← 26 Mar Friday 27 March 2020 · to 23:59 UTC 28 Mar →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
50,343 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 Tehran, violence in Kabul and refugees in Burkina Faso. Afghanistan's coverage was about 4 times as angry as the world's. In the world's news as a whole, the wording was much softer than usual.

Help and hope: reports of volunteers ran at about one and a half times the usual rate →
Part of lifeHealth 87 in 100 of the stories about harm · much more than usual Country that rose mostBangladesh 72 in 100 of its 170 stories, usually 44
RegionCentral Asia 47 in 100 of its stories, usually 29
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

Iran

265 of its 351 stories (75%) were about people being harmed, usually 67%. Tehran accounted for 144 of Iran's 265 stories about harm, carried by 250 outlets. Reports of people falling ill ran at more than ten times the usual rate (33 stories). Poisoning was named in 44 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual. Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's. Fear in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

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

Afghanistan

155 of its 193 stories (80%) were about people being harmed, usually 60%. Kabul accounted for 116 of Afghanistan's 155 stories about harm, carried by 139 outlets. Reports of abductions ran at about 4 times the usual rate (6 stories). Its coverage was about 4 times as angry as the world's. Fear in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

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

South Africa

548 of its 1,129 stories (49%) were about people being harmed, usually 37%. Reports of people killed ran at about three times the usual rate (234 stories). Respiratory illness was named in 25 of its stories about harm, about three times usual, with ebola. Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.

its stories →
Health

Sri Lanka

94 of its 176 stories (53%) were about people being harmed, usually 31%. Reports of people displaced ran at more than ten times the usual rate (5 stories). Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.

its stories →
Health

Nepal

73 of its 108 stories (68%) were about people being harmed, usually 46%. Kathmandu accounted for 48 of Nepal's 73 stories about harm, carried by 87 outlets. Reports of evacuations ran at about 9 times the usual rate (7 stories).

its stories →
Health

Saudi Arabia

151 of its 250 stories (60%) were about people being harmed, usually 45%. Reports of evacuations ran at about 5 times the usual rate (5 stories). Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.

its stories →
Health

Venezuela

76 of its 139 stories (55%) were about people being harmed, usually 40%. Reports of arrests ran at about three times the usual rate (29 stories). Flooding was named in 19 of its stories about harm, about 8 times usual.

its stories →
Health

Spain

412 of its 910 stories (45%) were about people being harmed, usually 35%. Reports of people injured ran at about twice the usual rate (9 stories). Its coverage was about three times as grief-stricken as the world's.

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: covid in Syria (56 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); flooding in Venezuela (19 of its stories, about 8 times its usual); volcanic eruption in Indonesia (19 of its stories, about 5 times its usual); respiratory illness in South Africa (25 of its stories, about three times its usual); flooding in Japan (15 of its stories, about 5 times its usual).

41 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 32; 41 the day before
43 in 10023 in 10027 Feb5 Mar12 Mar19 Mar27 Mar27 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 10020 Mar: 40 in 10021 Mar: 41 in 10022 Mar: 43 in 10023 Mar: 40 in 10024 Mar: 40 in 10025 Mar: 41 in 10026 Mar: 41 in 10027 Mar: 41 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 27 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 50,343 stories about harm among 123,090 counted on 27 Mar.

Read the day's briefing

41 in every 100 of the day's 123,090 news stories were about people being harmed, above the usual 32. On the side of help, reports of volunteers ran at about one and a half times the usual rate. Syria's news mentioned Covid about 4 times as often as usual. A year earlier, on 28 March 2019, 20 in every 100 stories were about people being harmed, against 41 today.

Written by code from the day's numbers.

Where harm was most of the news all →

Afghanistan80 in 100 of its 193 stories · usually 60 · mostly conflict & violence Syria77 in 100 of its 111 stories · usually 73 · mostly health Iran75 in 100 of its 351 stories · usually 67 · mostly health Bangladesh72 in 100 of its 170 stories · usually 44 · mostly health Yemen72 in 100 of its 60 stories · usually 65 · mostly health

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

Washington US213 stories about protests or strikes, of its 2736 Wuhan China57 stories about protests or strikes, of its 833 New York US39 stories about protests or strikes, of its 996 London UK31 stories about protests or strikes, of its 1020 Delhi India27 stories about protests or strikes, of its 616

Stories, not people.

