← 17 Aug Tuesday 18 August 2020 · to 23:59 UTC 19 Aug →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
28,506 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 protests in Bamako (Mali), the earthquake in the Philippines and violence in Mozambique. Mali's coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's. Taken together, the world's news read about as usual.

Part of lifeHealth 57 in 100 of the stories about harm · about as usual Country that rose mostNorth Korea 70 in 100 of its 82 stories, usually 46
RegionCentral Asia 48 in 100 of its stories, usually 44
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 →
Protests & strikes

Mali

179 of its 280 stories (64%) were about people being harmed, usually 51%. Bamako accounted for 167 of Mali's 179 stories about harm, carried by 369 outlets. 129 of Bamako's 167 stories were about protests or strikes. Its coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's.

Mali over 30 days → its stories → Bamako stories →
Health

Philippines

443 of its 804 stories (55%) were about people being harmed, usually 49%. Reports of people injured ran at about 7 times the usual rate (45 stories). Earthquake was named in 114 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual, with tsunami, landslides and typhoon.

Philippines over 30 days → its stories →
6 more places the news pointed at
Protests & strikes

Belarus

Minsk accounted for 174 of Belarus' 246 stories about harm, carried by 294 outlets. 158 of Minsk's 174 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of people affected ran at about three times the usual rate (9 stories). Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.

its stories →
Health

North Korea

57 of its 82 stories (70%) were about people being harmed, usually 46%. Pyongyang accounted for 42 of North Korea's 57 stories about harm, carried by 110 outlets.

its stories →
Health

Namibia

23 of its 45 stories (51%) were about people being harmed, usually 32%. Reports of people killed ran at about twice the usual rate (15 stories).

its stories →
Health

South Korea

174 of its 394 stories (44%) were about people being harmed, usually 36%. Seoul accounted for 124 of South Korea's 174 stories about harm, carried by 277 outlets.

its stories →
Health

Ireland

Flooding was named in 32 of its stories about harm, about 5 times usual, with heavy rain. Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.

its stories →
Protests & strikes

Portugal

3 of Lisbon's 4 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of people affected ran at about twice the usual rate (5 stories).

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: hurricane in Mexico (19 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); outbreaks in Ethiopia (10 of its stories, about three times its usual); flooding in Ireland (32 of its stories, about 5 times its usual); heatwave in US (208 of its stories, about 5 times its usual); storms in UK (34 of its stories, about 5 times its usual).

27 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 29; 28 the day before
33 in 10027 in 10020 Jul27 Jul3 Aug10 Aug18 Aug20 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 10018 Aug: 27 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 18 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 28,506 stories about harm among 104,448 counted on 18 Aug.

Read the day's briefing

It was the lowest share of stories about people being harmed since 9 March 2020. In the Philippines' news, mentions of the earthquake ran more than ten times their usual. On 19 August 2019, a year earlier, the share was 20 in every 100, against 27 today. 27 in every 100 of the day's 104,448 news stories were about people being harmed, below the usual 29.

Written by code from the day's numbers.

Where harm was most of the news all →

Mauritius78 in 100 of its 85 stories · usually 62 · mostly disasters & accidents North Korea70 in 100 of its 82 stories · usually 46 · mostly health Lebanon68 in 100 of its 587 stories · usually 68 · mostly conflict & violence Afghanistan67 in 100 of its 192 stories · usually 73 · mostly conflict & violence Mali64 in 100 of its 280 stories · usually 51 · mostly conflict & violence

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

Washington US355 stories about protests or strikes, of its 1528 Minsk Belarus158 stories about protests or strikes, of its 174 Bamako Mali129 stories about protests or strikes, of its 167 Chicago US57 stories about protests or strikes, of its 262 Beirut Lebanon53 stories about protests or strikes, of its 357

