← 16 Aug Monday 17 August 2020 · to 23:59 UTC 18 Aug →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
26,051 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 →

Violence in Mogadishu, protests in Bangkok (Thailand) and people killed in the Dominican Republic drew the news. Somalia's coverage was about 4 times as angry as the world's. Worldwide, the words used were about as usual.

Part of lifeHealth 57 in 100 of the stories about harm · about as usual Country that rose mostSomalia 83 in 100 of its 137 stories, usually 57
RegionEvery region about as usual
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

Somalia

114 of its 137 stories (83%) were about people being harmed, usually 57%. Mogadishu accounted for 96 of Somalia's 114 stories about harm, carried by 130 outlets. Reports of people injured ran at about three times the usual rate (74 stories). Its coverage was about 4 times as angry as the world's.

Somalia over 30 days → its stories → Mogadishu stories →
6 more places the news pointed at
Conflict & violence

Kashmir

132 of its 221 stories (60%) were about people being harmed, usually 52%. Baramulla accounted for 78 of Kashmir's 132 stories about harm, carried by 39 outlets. Reports of people injured ran at about three times the usual rate (32 stories). Its coverage was about three times as fearful as the world's. Anger in its coverage rose to about twice its own usual.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Mozambique

50 of its 77 stories (65%) were about people being harmed, usually 47%. Reports of people injured ran at about twice the usual rate (5 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.

its stories →
Protests & strikes

Côte d’Ivoire

10 of its 16 stories (62%) were about people being harmed, usually 37%. 3 of Abidjan's 6 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of people injured ran at about 5 times the usual rate (5 stories).

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Syria

76 of its 112 stories (68%) were about people being harmed, usually 60%. Reports of people injured ran at about twice the usual rate (32 stories). Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.

its stories →
Protests & strikes

Belarus

Minsk accounted for 259 of Belarus' 340 stories about harm, carried by 501 outlets. 245 of Minsk's 259 stories were about protests or strikes. Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.

its stories →
Health

Trinidad & Tobago

42 of its 79 stories (53%) were about people being harmed, usually 27%. Reports of arrests ran at about three times the usual rate (8 stories).

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: illness in Malaysia (60 of its stories, about three times its usual); outbreaks in Nepal (13 of its stories, about three times its usual); earthquake in Mexico (15 of its stories, about 5 times its usual); wildfires in Israel (14 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); drownings in Pakistan (10 of its stories, about 4 times its usual).

28 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 30; 31 the day before
33 in 10028 in 10019 Jul26 Jul2 Aug9 Aug17 Aug19 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 1005 Aug: 29 in 1006 Aug: 29 in 1007 Aug: 29 in 1008 Aug: 31 in 1009 Aug: 32 in 10010 Aug: 29 in 10011 Aug: 29 in 10012 Aug: 28 in 10013 Aug: 28 in 10014 Aug: 28 in 10015 Aug: 29 in 10016 Aug: 31 in 10017 Aug: 28 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 17 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 26,051 stories about harm among 94,445 counted on 17 Aug.

Read the day's briefing

The share of stories about people being harmed was the lowest since 9 March 2020. 28 in every 100 of the day's 94,445 news stories were about people being harmed, below the usual 30. For the second day running, the news turned to Somalia. the Dominican Republic's news mentioned Covid about three times as often as usual. A year earlier, on 18 August 2019, 25 in every 100 stories were about people being harmed, against 28 today.

Written by code from the day's numbers.

Where harm was most of the news all →

Somalia83 in 100 of its 137 stories · usually 57 · mostly conflict & violence Mauritius71 in 100 of its 83 stories · usually 61 · mostly disasters & accidents Afghanistan70 in 100 of its 114 stories · usually 73 · mostly conflict & violence Lebanon68 in 100 of its 439 stories · usually 68 · mostly health Syria68 in 100 of its 112 stories · usually 60 · mostly conflict & violence

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

Minsk Belarus245 stories about protests or strikes, of its 259 Washington US189 stories about protests or strikes, of its 1072 Chicago US96 stories about protests or strikes, of its 314 Bangkok Thailand57 stories about protests or strikes, of its 92 Jerusalem Israel56 stories about protests or strikes, of its 149

Stories, not people.

