← 18 Aug Wednesday 19 August 2020 · to 23:59 UTC 20 Aug →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
29,504 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 news turned to protests in Bamako (Mali), abductions in Nigeria and the cyclone in Belize. Nigeria's coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's. Language across the world's news ran about as usual.

Part of lifeHealth 56 in 100 of the stories about harm · about as usual Country that rose mostBelize 48 in 100 of its 67 stories, usually 24
RegionOceania 30 in 100 of its stories, usually 28
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

357 of its 555 stories (64%) were about people being harmed, usually 53%. Bamako accounted for 290 of Mali's 357 stories about harm, carried by 495 outlets. 215 of Bamako's 290 stories were about protests or strikes. Landslides were named in 28 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual. Its coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's.

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

Nigeria

542 of its 1,429 stories (38%) were about people being harmed, usually 33%. Reports of abductions ran at about twice the usual rate (42 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's.

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

Belarus

Minsk accounted for 188 of Belarus' 254 stories about harm, carried by 315 outlets. 176 of Minsk's 188 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of people killed ran at about twice the usual rate (116 stories). Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.

its stories →
Health

Ireland

306 of its 1,036 stories (30%) were about people being harmed, usually 24%. Heavy rain was named in 53 of its stories about harm, about 9 times usual, with storm surge, hurricane and power cuts. Its coverage was about twice as fearful as the world's.

its stories →
Health

Guyana

18 of its 45 stories (40%) were about people being harmed, usually 20%. Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.

its stories →
Disasters & accidents

Mauritius

65 of its 88 stories (74%) were about people being harmed, usually 63%. Reports of arrests ran at about 9 times the usual rate (12 stories).

its stories →
Health

South Korea

165 of its 392 stories (42%) were about people being harmed, usually 36%. Seoul accounted for 117 of South Korea's 165 stories about harm, carried by 215 outlets.

its stories →
Health

New Zealand

Reports of evacuations ran at about 6 times the usual rate (5 stories). Tsunami was named in 10 of its stories about harm, about 9 times usual.

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: earthquake in Indonesia (49 of its stories, about 6 times its usual); cholera in Yemen (12 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); heavy rain in Ireland (53 of its stories, about 9 times its usual); hurricane in Mexico (24 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); outbreaks in Romania (12 of its stories, about 5 times its usual).

28 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 29; 27 the day before
33 in 10027 in 10021 Jul28 Jul4 Aug11 Aug19 Aug21 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 10019 Aug: 28 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 19 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 29,504 stories about harm among 107,214 counted on 19 Aug.

Read the day's briefing

For the second day running, the news turned to Mali. Indonesia's news mentioned the earthquake about 6 times as often as usual. A year earlier, on 20 August 2019, 20 in every 100 stories were about people being harmed, against 28 today. of the day's 107,214 news stories, 28 in every 100 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 →

Mauritius74 in 100 of its 88 stories · usually 63 · mostly disasters & accidents Afghanistan67 in 100 of its 202 stories · usually 73 · mostly conflict & violence Lebanon65 in 100 of its 392 stories · usually 68 · mostly conflict & violence Mali64 in 100 of its 555 stories · usually 53 · mostly conflict & violence Syria60 in 100 of its 121 stories · usually 60 · mostly conflict & violence

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

Washington US265 stories about protests or strikes, of its 1235 Bamako Mali215 stories about protests or strikes, of its 290 Minsk Belarus176 stories about protests or strikes, of its 188 Portland US65 stories about protests or strikes, of its 113 Chicago US51 stories about protests or strikes, of its 236

Stories, not people.