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: too little coverage to readU.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: feelings about like the world'sIsle of Man: too little coverage to readUnited Arab Emirates: feelings about like the world'sUganda: feelings about like the world'sTurkmenistan: 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: 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: too little coverage to readSouth Sudan: feelings about like the world'sSri Lanka: feelings about like the world'sSomaliland: too little coverage to readSolomon Islands: feelings about like the world'sSlovakia: feelings about like the world'sSlovenia: too little coverage to readSingapore: feelings about like the world'sSierra Leone: feelings about like the world'sSeychelles: feelings about like the world'sSerbia: too little coverage to readSenegal: feelings about like the world'sSão Tomé: too little coverage to readSamoa: too little coverage to readSt Vincent: feelings about like the world'sSt. Lucia: too little coverage to readRomania: feelings about like the world'sQatar: feelings about like the world'sPortugal: feelings about like the world'sPeru: feelings about like the world'sParaguay: too little coverage to readPanama: feelings about like the world'sPalau: too little coverage to readOman: feelings about like the world'sNorway: feelings about like the world'sNicaragua: feelings about like the world'sNiue: too little coverage to readCuraçao: too little coverage to readMorocco: 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: too little coverage to readMadagascar: feelings about like the world'sNorth Macedonia: feelings about like the world'sLuxembourg: feelings about like the world'sLithuania: feelings about like the world'sLibya: feelings about like the world'sLiberia: 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: feelings about like the world'sKenya: feelings about like the world'sKazakhstan: feelings about like the world'sJapan: feelings about like the world'sJamaica: feelings about like the world'sItaly: feelings about like the world'sIndonesia: feelings about like the world'sIceland: feelings about like the world'sHonduras: feelings about like the world'sHaiti: feelings about like the world'sGuinea-Bissau: feelings about like the world'sGuinea: feelings about like the world'sGrenada: feelings about like the world'sGreece: feelings about like the world'sGambia: feelings about like the world'sGabon: too little coverage to readSt 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 readFiji: feelings about like the world'sEstonia: feelings about like the world'sEquatorial Guinea: feelings about like the world'sEl Salvador: feelings about like the world'sEgypt: feelings about like the world'sDominican Republic: feelings about like the world'sDominica: too little coverage to readDjibouti: too little coverage to readGreenland: feelings about like the world'sFaroe Islands: feelings about like the world'sDenmark: 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'sComoros: too little coverage to readChina: 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'sCanada: feelings about like the world'sCambodia: feelings about like the world'sBurundi: too little coverage to readBrunei: feelings about like the world'sBotswana: feelings about like the world'sBosnia and Herzegovina: feelings about like the world'sBolivia: feelings about like the world'sBhutan: too little coverage to readBenin: 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'sAzerbaijan: feelings about like the world'sHeard & McDonald Islands: too little coverage to readArgentina: feelings about like the world'sAntigua & 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'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: feelings about like the world'sNorthern Mariana Islands: feelings about like the world'sAmerican Samoa: too little coverage to readChagos Islands: too little coverage to readSt. Helena: too little coverage to readPitcairn: too little coverage to readAnguilla: too little coverage to readBritish Virgin Islands: too little coverage to readTurks & Caicos Islands: too little coverage to readMontserrat: feelings about like the world'sJersey: 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: feelings about like the world'sAruba: too little coverage to readNauru: too little coverage to readMonaco: 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: too little coverage to readGibraltar: too little coverage to readMayotte: feelings about like the world'sZimbabwe: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sYemen: coverage about one and a half times as angry as 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'sUkraine: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sTürkiye: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sThailand: coverage a little angrier than the world'sSyria: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sSwitzerland: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sSweden: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sEswatini: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sSudan: coverage a little warmer than the world'sSpain: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sSouth Korea: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sSouth Africa: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sSomalia: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sSaudi Arabia: coverage a little warmer than the world'sRwanda: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sRussia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sPoland: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sPhilippines: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sPapua New Guinea: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sPakistan: coverage a little more grief-stricken than 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'sNiger: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sNew Zealand: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sNetherlands: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sNepal: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sNamibia: 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 about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sMalta: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sMali: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sMalaysia: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sMalawi: coverage a little warmer than the world'sLesotho: coverage a little warmer than the world'sLebanon: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sKyrgyzstan: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sJordan: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sIsrael: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sPalestine: coverage a little angrier 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'sIndia: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sHungary: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sGuyana: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sGuatemala: coverage a little angrier than the world'sGhana: coverage a little warmer than the world'sGermany: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sGeorgia: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sFrance: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sFinland: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sEthiopia: coverage a little angrier than the world'sEritrea: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sEcuador: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sCongo: coverage a little angrier than the world'sColombia: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sHong Kong: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sCape Verde: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sCameroon: coverage a little angrier than the world'sMyanmar: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sBurkina Faso: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sBulgaria: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sBrazil: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sBelize: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sBelarus: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sBangladesh: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sAustria: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken 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'sAfghanistan: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sKashmir: coverage about twice as fearful as the world'sPalestine: coverage a little angrier than the world'sPalestine: coverage a little angrier than the world'sKashmir: coverage about twice as fearful as the world'sKashmir: coverage about twice as fearful as the world'sUkraine: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sPalestine: coverage a little angrier than the world'sKashmir: coverage about twice as fearful as the world'sBermuda: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sMaldives: coverage a little more grief-stricken than 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

● Kashmir about twice as fearful as the world's · 81 stories about harm ● Somalia few stories about twice as angry as the world's · 34 stories about harm ● Lebanon about twice as grief-stricken as the world's · 402 stories about harm ● Türkiye about one and a half times as fearful as the world's · 89 stories about harm ● Belarus about twice as angry as the world's · 246 stories about harm ● Syria about twice as grief-stricken as the world's · 87 stories about harm

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Health57% 16,230 stories · about as usual Rights & justice18% 5,113 stories · about as usual Disasters & accidents9% 2,605 stories · about as usual Conflict & violence6% 1,719 stories · about as usual Deaths & injuries, cause not given4% 1,078 stories · about as usual Shelter & services3% 865 stories · about as usual Food & livelihood1% 341 stories · about as usual Displacement1% 324 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 killed7,172 at about the usual rate Stories reporting arrests1,988 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people affected1,954 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people injured1,494 at about the usual rate Stories reporting abductions146 at about the usual rate Stories reporting refugees136 at about the usual rate Stories reporting evacuations118 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about the US and China Stories reporting people displaced116 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people falling ill23 at about half the usual rate · most about the US and the UK

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.