← 28 Mar Sunday 29 March 2020 · to 23:59 UTC 30 Mar →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
26,580 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 abductions in Mali, protests in Ministry of Health (Oman) and deaths in Botswana. Botswana's coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's. Across the world, the tone of the words was about as usual.

Part of lifeHealth 84 in 100 of the stories about harm · much more than usual Country that rose mostPanama 80 in 100 of its 88 stories, usually 39
RegionCentral Asia 62 in 100 of its stories, usually 32
Tone of the words About as usual across the world's stories about harm

What the world's news was about today

how these are picked →
Health

Mali

32 of its 38 stories (84%) were about people being harmed, usually 52%. Reports of abductions ran at about 5 times the usual rate (18 stories). Covid was named in 31 of its stories about harm, about three times usual, with outbreaks. Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.

Mali over 30 days → its stories →
Health

US

9,286 of its 17,914 stories (52%) were about people being harmed, usually 38%. Reports of people injured ran at about three times the usual rate (731 stories). Drownings were named in 41 of its stories about harm, about three times usual, with train derailment. Grief in its coverage rose to about twice its own usual.

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

Indonesia

101 of its 152 stories (66%) were about people being harmed, usually 52%. Jakarta accounted for 62 of Indonesia's 101 stories about harm, carried by 40 outlets. Reports of people injured ran at about three times the usual rate (6 stories). Earthquake was named in 15 of its stories about harm, about three times usual.

its stories →
Health

Libya

26 of its 34 stories (76%) were about people being harmed, usually 52%. Tripoli accounted for 22 of Libya's 26 stories about harm, carried by 26 outlets. Reports of people displaced ran at about twice the usual rate (5 stories). Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.

its stories →
Health

Panama

70 of its 88 stories (80%) were about people being harmed, usually 39%. the Panama Canal accounted for 55 of Panama's 70 stories about harm, carried by 144 outlets. Reports of people killed ran at about 4 times the usual rate (62 stories).

its stories →
Health

Netherlands

58 of its 121 stories (48%) were about people being harmed, usually 28%. Reports of people killed ran at about three times the usual rate (41 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.

its stories →
Health

Armenia

26 of its 46 stories (57%) were about people being harmed, usually 30%. Reports of people killed ran at about 5 times the usual rate (13 stories). Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.

its stories →
Health

Spain

265 of its 521 stories (51%) were about people being harmed, usually 37%. Drownings were named in 16 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual. Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: covid in Syria (49 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); flu in New Zealand (56 of its stories, about 5 times its usual); flu in Brazil (15 of its stories, about three times its usual); earthquake in Indonesia (15 of its stories, about three times its usual); drownings in Spain (16 of its stories, more than ten times its usual).

44 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 34; 43 the day before
44 in 10024 in 10029 Feb7 Mar14 Mar21 Mar29 Mar29 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 10028 Mar: 43 in 10029 Mar: 44 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 29 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 26,580 stories about harm among 60,658 counted on 29 Mar.

Read the day's briefing

The share of stories about people being harmed was the highest in all 1550 days held. 44 in every 100 of the day's 60,658 news stories were about people being harmed, above the usual 34. On 30 March 2019, a year earlier, the share was 21 in every 100, against 44 today. Mali stood out: 84% of its news was about people being harmed, usually 52%. This week the news turned most often to Afghanistan, on 4 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 →

North Korea81 in 100 of its 120 stories · usually 55 · mostly health Panama80 in 100 of its 88 stories · usually 39 · mostly health Syria79 in 100 of its 77 stories · usually 73 · mostly health Bangladesh70 in 100 of its 162 stories · usually 46 · mostly health Philippines70 in 100 of its 525 stories · usually 56 · mostly health

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

Washington US71 stories about protests or strikes, of its 1222 Manhattan US42 stories about protests or strikes, of its 251 Wuhan China28 stories about protests or strikes, of its 477 Delhi India25 stories about protests or strikes, of its 519 London UK24 stories about protests or strikes, of its 480

Stories, not people.

