.

Part of lifeHealth 86 in 100 of the stories about harm · much more than usual Country that rose mostGhana 55 in 100 of its 539 stories, usually 25
RegionNorth America 45 in 100 of its stories, usually 28
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

Burkina Faso

32 of its 35 stories (91%) were about people being harmed, usually 59%. Ouagadougou accounted for 25 of Burkina Faso's 32 stories about harm, carried by 40 outlets. Reports of people affected ran at about twice the usual rate (24 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.

Burkina Faso over 30 days → its stories → Ouagadougou stories →
Rights & justice

Lebanon

88 of its 168 stories (52%) were about people being harmed, usually 29%. Reports of arrests ran at about 5 times the usual rate (11 stories). Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.

Lebanon over 30 days → its stories →
Conflict & violence

Iraq

Reports of people displaced ran at about 5 times the usual rate (7 stories). Its coverage was about three times as angry as the world's. Fear in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

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

Iran

340 of its 470 stories (72%) were about people being harmed, usually 64%. Tehran accounted for 141 of Iran's 340 stories about harm, carried by 152 outlets. Reports of evacuations ran at about twice the usual rate (21 stories). Its coverage was about three times as grief-stricken as the world's.

its stories →
Health

China

Wuhan accounted for 1,277 of China's 2,839 stories about harm, carried by 1,473 outlets. Reports of people injured ran at about three times the usual rate (56 stories). West Nile virus was named in 17 of its stories about harm, about 8 times usual, with rabies. Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.

its stories →
Health

France

462 of its 1,005 stories (46%) were about people being harmed, usually 25%. Reports of people falling ill ran at about 6 times the usual rate (7 stories). HIV was named in 12 of its stories about harm, about 4 times usual.

its stories →
Health

Nigeria

745 of its 1,571 stories (47%) were about people being harmed, usually 31%. Reports of people displaced ran at about three times the usual rate (24 stories). Plague was named in 20 of its stories about harm, about three times usual.

its stories →
Health

Algeria

19 of its 39 stories (49%) were about people being harmed, usually 32%. Reports of people killed ran at about twice the usual rate (13 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.

its stories →
Health

Kenya

208 of its 372 stories (56%) were about people being harmed, usually 32%. Ebola was named in 14 of its stories about harm, about 5 times usual.

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: flu in Latvia (12 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); respiratory illness in Russia (51 of its stories, about 8 times its usual); ebola in Japan (25 of its stories, about 5 times its usual); respiratory illness in Türkiye (10 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); ebola in Kenya (14 of its stories, about 5 times its usual).

40 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 27; 39 the day before
40 in 10020 in 10019 Feb26 Feb4 Mar11 Mar19 Mar19 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 10016 Mar: 37 in 10017 Mar: 38 in 10018 Mar: 39 in 10019 Mar: 40 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 19 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 52,851 stories about harm among 132,278 counted on 19 Mar.

Read the day's briefing

Of the day's 132,278 news stories, 40 in every 100 were about people being harmed, above the usual 27. the share of stories about people being harmed was the highest in all 1540 days held. Mentions of the flu ran more than ten times their usual in Latvia's news. A year earlier, on 20 March 2019, 20 in every 100 stories were about people being harmed, against 40 today.

Written by code from the day's numbers.

Where harm was most of the news all →

Syria75 in 100 of its 138 stories · usually 73 · mostly conflict & violence Iran72 in 100 of its 470 stories · usually 64 · mostly health Philippines68 in 100 of its 896 stories · usually 45 · mostly health China66 in 100 of its 4,330 stories · usually 61 · mostly health Ethiopia65 in 100 of its 55 stories · usually 44 · mostly health

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

Washington US135 stories about protests or strikes, of its 2780 Jerusalem Israel67 stories about protests or strikes, of its 225 Delhi India48 stories about protests or strikes, of its 769 London UK46 stories about protests or strikes, of its 1222 Wuhan China40 stories about protests or strikes, of its 1277

Stories, not people.

