← 21 Aug Saturday 22 August 2020 · to 23:59 UTC 23 Aug →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
16,635 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 Omsk (Russia), tropical storm in Cuba and people injured in Iraq. Russia's coverage was about twice as angry as the world's. Everywhere we counted, the words were much harsher than usual.

Reports of evacuations ran at about twice the usual rate, most often about the US and Canada →
Part of lifeHealth 53 in 100 of the stories about harm · less than usual Country that rose mostCuba 72 in 100 of its 75 stories, usually 39
RegionCentral Asia 53 in 100 of its stories, usually 42
Tone of the words Much harsher than usual across the world's stories about harm

What the world's news was about today

how these are picked →
Protests & strikes

Russia

370 of its 742 stories (50%) were about people being harmed, usually 36%. 82 of Omsk's 149 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of evacuations ran at about 8 times the usual rate (6 stories). Poisoning was named in 175 of its stories about harm, about 6 times usual. Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.

Russia over 30 days → its stories → Omsk stories →
Disasters & accidents

Cuba

54 of its 75 stories (72%) were about people being harmed, usually 39%. the Gulf of Mexico accounted for 39 of Cuba's 54 stories about harm, carried by 43 outlets. Tropical storm was named in 44 of its stories about harm, about 9 times usual, with hurricane and storm surge.

Cuba over 30 days → its stories → Gulf of Mexico stories →
Conflict & violence

Iraq

54 of its 88 stories (61%) were about people being harmed, usually 53%. Reports of people injured ran at about twice the usual rate (17 stories). Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.

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

Mali

Bamako accounted for 57 of Mali's 73 stories about harm, carried by 111 outlets. 49 of Bamako's 57 stories were about protests or strikes. Landslides were named in 22 of its stories about harm, about 6 times usual.

its stories →
Protests & strikes

Belarus

Minsk accounted for 67 of Belarus' 96 stories about harm, carried by 225 outlets. 63 of Minsk's 67 stories were about protests or strikes. Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.

its stories →
Disasters & accidents

Mexico

141 of its 252 stories (56%) were about people being harmed, usually 37%. Tropical storm was named in 85 of its stories about harm, about 8 times usual, with hurricane, cyclone and landslides.

its stories →
Health

Spain

132 of its 363 stories (36%) were about people being harmed, usually 26%. Reports of people killed ran at about three times the usual rate (60 stories).

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Colombia

18 of its 32 stories (56%) were about people being harmed, usually 40%. Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.

its stories →
Displacement

Burkina Faso

9 of its 10 stories (90%) were about people being harmed, usually 52%. Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: tropical storm in Mexico (85 of its stories, about 8 times its usual); landslides in Mali (22 of its stories, about 6 times its usual); wildfires in Canada (41 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); wildfires in US (416 of its stories, about 5 times its usual); hunger in Nigeria (13 of its stories, about 5 times its usual).

30 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 29; 28 the day before
33 in 10027 in 10024 Jul31 Jul7 Aug14 Aug22 Aug24 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 10020 Aug: 27 in 10021 Aug: 28 in 10022 Aug: 30 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 22 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 16,635 stories about harm among 55,920 counted on 22 Aug.

Read the day's briefing

For the third day running, the news turned to Russia. Stories about people being harmed made up 30 in every 100 of the day's 55,920 stories, as usual. Evacuations were reported at about twice the usual rate, most often about the US and Canada. In Mexico's news, mentions of tropical storm ran about 8 times their usual. On 23 August 2019, a year earlier, the share was 21 in every 100, against 30 today.

Written by code from the day's numbers.

Where harm was most of the news all →

Cuba72 in 100 of its 75 stories · usually 39 · mostly disasters & accidents Lebanon64 in 100 of its 184 stories · usually 69 · mostly health Afghanistan64 in 100 of its 114 stories · usually 72 · mostly conflict & violence Mali63 in 100 of its 115 stories · usually 57 · mostly conflict & violence Iraq61 in 100 of its 88 stories · usually 53 · mostly conflict & violence

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

Washington US134 stories about protests or strikes, of its 735 Omsk Russia82 stories about protests or strikes, of its 149 Minsk Belarus63 stories about protests or strikes, of its 67 Moscow Russia52 stories about protests or strikes, of its 126 Portland US51 stories about protests or strikes, of its 68

Stories, not people.