Where harm was most of the news

feelings in full →
Feelings Events Harm Warmth
Zambia: near the world's share or lessYemen: near the world's share or lessVietnam: near the world's share or lessVenezuela: near the world's share or lessVanuatu: near the world's share or lessUzbekistan: near the world's share or lessUruguay: near the world's share or lessMicronesia: near the world's share or lessU.S. Virgin Islands: near the world's share or lessGuam: near the world's share or lessPuerto Rico: near the world's share or lessUnited States: near the world's share or lessSouth Georgia & South Sandwich Islands: no storiesFalkland Islands: no storiesCayman Islands: near the world's share or lessIsle of Man: no storiesUnited Kingdom: near the world's share or lessUnited Arab Emirates: near the world's share or lessUkraine: near the world's share or lessUganda: near the world's share or lessTurkmenistan: near the world's share or lessTurkey: near the world's share or lessTunisia: near the world's share or lessTrinidad & Tobago: near the world's share or lessTonga: near the world's share or lessTogo: near the world's share or lessTimor-Leste: no storiesTanzania: near the world's share or lessTajikistan: no storiesTaiwan: near the world's share or lessSwitzerland: near the world's share or lessSweden: near the world's share or lessEswatini: near the world's share or lessSuriname: near the world's share or lessSouth Sudan: near the world's share or lessSudan: near the world's share or lessSri Lanka: near the world's share or lessSpain: near the world's share or lessSouth Korea: near the world's share or lessSouth Africa: near the world's share or lessSomalia: near the world's share or lessSomaliland: no storiesSolomon Islands: near the world's share or lessSlovakia: near the world's share or lessSlovenia: near the world's share or lessSingapore: near the world's share or lessSierra Leone: near the world's share or lessSeychelles: near the world's share or lessSerbia: no storiesSenegal: near the world's share or lessSão Tomé: no storiesSamoa: near the world's share or lessSt Vincent: near the world's share or lessSt. Lucia: near the world's share or lessRwanda: near the world's share or lessRussia: near the world's share or lessRomania: near the world's share or lessQatar: near the world's share or lessPortugal: near the world's share or lessPoland: near the world's share or lessPeru: near the world's share or lessParaguay: no storiesPapua New Guinea: near the world's share or lessPalau: no storiesOman: near the world's share or lessNorway: near the world's share or lessNiger: near the world's share or lessNicaragua: near the world's share or lessNew Zealand: near the world's share or lessNiue: no storiesNetherlands: near the world's share or lessCuraçao: no storiesNamibia: near the world's share or lessMozambique: near the world's share or lessMorocco: near the world's share or lessWestern Sahara: near the world's share or lessMontenegro: near the world's share or lessMongolia: near the world's share or lessMoldova: no storiesMexico: near the world's share or lessMauritius: near the world's share or lessMauritania: near the world's share or lessMalta: near the world's share or lessMalaysia: near the world's share or lessMalawi: near the world's share or lessMadagascar: near the world's share or lessNorth Macedonia: near the world's share or lessLuxembourg: near the world's share or lessLithuania: near the world's share or lessLiberia: near the world's share or lessLesotho: no storiesLebanon: near the world's share or lessLatvia: near the world's share or lessLaos: near the world's share or lessKyrgyzstan: near the world's share or lessKuwait: near the world's share or lessKosovo: no storiesKiribati: no storiesKazakhstan: near the world's share or lessJordan: near the world's share or lessJapan: near the world's share or lessJamaica: near the world's share or lessIsrael: near the world's share or lessPalestine: near the world's share or lessIreland: near the world's share or lessIraq: near the world's share or lessIndia: near the world's share or lessIceland: near the world's share or lessHungary: near the world's share or lessHonduras: near the world's share or lessHaiti: near the world's share or lessGuyana: near the world's share or lessGuinea-Bissau: no storiesGuinea: near the world's share or lessGuatemala: near the world's share or lessGrenada: near the world's share or lessGreece: near the world's share or lessGhana: near the world's share or lessGermany: near the world's share or lessGeorgia: near the world's share or lessGambia: near the world's share or lessGabon: near the world's share or lessFrance: near the world's share or lessSt Pierre & Miquelon: near the world's share or lessFrench Polynesia: near the world's share or lessNew Caledonia: near the world's share or lessFrench Southern Territories: no storiesÅland Islands: no storiesFinland: near the world's share or lessFiji: near the world's share or lessEthiopia: near the world's share or lessEstonia: near the world's share or lessEritrea: near the world's share or lessEquatorial Guinea: no storiesEl Salvador: near the world's share or lessEgypt: near the world's share or lessEcuador: near the world's share or lessDominican Republic: near the world's share or lessDominica: near the world's share or lessDjibouti: near the world's share or lessGreenland: near the world's share or lessFaroe Islands: no storiesDenmark: near the world's share or lessCzech Republic: near the world's share or lessN. Cyprus: no storiesCyprus: near the world's share or lessCuba: near the world's share or lessCroatia: near the world's share or lessCôte d'Ivoire: near the world's share or lessCosta Rica: near the world's share or lessDR Congo: near the world's share or lessCongo: near the world's share or lessComoros: no storiesColombia: near the world's share or lessHong Kong: near the world's share or lessChile: near the world's share or lessChad: near the world's share or lessCentral African Republic: near the world's share or lessCape Verde: no storiesCanada: near the world's share or lessCameroon: near the world's share or lessCambodia: near the world's share or lessMyanmar: near the world's share or lessBurundi: near the world's share or lessBurkina Faso: near the world's share or lessBulgaria: near the world's share or lessBrunei: near the world's share or lessBrazil: near the world's share or lessBotswana: near the world's share or lessBosnia and Herzegovina: near the world's share or lessBolivia: near the world's share or lessBhutan: near the world's share or lessBenin: near the world's share or lessBelize: near the world's share or lessBelgium: near the world's share or lessBelarus: near the world's share or lessBarbados: near the world's share or lessBahrain: near the world's share or lessBahamas: near the world's share or lessAzerbaijan: near the world's share or lessAustria: near the world's share or lessAustralia: near the world's share or lessHeard & McDonald Islands: no storiesArmenia: near the world's share or lessArgentina: near the world's share or lessAntigua & Barbuda: no storiesAngola: near the world's share or lessAndorra: near the world's share or lessAlgeria: near the world's share or lessAlbania: near the world's share or lessAfghanistan: near the world's share or lessGaza: near the world's share or lessWest Bank: near the world's share or lessWestern Sahara (Moroccan-controlled): near the world's share or lessWestern Sahara (Free Zone): near the world's share or lessCrimea: near the world's share or lessEast Jerusalem: near the world's share or lessVatican City: near the world's share or lessMarshall Islands: near the world's share or lessNorthern Mariana Islands: no storiesAmerican Samoa: near the world's share or lessChagos Islands: no storiesSt. Helena: no storiesPitcairn: no storiesAnguilla: no storiesBermuda: near the world's share or lessBritish Virgin Islands: no storiesTurks & Caicos Islands: no storiesMontserrat: near the world's share or lessJersey: near the world's share or lessGuernsey: near the world's share or lessSan Marino: no storiesSt Kitts & Nevis: near the world's share or lessCook Islands: no storiesAruba: no storiesNauru: no storiesMonaco: near the world's share or lessMaldives: near the world's share or lessLiechtenstein: no storiesWallis & Futuna: no storiesSt. Martin: no storiesSt. Barthélemy: no storiesMacao: near the world's share or lessNorfolk Island: no storiesSint Maarten: no storiesChristmas Island: no storiesGibraltar: near the world's share or lessMayotte: near the world's share or lessZimbabwe: 59 in 100 of its 158 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 44)Thailand: 65 in 100 of its 137 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 44)Syria: 79 in 100 of its 77 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 44)Saudi Arabia: 58 in 100 of its 290 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 44)Philippines: 70 in 100 of its 525 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 44)Panama: 80 in 100 of its 88 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 44)Pakistan: 60 in 100 of its 561 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 44)North Korea: 81 in 100 of its 120 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 44)Nigeria: 63 in 100 of its 1,196 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 44)Nepal: 68 in 100 of its 91 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 44)Mali: 84 in 100 of its 38 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 44)Libya: 76 in 100 of its 34 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 44)Kenya: 58 in 100 of its 211 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 44)Italy: 59 in 100 of its 683 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 44)Iran: 68 in 100 of its 240 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 44)Indonesia: 66 in 100 of its 152 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 44)China: 64 in 100 of its 1,602 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 44)Bangladesh: 70 in 100 of its 162 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 44)Kashmir: 63 in 100 of its 119 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 44)China: 64 in 100 of its 1,602 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 44)Kashmir: 63 in 100 of its 119 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 44)Kashmir: 63 in 100 of its 119 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 44)Kashmir: 63 in 100 of its 119 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 44)
A quarter or more above the world's share Near the world's or lessNo stories