Where harm was most of the news

feelings in full →
Feelings Events Harm Warmth
Zambia: 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: near the world's share or lessCayman 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 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 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: near the world's share or lessTaiwan: 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 lessSri Lanka: near the world's share or lessSpain: 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 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 storiesPakistan: near the world's share or lessOman: near the world's share or lessNorway: 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 storiesMorocco: 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: near the world's share or lessMauritania: near the world's share or lessMalta: near the world's share or lessMali: 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 lessLatvia: near the world's share or lessLaos: near the world's share or lessKyrgyzstan: near the world's share or lessKosovo: no storiesKiribati: 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 lessPalestine: near the world's share or lessIreland: near the world's share or lessIran: near the world's share or lessIndonesia: 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: 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 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: no storiesFrench Polynesia: near the world's share or lessNew Caledonia: no storiesFrench Southern Territories: no storiesÅland Islands: no storiesFinland: near the world's share or lessFiji: 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 lessEgypt: near the world's share or lessEcuador: near the world's share or lessDominica: no storiesDjibouti: near the world's share or lessGreenland: near the world's share or lessFaroe Islands: near the world's share or lessDenmark: 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 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 storiesChina: 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: near the world's share or lessCanada: 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 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 lessAksai Chin: 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: near the world's share or lessAnguilla: 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: no storiesMontserrat: 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: near the world's share or lessNauru: no storiesMonaco: near the world's share or lessMaldives: near the world's share or lessLiechtenstein: no storiesWallis & Futuna: no storiesSt. Martin: near the world's share or lessSt. 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: 50 in 100 of its 264 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 28)Yemen: 77 in 100 of its 47 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 28)Vietnam: 43 in 100 of its 226 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 28)Trinidad & Tobago: 53 in 100 of its 79 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 28)Thailand: 52 in 100 of its 293 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 28)Syria: 68 in 100 of its 112 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 28)South Sudan: 72 in 100 of its 18 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 28)Sudan: 54 in 100 of its 79 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 28)South Korea: 41 in 100 of its 344 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 28)South Africa: 37 in 100 of its 1,046 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 28)Somalia: 83 in 100 of its 137 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 28)Rwanda: 52 in 100 of its 21 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 28)Philippines: 51 in 100 of its 775 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 28)North Korea: 62 in 100 of its 40 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 28)Nepal: 52 in 100 of its 79 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 28)Namibia: 42 in 100 of its 55 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 28)Mozambique: 65 in 100 of its 77 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 28)Mexico: 43 in 100 of its 272 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 28)Mauritius: 71 in 100 of its 83 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 28)Lebanon: 68 in 100 of its 439 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 28)Kuwait: 43 in 100 of its 46 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 28)Kenya: 38 in 100 of its 305 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 28)Iraq: 57 in 100 of its 93 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 28)Greece: 37 in 100 of its 166 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 28)Ethiopia: 40 in 100 of its 62 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 28)Dominican Republic: 60 in 100 of its 20 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 28)Croatia: 57 in 100 of its 37 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 28)Côte d’Ivoire: 62 in 100 of its 16 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 28)Colombia: 46 in 100 of its 61 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 28)Hong Kong: 38 in 100 of its 138 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 28)Belarus: 58 in 100 of its 591 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 28)Bangladesh: 47 in 100 of its 193 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 28)Afghanistan: 70 in 100 of its 114 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 28)Kashmir: 60 in 100 of its 221 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 28)Kashmir: 60 in 100 of its 221 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 28)Kashmir: 60 in 100 of its 221 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 28)Kashmir: 60 in 100 of its 221 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 28)
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 28 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

● Somalia 83 in 100 of its 137 stories · mostly conflict & violence ● Lebanon 68 in 100 of its 439 stories · mostly health ● Afghanistan 70 in 100 of its 114 stories · mostly conflict & violence ● Syria 68 in 100 of its 112 stories · mostly conflict & violence ● Belarus 58 in 100 of its 591 stories · mostly rights & justice ● Mauritius 71 in 100 of its 83 stories · mostly disasters & accidents

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

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Health57% 14,668 stories · about as usual Rights & justice17% 4,502 stories · about as usual Disasters & accidents10% 2,564 stories · about as usual Conflict & violence7% 1,727 stories · about as usual Deaths & injuries, cause not given4% 1,033 stories · about as usual Shelter & services3% 721 stories · about as usual Displacement1% 334 stories · about as usual Food & livelihood1% 280 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 killed6,758 at about the usual rate Stories reporting arrests1,890 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people affected1,869 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people injured1,448 at about the usual rate Stories reporting abductions153 at about the usual rate Stories reporting evacuations150 at about the usual rate Stories reporting refugees118 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people displaced105 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people falling ill46 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.

● 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

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.