The emotional weather

feelings in full →
Feelings Events Harm Warmth
Zambia: feelings about like the world'sVietnam: feelings about like the world'sVanuatu: 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'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: too little coverage to readIsle of Man: too little coverage to readUganda: feelings about like the world'sTurkmenistan: too little coverage to readTunisia: 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: too little coverage to readThailand: feelings about like the world'sTanzania: feelings about like the world'sTajikistan: feelings about like the world'sTaiwan: feelings about like the world'sEswatini: too little coverage to readSuriname: feelings about like the world'sSri 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: too little coverage to readSlovenia: 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: feelings about like the world'sSamoa: feelings about like the world'sSt Vincent: feelings about like the world'sSt. Lucia: feelings about like the world'sRomania: feelings about like the world'sQatar: feelings about like the world'sPoland: feelings about like the world'sParaguay: feelings about like the world'sPapua New Guinea: feelings about like the world'sPalau: too little coverage to readOman: feelings about like the world'sNorway: feelings about like the world'sNorth Korea: feelings about like the world'sNiger: 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 readNepal: feelings about like the world'sNamibia: feelings about like the world'sMozambique: too little coverage to readMorocco: feelings about like the world'sWestern Sahara: too little coverage to readMontenegro: too little coverage to readMexico: feelings about like the world'sMauritius: feelings about like the world'sMauritania: too little coverage to readMalaysia: feelings about like the world'sMalawi: too little coverage to readMadagascar: feelings about like the world'sNorth Macedonia: too little coverage to readLuxembourg: feelings about like the world'sLesotho: feelings about like the world'sLatvia: feelings about like the world'sLaos: feelings about like the world'sKyrgyzstan: feelings about like the world'sKuwait: feelings about like the world'sKosovo: too little coverage to readKiribati: feelings about like the world'sKazakhstan: feelings about like the world'sJordan: feelings about like the world'sItaly: feelings about like the world'sPalestine: feelings about like the world'sIreland: 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 readGreece: feelings about like the world'sGhana: 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: too little coverage to readNew 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'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 readEl Salvador: feelings about like the world'sEgypt: feelings about like the world'sEcuador: 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: too little coverage to readN. Cyprus: too little coverage to readCyprus: too little coverage to readCuba: feelings about like the world'sCroatia: 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'sHong Kong: 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'sCameroon: feelings about like the world'sCambodia: feelings about like the world'sBurundi: feelings about like the world'sBulgaria: feelings about like the world'sBrunei: too little coverage to readBotswana: feelings about like the world'sBolivia: feelings about like the world'sBhutan: too little coverage to readBenin: too little coverage to readBelize: feelings about like the world'sBarbados: feelings about like the world'sBahrain: feelings about like the world'sAzerbaijan: 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: feelings about like the world'sAngola: feelings about like the world'sAndorra: too little coverage to readAlbania: feelings about like the world'sAksai Chin: feelings about like the world'sGaza: feelings about like the world'sWest Bank: feelings about like the world'sWestern Sahara (Moroccan-controlled): too little coverage to readWestern Sahara (Free Zone): too little coverage to readEast Jerusalem: feelings about like the world'sVatican City: feelings about like the world'sMarshall 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: 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: feelings about like the world'sWallis & 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 a little more fearful than the world'sYemen: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sVenezuela: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sUzbekistan: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sUK: coverage a little warmer than the world'sUnited Arab Emirates: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sUkraine: 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'sSyria: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sSwitzerland: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sSweden: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sSouth Sudan: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sSudan: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sSpain: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sSouth Africa: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sSaudi Arabia: coverage a little angrier than the world'sRwanda: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sRussia: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sPortugal: coverage a little angrier than the world'sPhilippines: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sPeru: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sPanama: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sPakistan: coverage about twice as fearful as the world'sNigeria: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sNew Zealand: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sMongolia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sMoldova: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sMalta: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sMali: coverage a little angrier than the world'sLithuania: 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 angrier than the world'sLebanon: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sKenya: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sJapan: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sJamaica: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sIsrael: coverage about one and a half times as angry 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 a little more grief-stricken than the world'sIndia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sGuinea: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sGermany: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sGeorgia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sFrance: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sDenmark: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sCzechia: coverage a little warmer than the world'sCôte d’Ivoire: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sCongo: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sColombia: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sChile: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sMyanmar: coverage a little angrier than the world'sBurkina Faso: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sBrazil: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sBosnia: coverage a little warmer than the world'sBelgium: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sBelarus: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sBangladesh: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sBahamas: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as 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'sAlgeria: 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'sKashmir: coverage about twice as fearful as the world'sKashmir: coverage about twice as fearful as the world'sUkraine: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sKashmir: coverage about twice 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

● Kashmir about twice as fearful as the world's · 69 stories about harm ● Pakistan about twice as fearful as the world's · 267 stories about harm ● Brazil about twice as grief-stricken as the world's · 71 stories about harm ● Afghanistan about twice as angry as the world's · 73 stories about harm ● Russia about twice as angry as the world's · 370 stories about harm ● Belarus about twice as angry as the world's · 96 stories about harm

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Health53% 8,822 stories · less than usual (usually 57%) Rights & justice17% 2,865 stories · about as usual Disasters & accidents13% 2,224 stories · more than usual (usually 10%) Conflict & violence7% 1,103 stories · about as usual Deaths & injuries, cause not given4% 690 stories · about as usual Shelter & services2% 319 stories · about as usual Displacement2% 298 stories · about as usual Food & livelihood1% 182 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 killed4,625 at about the usual rate Stories reporting arrests1,263 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people affected1,198 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people injured816 at about the usual rate Stories reporting evacuations217 at about twice the usual rate · most about the US and Canada Stories reporting refugees86 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people displaced82 at about the usual rate Stories reporting abductions69 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people falling ill29 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 much harsher 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

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.