The emotional weather

feelings in full →
Feelings Events Harm Warmth
Uruguay: 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: too little coverage to readIsle 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'sTonga: feelings about like the world'sTogo: too little coverage to readTimor-Leste: 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: feelings about like the world'sSouth Sudan: feelings about like the world'sSouth Korea: feelings about like the world'sSomaliland: too little coverage to readSolomon Islands: feelings about like the world'sSlovakia: feelings about like the world'sSlovenia: feelings about like the world'sSingapore: 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 Vincent: feelings about like the world'sSt. Lucia: feelings about like the world'sQatar: feelings about like the world'sPhilippines: feelings about like the world'sPeru: feelings about like the world'sParaguay: too little coverage to readPapua New Guinea: feelings about like the world'sPalau: too little coverage to readOman: feelings about like the world'sNorway: feelings about like the world'sNigeria: feelings about like the world'sNiger: feelings about like the world'sNiue: too little coverage to readCuraçao: too little coverage to readNepal: feelings about like the world'sMorocco: feelings about like the world'sWestern Sahara: too little coverage to readMontenegro: feelings about like the world'sMongolia: feelings about like the world'sMoldova: feelings about like the world'sMauritius: feelings about like the world'sMauritania: too little coverage to readMalta: 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: feelings about like the world'sLaos: feelings about like the world'sKyrgyzstan: feelings about like the world'sKosovo: too little coverage to readKiribati: feelings about like the world'sKenya: feelings about like the world'sKazakhstan: feelings about like the world'sJordan: feelings about like the world'sJapan: feelings about like the world'sJamaica: feelings about like the world'sIndia: 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 readGrenada: 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: too little coverage to readFrench 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: feelings about like the world'sEquatorial Guinea: feelings about like the world'sEcuador: feelings about like the world'sDominican Republic: feelings about like the world'sDominica: feelings about like the world'sDjibouti: 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'sCroatia: feelings about like the world'sCôte d'Ivoire: feelings about like the world'sCosta Rica: feelings about like the world'sDR Congo: feelings about like the world'sComoros: too little coverage to readCape Verde: too little coverage to readCambodia: feelings about like the world'sMyanmar: feelings about like the world'sBurundi: feelings about like the world'sBulgaria: 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: 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: 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'sHeard & McDonald Islands: too little coverage to readArmenia: feelings about like the world'sArgentina: feelings about like the world'sAntigua & Barbuda: too little coverage to readAngola: feelings about like the world'sAndorra: too little coverage to readAlbania: 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'sVatican 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: feelings about like the world'sBermuda: 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: feelings about like the world'sSt Kitts & Nevis: feelings about like the world'sCook Islands: feelings about like the world'sAruba: 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: feelings about like the world'sNorfolk 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 readZimbabwe: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sZambia: coverage a little angrier than the world'sYemen: coverage about three times as angry as the world'sVietnam: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sVenezuela: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sVanuatu: coverage a little angrier than the world'sUzbekistan: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sUK: coverage a little warmer than the world'sTürkiye: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sTrinidad & Tobago: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sThailand: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sSyria: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sSwitzerland: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sSudan: coverage a little warmer than the world'sSri Lanka: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sSpain: coverage about three times as grief-stricken as 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 angry as the world'sSierra Leone: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sSaudi Arabia: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sRwanda: coverage a little angrier than the world'sRussia: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sRomania: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sPortugal: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sPoland: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sPanama: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sPakistan: coverage a little angrier than the world'sNorth Korea: coverage a little angrier than the world'sNicaragua: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sNew Zealand: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sNetherlands: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sNamibia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sMozambique: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sMexico: coverage a little angrier than the world'sMali: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sLibya: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sLiberia: coverage a little angrier than the world'sLebanon: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sLatvia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sKuwait: coverage a little angrier than 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'sIreland: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sIraq: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sIran: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sIndonesia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sIceland: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sHungary: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sGuinea: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sGuatemala: coverage a little angrier than the world'sGreece: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sGermany: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sGambia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sFrance: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sEthiopia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sEl Salvador: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sEgypt: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sDenmark: coverage a little warmer than the world'sCuba: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sCongo: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sColombia: coverage a little angrier 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'sChile: coverage a little angrier than the world'sChad: coverage a little angrier than the world'sCentral African Republic: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sCanada: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sCameroon: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sBurkina Faso: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sBrazil: coverage a little angrier than the world'sBarbados: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sBangladesh: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sAustralia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sAlgeria: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sAfghanistan: coverage about 4 times 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'sPalestine: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sKashmir: coverage a little more grief-stricken than 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

● Afghanistan about 4 times as angry as the world's · 155 stories about harm ● Spain about three times as grief-stricken as the world's · 412 stories about harm ● Italy about three times as grief-stricken as the world's · 809 stories about harm ● New Zealand about one and a half times as fearful as the world's · 225 stories about harm ● Yemen few stories about three times as angry as the world's · 43 stories about harm ● Iran about twice as grief-stricken as the world's · 265 stories about harm

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Health87% 43,377 stories · much more than usual (usually 71%) Rights & justice4% 1,969 stories · much less than usual (usually 11%) Disasters & accidents3% 1,518 stories · less than usual (usually 6%) Conflict & violence2% 885 stories · less than usual (usually 5%) Shelter & services2% 866 stories · about as usual Deaths & injuries, cause not given1% 714 stories · about as usual Food & livelihood1% 452 stories · about as usual Displacement1% 355 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 killed11,797 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about the US and the UK Stories reporting people affected3,289 at about the usual rate Stories reporting arrests1,630 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people injured1,436 at about the usual rate Stories reporting evacuations249 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about Nigeria and the US Stories reporting people falling ill197 at about the usual rate Stories reporting refugees159 at about half the usual rate · most about the US and Türkiye Stories reporting people displaced127 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about Syria and the US Stories reporting abductions84 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about the US and Iraq

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 as 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.