← 30 Jul Friday 31 July 2020 · to 23:59 UTC 1 Aug →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
29,501 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 protests in Harare (Zimbabwe), arrests in Libya and the hurricane in the Bahamas. Afghanistan's coverage was about twice as angry as the world's. In the world's news as a whole, the wording was softer than usual.

Part of lifeHealth 61 in 100 of the stories about harm · about as usual Country that rose mostBahamas 74 in 100 of its 245 stories, usually 31
RegionCentral Asia 51 in 100 of its stories, usually 46
Tone of the words Softer than usual across the world's stories about harm

What the world's news was about today

how these are picked →
Protests & strikes

Zimbabwe

169 of its 327 stories (52%) were about people being harmed, usually 41%. Harare accounted for 113 of Zimbabwe's 169 stories about harm, carried by 119 outlets. 81 of Harare's 113 stories were about protests or strikes. Drought was named in 22 of its stories about harm, about three times usual. Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.

Zimbabwe over 30 days → its stories → Harare stories →
Health

Libya

29 of its 47 stories (62%) were about people being harmed, usually 39%. Reports of arrests ran at about 5 times the usual rate (6 stories). Illness was named in 13 of its stories about harm, about three times usual. Its coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's.

Libya over 30 days → its stories →
Disasters & accidents

Bahamas

181 of its 245 stories (74%) were about people being harmed, usually 31%. Reports of evacuations ran at more than ten times the usual rate (11 stories). Hurricane was named in 169 of its stories about harm, about 4 times usual, with storms, heavy rain and landslides.

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

Vietnam

144 of its 290 stories (50%) were about people being harmed, usually 35%. da Nang accounted for 93 of Vietnam's 144 stories about harm, carried by 268 outlets. Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.

its stories →
Disasters & accidents

Puerto Rico

43 of its 56 stories (77%) were about people being harmed, usually 56%. Reports of people affected ran at about 7 times the usual rate (14 stories). Landslides were named in 16 of its stories about harm, about 6 times usual, with storms and power cuts.

its stories →
Protests & strikes

Hong Kong

154 of its 279 stories (55%) were about people being harmed, usually 45%. 31 of Hong Kong's 48 stories were about protests or strikes. Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.

its stories →
Health

New Zealand

Reports of people injured ran at about three times the usual rate (16 stories). Measles was named in 13 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual. Grief in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

its stories →
Protests & strikes

Jordan

3 of Amman's 5 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of arrests ran at about three times the usual rate (9 stories). Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.

its stories →
Health

India

Reports of people falling ill ran at about 8 times the usual rate (7 stories). Poisoning was named in 14 of its stories about harm, about 5 times usual. Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: hurricane in Dominican Republic (12 of its stories, about three times its usual); landslides in Puerto Rico (16 of its stories, about 6 times its usual); outbreaks in Nepal (10 of its stories, about 5 times its usual); measles in New Zealand (13 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); flu in Ireland (15 of its stories, about 4 times its usual).

29 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 30; 28 the day before
34 in 10028 in 1002 Jul9 Jul16 Jul23 Jul31 Jul2 Jul: 30 in 1003 Jul: 30 in 1004 Jul: 32 in 1005 Jul: 34 in 1006 Jul: 31 in 1007 Jul: 31 in 1008 Jul: 30 in 1009 Jul: 30 in 10010 Jul: 30 in 10011 Jul: 32 in 10012 Jul: 33 in 10013 Jul: 31 in 10014 Jul: 30 in 10015 Jul: 29 in 10016 Jul: 29 in 10017 Jul: 30 in 10018 Jul: 32 in 10019 Jul: 33 in 10020 Jul: 30 in 10021 Jul: 30 in 10022 Jul: 30 in 10023 Jul: 29 in 10024 Jul: 29 in 10025 Jul: 31 in 10026 Jul: 33 in 10027 Jul: 29 in 10028 Jul: 29 in 10029 Jul: 28 in 10030 Jul: 28 in 10031 Jul: 29 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 31 Jul. 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 29,501 stories about harm among 101,514 counted on 31 Jul.

