← 3 Aug Tuesday 4 August 2020 · to 23:59 UTC 5 Aug →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
30,244 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 the earthquake in Lebanon, landslides in South Korea and protests in Reykjavik (Iceland). Lebanon's coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's. Taken together, the world's news read about as usual.

Part of lifeHealth 58 in 100 of the stories about harm · less than usual Country that rose mostLebanon 71 in 100 of its 1,033 stories, usually 38
RegionMiddle East & North Africa 50 in 100 of its stories, usually 42
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 →
Conflict & violence

Lebanon

735 of its 1,033 stories (71%) were about people being harmed, usually 38%. Beirut accounted for 705 of Lebanon's 735 stories about harm, carried by 927 outlets. Reports of people injured ran at more than ten times the usual rate (437 stories). Earthquake was named in 140 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual. Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.

Lebanon over 30 days → its stories → Beirut stories →
Disasters & accidents

South Korea

155 of its 372 stories (42%) were about people being harmed, usually 35%. Seoul accounted for 95 of South Korea's 155 stories about harm, carried by 105 outlets. Reports of people affected ran at about three times the usual rate (47 stories). Landslides were named in 55 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual. Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.

South Korea over 30 days → its stories → Seoul stories →
Protests & strikes

Iceland

13 of its 28 stories (46%) were about people being harmed, usually 25%. 9 of Reykjavik's 9 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of people killed ran at about three times the usual rate (10 stories). Illness was named in 10 of its stories about harm, about three times usual.

Iceland over 30 days → its stories → Reykjavik stories →
Health

Sweden

56 of its 114 stories (49%) were about people being harmed, usually 30%. Reports of people killed ran at about twice the usual rate (27 stories). Anger in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

Sweden over 30 days → its stories →
6 more places the news pointed at
Disasters & accidents

Micronesia

48 of its 49 stories (98%) were about people being harmed, usually 36%. Pikelot Island accounted for 38 of Micronesia's 48 stories about harm, carried by 187 outlets. Reports of people affected ran at more than ten times the usual rate (46 stories).

its stories →
Protests & strikes

Thailand

122 of its 257 stories (47%) were about people being harmed, usually 32%. Bangkok accounted for 72 of Thailand's 122 stories about harm, carried by 134 outlets. 42 of Bangkok's 72 stories were about protests or strikes.

its stories →
Protests & strikes

Zimbabwe

171 of its 304 stories (56%) were about people being harmed, usually 44%. 25 of Harare's 42 stories were about protests or strikes. Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.

its stories →
Displacement

Cameroon

25 of its 49 stories (51%) were about people being harmed, usually 38%. Reports of refugees ran at about 4 times the usual rate (11 stories). Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Afghanistan

148 of its 195 stories (76%) were about people being harmed, usually 68%. Reports of abductions ran at about 6 times the usual rate (13 stories). Its coverage was about three times as angry as the world's.

its stories →
Health

Yemen

45 of its 55 stories (82%) were about people being harmed, usually 69%. Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: hurricane in US (1072 of its stories, about three times its usual); wildfires in Canada (27 of its stories, about three times its usual); typhoon in China (27 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); house fires in UK (12 of its stories, about three times its usual).

29 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 30; 29 the day before
33 in 10028 in 1006 Jul13 Jul20 Jul27 Jul4 Aug6 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 1001 Aug: 31 in 1002 Aug: 32 in 1003 Aug: 29 in 1004 Aug: 29 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 4 Aug. 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 30,244 stories about harm among 103,978 counted on 4 Aug.

Read the day's briefing

Of the day's 103,978 news stories, 29 in every 100 were about people being harmed, below the usual 30. A year earlier, on 5 August 2019, 24 in every 100 stories were about people being harmed, against 29 today.

Written by code from the day's numbers.

Where harm was most of the news all →

Yemen82 in 100 of its 55 stories · usually 69 · mostly health Afghanistan76 in 100 of its 195 stories · usually 68 · mostly conflict & violence Lebanon71 in 100 of its 1,033 stories · usually 38 · mostly conflict & violence Syria70 in 100 of its 115 stories · usually 61 · mostly conflict & violence Sudan66 in 100 of its 62 stories · usually 64 · mostly disasters & accidents

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

Washington US220 stories about protests or strikes, of its 1363 Chicago US72 stories about protests or strikes, of its 272 Portland US72 stories about protests or strikes, of its 111 Los Angeles US58 stories about protests or strikes, of its 268 Delhi India57 stories about protests or strikes, of its 316

Stories, not people.