The emotional weather

feelings in full →
Feelings Events Harm Warmth
Zambia: 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'sGuam: 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: too little coverage to readTimor-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 readSri Lanka: feelings about like the world'sSpain: feelings about like the world'sSouth Korea: 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'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 readSt Vincent: feelings about like the world'sSt. Lucia: too little coverage to readRwanda: feelings about like the world'sRomania: feelings about like the world'sQatar: feelings about like the world'sPortugal: feelings about like the world'sPeru: 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: too little coverage to readNorway: feelings about like the world'sNicaragua: feelings about like the world'sNiue: too little coverage to readNetherlands: feelings about like the world'sCuraçao: too little coverage to readMorocco: feelings about like the world'sWestern Sahara: too little coverage to readMontenegro: feelings about like the world'sMoldova: feelings about like the world'sMauritius: feelings about like the world'sMauritania: too little coverage to readMalta: feelings about like the world'sMalaysia: feelings about like the world'sMadagascar: feelings about like the world'sNorth Macedonia: feelings about like the world'sLuxembourg: feelings about like the world'sLithuania: 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'sJordan: 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'sGuinea-Bissau: too little coverage to readGrenada: feelings about like the world'sGreece: feelings about like the world'sGhana: feelings about like the world'sGambia: feelings about like the world'sGabon: feelings about like the world'sFrance: feelings about like the world'sSt Pierre & Miquelon: too little coverage to readFrench Polynesia: feelings about like the world'sNew Caledonia: feelings about like the world'sFrench Southern Territories: too little coverage to readÅland Islands: too little coverage to readFinland: feelings about like the world'sEthiopia: feelings about like the world'sEstonia: feelings about like the world'sEritrea: too little coverage to readEquatorial Guinea: feelings about like the world'sEl Salvador: feelings about like the world'sEgypt: feelings about like the world'sDominica: feelings about like the world'sDjibouti: 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 readChina: feelings about like the world'sHong Kong: feelings about like the world'sChile: 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'sBurundi: 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'sBolivia: feelings about like the world'sBhutan: feelings about like the world'sBenin: feelings about like the world'sBelgium: feelings about like the world'sBarbados: feelings about like the world'sBangladesh: feelings about like the world'sBahrain: feelings about like the world'sBahamas: feelings about like the world'sAustria: feelings about like the world'sAustralia: 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 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: feelings about like the world'sChagos Islands: too little coverage to readSt. Helena: too little coverage to readPitcairn: 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'sSan Marino: feelings about like the world'sSt Kitts & Nevis: too little coverage to readCook Islands: feelings about like the world'sAruba: too little coverage to readNauru: feelings about like the world'sMonaco: too little coverage to readLiechtenstein: 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: too little coverage to readZimbabwe: coverage a little angrier than the world'sYemen: coverage about one and a half times 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 more grief-stricken than the world'sThailand: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sSyria: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken 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 about one and a half times as grief-stricken 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'sSouth Africa: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sSomalia: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sSaudi Arabia: coverage a little warmer than the world'sSamoa: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sRussia: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sPoland: coverage a little angrier than the world'sPhilippines: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sPakistan: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sOman: 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'sNepal: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sNamibia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sMozambique: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sMongolia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sMexico: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sMali: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sMalawi: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sLibya: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sLiberia: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sLesotho: coverage a little angrier than the world'sLebanon: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sKyrgyzstan: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sKazakhstan: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sJapan: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sIsrael: coverage a little warmer than the world'sPalestine: coverage a little angrier than the world'sIreland: coverage about twice as fearful as the world'sIraq: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sIran: coverage about twice as grief-stricken 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'sGuyana: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sGuinea: coverage a little angrier than the world'sGuatemala: coverage a little angrier than the world'sGermany: coverage a little angrier than the world'sGeorgia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sFiji: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sEcuador: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sDominican Republic: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sDenmark: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sDR Congo: coverage a little angrier than the world'sCongo: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sColombia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sChad: coverage a little angrier than the world'sCameroon: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sMyanmar: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sBurkina Faso: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sBrazil: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sBotswana: coverage a little angrier than the world'sBelize: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sBelarus: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sAzerbaijan: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sArmenia: coverage about twice 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 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'sPalestine: coverage a little angrier than the world'sKashmir: coverage about twice as fearful as the world'sGuernsey: coverage a little more grief-stricken 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 · 85 stories about harm ● Afghanistan about twice as angry as the world's · 136 stories about harm ● Ireland about twice as fearful as the world's · 306 stories about harm ● Iraq about twice as angry as the world's · 62 stories about harm ● Iran about twice as grief-stricken as the world's · 123 stories about harm ● Lebanon about twice as angry as the world's · 254 stories about harm

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Health56% 16,477 stories · about as usual Rights & justice18% 5,185 stories · about as usual Disasters & accidents11% 3,122 stories · about as usual Conflict & violence6% 1,880 stories · about as usual Deaths & injuries, cause not given3% 973 stories · about as usual Shelter & services3% 831 stories · about as usual Displacement1% 405 stories · about as usual Food & livelihood1% 380 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 killed6,943 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people affected2,109 at about the usual rate Stories reporting arrests2,017 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people injured1,509 at about the usual rate Stories reporting evacuations309 at about twice the usual rate · most about the US and Canada Stories reporting refugees196 at about the usual rate Stories reporting abductions194 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about Nigeria and the US Stories reporting people displaced127 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people falling ill51 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
● Griefa little less than 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.