We measure how the world's news covered people being harmed — and the help and hope within it.
62 of its 85 stories (73%) were about people being harmed, usually 49%. Beirut accounted for 38 of Lebanon's 62 stories about harm, carried by 218 outlets. 27 of Beirut's 38 stories were about protests or strikes. Ebola was named in 11 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual.
106 of its 135 stories (79%) were about people being harmed, usually 65%. Kabul accounted for 85 of Afghanistan's 106 stories about harm, carried by 167 outlets. Reports of arrests ran at about three times the usual rate (59 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's.
90 of its 151 stories (60%) were about people being harmed, usually 41%. Reports of people injured ran at about 6 times the usual rate (23 stories). Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's. Anger in its coverage rose to about twice its own usual.
36 of its 41 stories (88%) were about people being harmed, usually 60%.
149 of its 224 stories (67%) were about people being harmed, usually 53%. Seoul accounted for 72 of South Korea's 149 stories about harm, carried by 238 outlets. Reports of people killed ran at about twice the usual rate (75 stories).
42 of its 65 stories (65%) were about people being harmed, usually 51%. Reports of people killed ran at about twice the usual rate (16 stories). Grief in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.
2,054 of its 3,680 stories (56%) were about people being harmed, usually 49%. Reports of people injured ran at about 4 times the usual rate (78 stories). Earthquake was named in 41 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual, with wildfires.
573 of its 937 stories (61%) were about people being harmed, usually 54%. Reports of arrests ran at about three times the usual rate (80 stories). Flu was named in 14 of its stories about harm, about three times usual.
Reports of people killed ran at about twice the usual rate (234 stories). Flooding was named in 29 of its stories about harm, about 4 times usual, with storms. Grief in its coverage rose to about twice its own usual.
Reports of refugees ran at about 5 times the usual rate (8 stories). Heatwave was named in 12 of its stories about harm, about 5 times usual. Its coverage was about one and a half times as warm as the world's. Grief in its coverage rose to about twice its own usual.
Also named far more than usual: wildfires in Ukraine (12 of its stories, about 8 times its usual); volcanic eruption in Indonesia (10 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); flooding in Canada (29 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); storms in US (288 of its stories, about 7 times its usual); flu in Nigeria (14 of its stories, about three times its usual).
Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 12 Apr. 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 23,761 stories about harm among 54,237 counted on 12 Apr.
In Ukraine's news, mentions of wildfires ran about 8 times their usual. Stories about people being harmed made up 44 in every 100 of the day's 54,237 stories, above the usual 41. On 13 April 2019, a year earlier, the share was 19 in every 100, against 44 today. In Lebanon, 73% of the news was about people being harmed, where 49% is usual. This week the news turned most often to Fiji, on 4 of 7 days.
Written by code from the day's numbers.
Countries with at least 50 stories that day.
Stories, not people.
The day's biggest events: attacks, accidents and disasters, people displaced, protests, outbreaks. Bigger dot: more stories. Ranked by the share of the day's outlets that reported it and how clearly it was about one thing, the same way for every place and year; the news data does not say who attacked whom, so both sides of a war appear where the news put them. Click a dot for its stories.
Of the stories about people being harmed, what part of life each was about. The mark is usual.
Stories that report it, not people: we count what reporters wrote, not what happened.
The words in the day's stories were harsher than usual. Filled dot: today. Ring: usual.
From the words reporters used across the whole day, never one story. Fear is the weakest of the four measures. How?
Unlock a year of trends, free. Follow up to 5 countries, with a bell when their news changes, and 👍 vote for Pro — ten years of the archive, any period, daily alerts.
Create a free accountSign in · a username, an email and a password.