The emotional weather

feelings in full →
Feelings Events Harm Warmth
Vanuatu: 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: too little coverage to readGuam: 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: feelings about like the world'sIsle 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'sTrinidad & Tobago: feelings about like the world'sTonga: feelings about like the world'sTogo: feelings about like the world'sTimor-Leste: feelings about like the world'sTanzania: feelings about like the world'sTajikistan: feelings about like the world'sTaiwan: feelings about like the world'sSuriname: feelings about like the world'sSpain: feelings about like the world'sSomaliland: too little coverage to readSolomon Islands: 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: feelings about like the world'sSamoa: too little coverage to readSt 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'sPortugal: feelings about like the world'sPoland: feelings about like the world'sPhilippines: feelings about like the world'sPapua New Guinea: feelings about like the world'sPanama: feelings about like the world'sPalau: too little coverage to readOman: feelings about like the world'sNorway: feelings about like the world'sNiger: feelings about like the world'sNiue: too little coverage to readNetherlands: feelings about like the world'sCuraçao: too little coverage to readNamibia: 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: too little coverage to readMauritius: feelings about like the world'sMauritania: feelings about like the world'sMali: 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'sLithuania: feelings about like the world'sLesotho: feelings about like the world'sLatvia: feelings about like the world'sKuwait: 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'sIndonesia: 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'sGuinea-Bissau: too little coverage to readGuatemala: feelings about like the world'sGrenada: too little coverage to readGreece: 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 readFinland: feelings about like the world'sFiji: feelings about like the world'sEthiopia: feelings about like the world'sEstonia: feelings about like the world'sEritrea: too little coverage to readEquatorial Guinea: too little coverage to readEgypt: feelings about like the world'sDominican Republic: feelings about like the world'sDominica: too little coverage to readDjibouti: 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'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'sComoros: too little coverage to readColombia: feelings about like the world'sHong Kong: feelings about like the world'sChile: feelings about like the world'sCape Verde: feelings about like the world'sCanada: feelings about like the world'sCambodia: feelings about like the world'sBurundi: 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'sBhutan: too little coverage to readBenin: 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: feelings about like the world'sAngola: feelings about like the world'sAndorra: too little coverage to readAlgeria: feelings about like the world'sAlbania: 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: too little coverage to readAmerican Samoa: too little coverage to readChagos 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: 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: too little coverage to readCook 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: feelings about like the world'sNorfolk Island: too little coverage to readSint Maarten: too little coverage to readChristmas Island: feelings about like the world'sGibraltar: feelings about like the world'sMayotte: too little coverage to readZimbabwe: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sZambia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sYemen: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sVietnam: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sVenezuela: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sUK: coverage a little warmer than the world'sTürkiye: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sTunisia: coverage a little angrier than the world'sThailand: coverage a little angrier than the world'sSyria: coverage about three times as angry as the world'sSwitzerland: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sSweden: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sEswatini: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sSouth Sudan: coverage a little angrier than the world'sSudan: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sSri Lanka: coverage a little angrier than the world'sSouth Korea: coverage about one and a half 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 twice as grief-stricken as the world'sSlovakia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sSierra Leone: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sRussia: coverage a little angrier than the world'sQatar: coverage a little warmer than the world'sPeru: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sParaguay: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sPakistan: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sNorth Korea: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sNigeria: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sNicaragua: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sNew Zealand: coverage a little warmer than the world'sNepal: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sMozambique: coverage about one and a half times as angry as 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'sLuxembourg: coverage a little more grief-stricken 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 about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sLaos: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sKyrgyzstan: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sJordan: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sJapan: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sJamaica: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sItaly: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sIsrael: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sPalestine: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sIreland: coverage a little warmer than the world'sIraq: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sIran: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sIndia: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sGuyana: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sGuinea: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sGhana: coverage a little warmer than the world'sGermany: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sGeorgia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sEl Salvador: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sEcuador: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sDenmark: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sDR Congo: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sCongo: coverage a little angrier than the world'sChina: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sChad: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sCentral African Republic: coverage a little angrier than the world'sCameroon: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sMyanmar: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sBurkina Faso: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sBulgaria: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sBrazil: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sBolivia: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sBelarus: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sBangladesh: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sAzerbaijan: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sAustralia: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sArmenia: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sArgentina: coverage a little warmer than the world'sAfghanistan: coverage about three times as angry as the world'sKashmir: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sChina: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sPalestine: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sPalestine: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sKashmir: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sKashmir: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sPalestine: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sKashmir: coverage about one and a half times as fearful 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

● Syria about three times as angry as the world's · 81 stories about harm ● Afghanistan about three times as angry as the world's · 148 stories about harm ● Yemen few stories about twice as grief-stricken as the world's · 45 stories about harm ● Somalia few stories about twice as grief-stricken as the world's · 30 stories about harm ● Lebanon about twice as grief-stricken as the world's · 735 stories about harm ● Pakistan about one and a half times as fearful as the world's · 289 stories about harm

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Health58% 17,303 stories · less than usual (usually 60%) Rights & justice15% 4,546 stories · less than usual (usually 18%) Disasters & accidents13% 3,860 stories · more than usual (usually 9%) Conflict & violence6% 1,782 stories · about as usual Deaths & injuries, cause not given4% 1,234 stories · about as usual Shelter & services2% 677 stories · about as usual Food & livelihood1% 328 stories · about as usual Displacement1% 263 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 killed7,790 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people affected2,400 at about the usual rate Stories reporting arrests2,024 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people injured1,792 at about the usual rate Stories reporting evacuations204 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about the US and Lebanon Stories reporting people displaced189 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about the US and Cameroon Stories reporting refugees131 at about the usual rate Stories reporting abductions102 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about Nigeria and Afghanistan Stories reporting people falling ill42 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about the US and the Philippines

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.

● 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.