Each country shaded by how much of its news was about people being harmed, against the world's 44 in 100 that day. Stronger colour: further above. A country with few stories is drawn closer to the world's. Click a country.

Most of its news about harm

● North Korea 81 in 100 of its 120 stories · mostly health ● Philippines 70 in 100 of its 525 stories · mostly health ● Panama 80 in 100 of its 88 stories · mostly health ● Syria 79 in 100 of its 77 stories · mostly health ● Bangladesh 70 in 100 of its 162 stories · mostly health ● China 64 in 100 of its 1,602 stories · mostly health

Stories, not people. Countries with at least 50 stories.

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Health84% 22,269 stories · much more than usual (usually 74%) Disasters & accidents4% 1,122 stories · about as usual Rights & justice4% 1,022 stories · much less than usual (usually 10%) Conflict & violence2% 623 stories · less than usual (usually 5%) Deaths & injuries, cause not given2% 565 stories · about as usual Shelter & services2% 423 stories · about as usual Displacement1% 237 stories · about as usual Food & livelihood1% 221 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 killed8,604 at about twice the usual rate · most about the US and the UK Stories reporting people affected1,823 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people injured1,114 at about twice the usual rate · most about the US and Canada Stories reporting arrests911 at about the usual rate Stories reporting evacuations160 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about India and the Philippines Stories reporting people falling ill112 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people displaced90 at about the usual rate Stories reporting refugees81 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about the US and Syria Stories reporting abductions60 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 about as usual. Filled dot: today. Ring: usual.

● Angera little less than usual
● Warmthabout as usual
● Griefabout one and a half times 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.