The emotional weather

feelings in full →
Feelings Events Harm Warmth
Vietnam: feelings about like the world'sVanuatu: feelings about like the world'sUruguay: too little coverage to readMicronesia: 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: too little coverage to readCayman Islands: feelings about like the world'sIsle of Man: feelings about like the world'sUnited Arab Emirates: 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: feelings about like the world'sTimor-Leste: feelings about like the world'sTanzania: feelings about like the world'sTajikistan: feelings about like the world'sSweden: feelings about like the world'sEswatini: feelings about like the world'sSuriname: feelings about like the world'sSouth 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: feelings about like the world'sSamoa: feelings about like the world'sSt. Lucia: feelings about like the world'sRwanda: 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'sParaguay: feelings about like the world'sPapua New Guinea: feelings about like the world'sPanama: feelings about like the world'sPalau: feelings about like the world'sOman: feelings about like the world'sNorway: 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'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'sMauritius: feelings about like the world'sMauritania: 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'sLithuania: 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'sKyrgyzstan: feelings about like the world'sKuwait: feelings about like the world'sKosovo: too little coverage to readKiribati: feelings about like the world'sKazakhstan: feelings about like the world'sJapan: feelings about like the world'sIreland: feelings about like the world'sHonduras: feelings about like the world'sHaiti: feelings about like the world'sGuinea-Bissau: feelings about like the world'sGuatemala: feelings about like the world'sGhana: feelings about like the world'sGambia: feelings about like the world'sFrance: feelings about like the world'sSt 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'sEstonia: feelings about like the world'sEritrea: feelings about like the world'sEquatorial Guinea: too little coverage to readEl Salvador: feelings about like the world'sEcuador: feelings about like the world'sDominican Republic: feelings about like the world'sDominica: too little coverage to readDjibouti: feelings about like the world'sGreenland: feelings about like the world'sFaroe Islands: too little coverage to readCzech Republic: feelings about like the world'sN. Cyprus: too little coverage to readCyprus: feelings about like the world'sCuba: 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 readColombia: feelings about like the world'sHong Kong: 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'sCambodia: feelings about like the world'sMyanmar: feelings about like the world'sBurundi: too little coverage to readBrunei: too little coverage to readBosnia and Herzegovina: feelings about like the world'sBolivia: feelings about like the world'sBhutan: feelings about like the world'sBenin: feelings about like the world'sBelgium: feelings about like the world'sBarbados: feelings about like the world'sBangladesh: 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 readArmenia: feelings about like the world'sAntigua & Barbuda: feelings about like the world'sAngola: feelings about like the world'sAndorra: 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: feelings about like the world'sNorthern Mariana Islands: feelings about like the world'sAmerican Samoa: feelings about like the world'sChagos Islands: too little coverage to readSt. Helena: too little coverage to readPitcairn: too little coverage to readAnguilla: too little coverage to readBritish Virgin Islands: feelings about like the world'sTurks & Caicos Islands: feelings about like the world'sMontserrat: feelings about like the world'sJersey: feelings about like the world'sGuernsey: feelings about like the world'sSan Marino: too little coverage to readSt Kitts & Nevis: feelings about like the world'sCook Islands: feelings about like the world'sAruba: feelings about like the world'sNauru: 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: 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 a little angrier than the world'sZambia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sYemen: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sVenezuela: coverage a little angrier than the world'sUzbekistan: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sUK: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sUkraine: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sUganda: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sTürkiye: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sTunisia: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sThailand: coverage a little angrier than the world'sTaiwan: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sSyria: coverage about three times as angry as the world'sSwitzerland: coverage a little more grief-stricken 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 twice as angry as the world'sSlovakia: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as 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'sSt Vincent: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sRussia: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sPoland: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sPakistan: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sNorth Korea: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sNigeria: coverage a little angrier than the world'sNiger: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sNew Zealand: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sNamibia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sMoldova: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sMexico: coverage a little angrier than the world'sMalta: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sMali: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sLuxembourg: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sLibya: coverage about three times as angry as the world'sLebanon: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sKenya: coverage a little angrier than the world'sJordan: coverage a little angrier than the world'sJamaica: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sItaly: coverage about three times as grief-stricken as the world'sIsrael: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sPalestine: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sIraq: coverage about three times as angry as the world'sIran: coverage about three times as grief-stricken as the world'sIndonesia: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sIndia: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sIceland: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sHungary: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sGuyana: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sGuinea: coverage a little angrier than the world'sGrenada: coverage a little angrier than the world'sGreece: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sGermany: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sGeorgia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sGabon: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sFiji: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sEthiopia: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sEgypt: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sDenmark: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sCroatia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sDR Congo: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sCongo: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sChina: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sChile: coverage a little angrier than the world'sCameroon: coverage a little angrier than the world'sBurkina Faso: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sBulgaria: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sBrazil: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sBotswana: coverage a little angrier than the world'sBelize: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sBelarus: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sAzerbaijan: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sAustralia: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sArgentina: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sAlgeria: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sAfghanistan: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sKashmir: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sChina: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sPalestine: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sPalestine: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sKashmir: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sKashmir: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sUkraine: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sPalestine: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sKashmir: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sBermuda: coverage a little angrier 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

● Syria about three times as angry as the world's · 103 stories about harm ● Italy about three times as grief-stricken as the world's · 949 stories about harm ● Iraq about three times as angry as the world's · 79 stories about harm ● Libya few stories about three times as angry as the world's · 26 stories about harm ● Iran about three times as grief-stricken as the world's · 340 stories about harm ● Yemen few stories about twice as angry as the world's · 22 stories about harm

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Health86% 45,237 stories · much more than usual (usually 59%) Rights & justice5% 2,668 stories · much less than usual (usually 16%) Disasters & accidents3% 1,656 stories · much less than usual (usually 9%) Conflict & violence2% 948 stories · much less than usual (usually 7%) Shelter & services2% 934 stories · about as usual Deaths & injuries, cause not given1% 506 stories · less than usual (usually 3%) Food & livelihood1% 370 stories · about as usual Displacement1% 300 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 killed10,027 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people affected3,053 at about the usual rate Stories reporting arrests1,587 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about the US and India Stories reporting people injured1,088 at about the usual rate Stories reporting refugees168 at about half the usual rate · most about Palestine and the US Stories reporting evacuations167 at about half the usual rate · most about the US and India Stories reporting people falling ill155 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about the US and China Stories reporting people displaced142 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about the US and Nigeria Stories reporting abductions65 at about a third of the usual rate · most about India 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.

● Angerabout two-thirds of usual
● Warmtha little more than 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 · 18 Oct – 24 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.