Read the day's briefing

It was the second day running that the news turned to Zimbabwe. of the day's 101,514 news stories, 29 in every 100 were about people being harmed, below the usual 30. the Bahamas' news mentioned the hurricane about 4 times as often as usual. A year earlier, on 1 August 2019, 20 in every 100 stories were about people being harmed, against 29 today. In Zimbabwe, 52% of the news was about people being harmed, where 41% is usual.

Written by code from the day's numbers.

Where harm was most of the news all →

Puerto Rico77 in 100 of its 56 stories · usually 56 · mostly disasters & accidents Afghanistan75 in 100 of its 201 stories · usually 65 · mostly conflict & violence Bahamas74 in 100 of its 245 stories · usually 31 · mostly disasters & accidents Sudan65 in 100 of its 52 stories · usually 63 · mostly conflict & violence Kashmir61 in 100 of its 165 stories · usually 59 · mostly rights & justice

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

Washington US223 stories about protests or strikes, of its 1342 Portland US182 stories about protests or strikes, of its 218 Harare Zimbabwe81 stories about protests or strikes, of its 113 Beijing China79 stories about protests or strikes, of its 268 Chicago US58 stories about protests or strikes, of its 320

Stories, not people.

The emotional weather

feelings in full →
Feelings Events Harm Warmth
Zambia: feelings about like the world'sVenezuela: feelings about like the world'sVanuatu: feelings about like the world'sUzbekistan: feelings about like the world'sUruguay: feelings about like the world'sMicronesia: feelings about like the world'sU.S. Virgin Islands: 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 readTurkmenistan: feelings about like the world'sTunisia: feelings about like the world'sTrinidad & Tobago: feelings about like the world'sTonga: feelings about like the world'sTogo: too little coverage to readTimor-Leste: feelings about like the world'sThailand: 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: too little coverage to readSri Lanka: feelings about like the world'sSouth Korea: feelings about like the world'sSomalia: 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'sSaudi Arabia: feelings about like the world'sSão Tomé: too little coverage to readSamoa: feelings about like the world'sSt Vincent: 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'sPoland: feelings about like the world'sPhilippines: 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'sNiger: feelings about like the world'sNicaragua: feelings about like the world'sNew Zealand: feelings about like the world'sNiue: too little coverage to readCuraçao: too little coverage to readNepal: feelings about like the world'sNamibia: 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'sMoldova: feelings about like the world'sMauritius: feelings about like the world'sMauritania: feelings about like the world'sMali: feelings about like the world'sMalaysia: 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'sLatvia: feelings about like the world'sLaos: feelings about like the world'sKuwait: feelings about like the world'sKosovo: too little coverage to readKiribati: too little coverage to readKazakhstan: feelings about like the world'sJapan: feelings about like the world'sJamaica: feelings about like the world'sItaly: feelings about like the world'sIceland: feelings about like the world'sHungary: 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: feelings about like the world'sGuatemala: feelings about like the world'sGrenada: too little coverage to readGhana: feelings about like the world'sGeorgia: feelings about like the world'sGambia: feelings about like the world'sGabon: too little coverage to readFrance: feelings about like the world'sSt Pierre & Miquelon: too little coverage to readFrench Polynesia: feelings about like the world'sNew Caledonia: too little coverage to readFrench Southern Territories: too little coverage to readÅland Islands: too little coverage to readEstonia: feelings about like the world'sEritrea: too little coverage to readEquatorial Guinea: feelings about like the world'sEl Salvador: feelings about like the world'sEcuador: feelings about like the world'sDominica: too little coverage to readDjibouti: too little coverage to readGreenland: feelings about like the world'sFaroe Islands: too little coverage to readDenmark: feelings about like the world'sCzech Republic: feelings about like the world'sN. Cyprus: too little coverage to readCyprus: feelings about like the world'sCuba: 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'sCongo: feelings about like the world'sComoros: feelings about like the world'sChina: feelings about like the world'sChile: 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'sBurkina Faso: feelings about like the world'sBulgaria: feelings about like the world'sBrunei: feelings about like the world'sBosnia and Herzegovina: 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'sBarbados: 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 readAntigua & Barbuda: too little coverage to readAngola: feelings about like the world'sAndorra: too little coverage to readAlgeria: feelings about like the world'sAlbania: feelings about like the world'sAksai Chin: feelings about like the world'sWestern Sahara (Moroccan-controlled): too little coverage to readWestern Sahara (Free Zone): too little coverage to readVatican City: too little coverage to readMarshall Islands: too little coverage to readNorthern Mariana Islands: feelings about like the world'sAmerican Samoa: too little coverage to readChagos Islands: too little coverage to readSt. Helena: feelings about like the world'sPitcairn: too little coverage to readAnguilla: too little coverage to readBermuda: feelings about like the world'sBritish Virgin Islands: too little coverage to readTurks & Caicos Islands: too little coverage to readMontserrat: too little coverage to readJersey: 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: too little coverage to readAruba: 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: too little coverage to readNorfolk 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 twice as angry as the