← 29 May Saturday 30 May 2020 · to 23:59 UTC 31 May →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
22,065 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 Taipei, violence in Burkina Faso and protests in Washington (US). Burkina Faso's coverage was about twice as angry as the world's. Everywhere we counted, the words were much harsher than usual.

Reports of arrests ran at about twice the usual rate, most often about the US and India →
Part of lifeHealth 58 in 100 of the stories about harm · much less than usual Country that rose mostTaiwan 59 in 100 of its 101 stories, usually 42
RegionNorth America 44 in 100 of its stories, usually 40
Tone of the words Much harsher than usual across the world's stories about harm

What the world's news was about today

how these are picked →
6 more places the news pointed at
Health

Mali

15 of its 22 stories (68%) were about people being harmed, usually 43%. Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.

its stories →
Health

Denmark

18 of its 38 stories (47%) were about people being harmed, usually 32%. Grief in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

its stories →
Health

Botswana

10 of its 18 stories (56%) were about people being harmed, usually 32%. Reports of people affected ran at about three times the usual rate (5 stories).

its stories →
Health

Malta

19 of its 44 stories (43%) were about people being harmed, usually 31%. Reports of people killed ran at about twice the usual rate (9 stories).

its stories →
Health

Philippines

Manila accounted for 110 of the Philippines' 278 stories about harm, carried by 77 outlets. Earthquake was named in 10 of its stories about harm, about 4 times usual.

its stories →
Health

India

Reports of people displaced ran at about twice the usual rate (8 stories). Natural hazards were named in 64 of its stories about harm, about 4 times usual.

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: heavy rain in New Zealand (10 of its stories, about 9 times its usual); tuberculosis in Australia (14 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); natural hazards in India (64 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); heavy rain in Canada (19 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); earthquake in Philippines (10 of its stories, about 4 times its usual).

36 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 34; 32 the day before
38 in 10032 in 1001 May8 May15 May22 May30 May1 May: 35 in 1002 May: 37 in 1003 May: 38 in 1004 May: 36 in 1005 May: 35 in 1006 May: 35 in 1007 May: 34 in 1008 May: 33 in 1009 May: 36 in 10010 May: 38 in 10011 May: 34 in 10012 May: 34 in 10013 May: 34 in 10014 May: 33 in 10015 May: 33 in 10016 May: 36 in 10017 May: 37 in 10018 May: 34 in 10019 May: 33 in 10020 May: 33 in 10021 May: 32 in 10022 May: 32 in 10023 May: 34 in 10024 May: 35 in 10025 May: 33 in 10026 May: 32 in 10027 May: 32 in 10028 May: 32 in 10029 May: 32 in 10030 May: 36 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 30 May. 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 22,065 stories about harm among 61,951 counted on 30 May.

Read the day's briefing

Arrests were reported at about twice the usual rate, most often about the US and India. Stories about people being harmed made up 36 in every 100 of the day's 61,951 stories, above the usual 34. Mentions of heavy rain ran about 9 times their usual in New Zealand's news. A year earlier, on 31 May 2019, 19 in every 100 stories were about people being harmed, against 36 today. Taiwan stood out: 59% of its news was about people being harmed, usually 42%.

Written by code from the day's numbers.

Where harm was most of the news all →

Afghanistan71 in 100 of its 109 stories · usually 72 · mostly conflict & violence Philippines61 in 100 of its 456 stories · usually 56 · mostly health Taiwan59 in 100 of its 101 stories · usually 42 · mostly health Bangladesh55 in 100 of its 221 stories · usually 60 · mostly health Palestine55 in 100 of its 64 stories · usually 51 · mostly health

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

Minneapolis US621 stories about protests or strikes, of its 695 Washington US548 stories about protests or strikes, of its 1077 Minnesota US212 stories about protests or strikes, of its 287 Atlanta US133 stories about protests or strikes, of its 176 Houston US125 stories about protests or strikes, of its 182

Stories, not people.