world'sYemen: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sVietnam: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sGuam: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sUK: coverage a little warmer than the world'sUnited Arab Emirates: coverage a little warmer than the world'sUkraine: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sUganda: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sTürkiye: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sTaiwan: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sSyria: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sSwitzerland: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sSouth Sudan: coverage a little angrier than the world'sSudan: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sSpain: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sSouth Africa: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sSierra Leone: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sRussia: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sPortugal: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sPeru: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sPakistan: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sNorth Korea: coverage a little angrier than the world'sNigeria: coverage a little warmer than the world'sNetherlands: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sMozambique: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sMexico: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sMalta: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sMalawi: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sMadagascar: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sLibya: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sLiberia: coverage a little warmer than the world'sLebanon: coverage a little angrier than the world'sKyrgyzstan: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sKenya: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sJordan: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sIsrael: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sPalestine: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sIreland: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sIraq: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sIran: coverage about one and a half times as angry 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'sGuinea: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sGreece: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sGermany: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sFinland: coverage a little warmer than the world'sFiji: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sEthiopia: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sEgypt: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sDominican Republic: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sColombia: coverage a little angrier than the world'sHong Kong: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sCameroon: coverage a little angrier than the world'sBurundi: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sBrazil: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sBotswana: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sBolivia: coverage a little angrier than the world'sBelarus: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sBangladesh: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sAzerbaijan: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sAustralia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sArmenia: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sArgentina: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sAfghanistan: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sKashmir: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sPalestine: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sPalestine: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sKashmir: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sKashmir: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sUkraine: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sPalestine: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sKashmir: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as 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 twice as angry as the world's · 150 stories about harm ● Syria few stories about one and a half times as fearful as the world's · 41 stories about harm ● Jordan few stories about twice as angry as the world's · 35 stories about harm ● Zimbabwe about twice as angry as the world's · 169 stories about harm ● Hong Kong about one and a half times as fearful as the world's · 154 stories about harm ● Switzerland few stories about one and a half times as fearful as the world's · 42 stories about harm

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Health61% 17,730 stories · about as usual Rights & justice18% 5,235 stories · about as usual Disasters & accidents9% 2,708 stories · about as usual Conflict & violence5% 1,381 stories · about as usual Deaths & injuries, cause not given4% 1,098 stories · about as usual Shelter & services2% 546 stories · about as usual Food & livelihood1% 336 stories · about as usual Displacement1% 235 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 killed7,220 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people affected2,197 at about the usual rate Stories reporting arrests2,054 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people injured1,382 at about the usual rate Stories reporting evacuations136 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people displaced115 at about the usual rate Stories reporting refugees100 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about the US and Ethiopia Stories reporting abductions85 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about the US and the UK Stories reporting people falling ill57 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 softer than usual. Filled dot: today. Ring: usual.

● Angerabout as usual
● Warmthabout as 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

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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.