Where harm was most of the news

feelings in full →
Feelings Events Harm Warmth
Zimbabwe: near the world's share or lessZambia: 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: no storiesU.S. Virgin Islands: near the world's share or lessGuam: near the world's share or lessPuerto Rico: 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: near the world's share or lessUnited Kingdom: near the world's share or lessUnited Arab Emirates: near the world's share or lessUganda: near the world's share or lessTurkmenistan: 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 storiesThailand: near the world's share or lessTanzania: near the world's share or lessTajikistan: 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 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 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 lessSaudi Arabia: 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: near the world's share or lessPapua New Guinea: near the world's share or lessPanama: near the world's share or lessPalau: no storiesOman: near the world's share or lessNorway: near the world's share or lessNorth Korea: near the world's share or lessNigeria: 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 storiesNepal: near the world's share or lessNamibia: near the world's share or lessMozambique: near the world's share or lessMorocco: near the world's share or lessWestern Sahara: no storiesMontenegro: near the world's share or lessMongolia: near the world's share or lessMoldova: near the world's share or lessMexico: 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 lessLibya: near the world's share or lessLiberia: near the world's share or lessLesotho: near the world's share or lessLebanon: 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 lessKosovo: no storiesKiribati: no storiesKenya: near the world's share or lessKazakhstan: 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 lessItaly: near the world's share or lessIsrael: near the world's share or lessIreland: near the world's share or lessIraq: near the world's share or lessIran: near the world's share or lessIndia: near the world's share or lessIceland: 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: near the world's share or lessGuinea: 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 lessGambia: near the world's share or lessGabon: near the world's share or lessFrance: near the world's share or lessSt Pierre & Miquelon: no storiesFrench 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: near the world's share or lessEl Salvador: 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 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 lessBurundi: near the world's share or lessBulgaria: near the world's share or lessBrunei: no storiesBotswana: 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: near the world's share or lessAngola: near the world's share or lessAndorra: no storiesAlgeria: near the world's share or lessAlbania: near the world's share or lessWestern Sahara (Moroccan-controlled): no storiesWestern Sahara (Free Zone): no storiesVatican City: near the world's share or lessMarshall Islands: near the world's share or lessNorthern Mariana Islands: near the world's share or lessAmerican Samoa: no storiesChagos Islands: no storiesSt. Helena: no storiesPitcairn: no storiesAnguilla: near the world's share or lessBermuda: near the world's share or lessBritish Virgin Islands: near the world's share or lessTurks & Caicos Islands: near the world's share or lessMontserrat: no storiesJersey: 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: near the world's share or lessAruba: no storiesNauru: no storiesMonaco: near the world's share or lessMaldives: near the world's share or lessLiechtenstein: near the world's share or lessWallis & 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: no storiesYemen: 67 in 100 of its 24 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 36)US: 45 in 100 of its 19,977 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 36)Ukraine: 53 in 100 of its 76 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 36)Türkiye: 49 in 100 of its 183 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 36)Taiwan: 59 in 100 of its 101 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 36)Syria: 62 in 100 of its 40 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 36)South Sudan: 83 in 100 of its 24 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 36)Somalia: 79 in 100 of its 39 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 36)Philippines: 61 in 100 of its 456 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 36)Pakistan: 49 in 100 of its 650 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 36)Mali: 68 in 100 of its 22 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 36)Kuwait: 57 in 100 of its 44 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 36)Palestine: 55 in 100 of its 64 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 36)Indonesia: 48 in 100 of its 135 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 36)Hungary: 62 in 100 of its 29 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 36)Georgia: 79 in 100 of its 19 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 36)Egypt: 51 in 100 of its 90 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 36)China: 49 in 100 of its 1,538 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 36)Chile: 63 in 100 of its 46 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 36)Cambodia: 67 in 100 of its 21 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 36)Myanmar: 61 in 100 of its 28 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 36)Burkina Faso: 88 in 100 of its 16 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 36)Brazil: 48 in 100 of its 149 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 36)Bangladesh: 55 in 100 of its 221 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 36)Afghanistan: 71 in 100 of its 109 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 36)Kashmir: 52 in 100 of its 157 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 36)China: 49 in 100 of its 1,538 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 36)Palestine: 55 in 100 of its 64 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 36)Palestine: 55 in 100 of its 64 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 36)Kashmir: 52 in 100 of its 157 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 36)Kashmir: 52 in 100 of its 157 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 36)Ukraine: 53 in 100 of its 76 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 36)Palestine: 55 in 100 of its 64 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 36)Kashmir: 52 in 100 of its 157 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 36)
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 36 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

● Afghanistan 71 in 100 of its 109 stories · mostly conflict & violence ● Philippines 61 in 100 of its 456 stories · mostly health ● Bangladesh 55 in 100 of its 221 stories · mostly health ● Taiwan 59 in 100 of its 101 stories · mostly health ● China 49 in 100 of its 1,538 stories · mostly health ● Pakistan 49 in 100 of its 650 stories · mostly health

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

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Health58% 12,650 stories · much less than usual (usually 74%) Rights & justice25% 5,435 stories · much more than usual (usually 9%) Disasters & accidents6% 1,294 stories · about as usual Conflict & violence5% 1,086 stories · about as usual Deaths & injuries, cause not given3% 670 stories · about as usual Shelter & services2% 390 stories · about as usual Displacement1% 219 stories · about as usual Food & livelihood1% 158 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 killed6,358 at about the usual rate Stories reporting arrests2,340 at about twice the usual rate · most about the US and India Stories reporting people affected1,290 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people injured1,057 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about the US and India Stories reporting evacuations127 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people displaced91 at about the usual rate Stories reporting abductions75 at about the usual rate Stories reporting refugees63 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about Palestine and the US Stories reporting people falling ill35 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about the US and Canada

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 harsher than usual. Filled dot: today. Ring: usual.

● Angerabout one and a half times 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.