← 11 Sep Saturday 12 September 2020 · to 23:59 UTC 13 Sep →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
17,592 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 Bogota (Colombia), heavy rain in Congo and illness in Taipei. Colombia's coverage was about twice as grief-stricken 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 the UK → Help and hope: reports of people freed or reunited ran at about twice the usual rate →
Part of lifeHealth 48 in 100 of the stories about harm · much less than usual Country that rose mostBelarus 80 in 100 of its 80 stories, usually 56
RegionCentral Asia 46 in 100 of its stories, usually 35
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

Colombia

36 of its 54 stories (67%) were about people being harmed, usually 41%. Bogota accounted for 28 of Colombia's 36 stories about harm, carried by 34 outlets. 15 of Bogota's 28 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of people injured ran at about 5 times the usual rate (22 stories). Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.

Colombia over 30 days → its stories → Bogota stories →
Disasters & accidents

Congo

42 of its 46 stories (91%) were about people being harmed, usually 56%. Heavy rain was named in 16 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual. Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.

Congo over 30 days → its stories →
Rights & justice

Pakistan

290 of its 608 stories (48%) were about people being harmed, usually 38%. Reports of abductions ran at about twice the usual rate (9 stories). Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.

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

Greece

88 of its 203 stories (43%) were about people being harmed, usually 32%. Lesbos accounted for 61 of Greece's 88 stories about harm, carried by 98 outlets. 43 of Lesbos' 61 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of people displaced ran at about 8 times the usual rate (6 stories). Anger in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

its stories →
Protests & strikes

Belarus

64 of its 80 stories (80%) were about people being harmed, usually 56%. Minsk accounted for 49 of Belarus' 64 stories about harm, carried by 115 outlets. 48 of Minsk's 49 stories were about protests or strikes. Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.

its stories →
Health

Hong Kong

39 of its 62 stories (63%) were about people being harmed, usually 43%. Reports of refugees ran at more than ten times the usual rate (6 stories). Grief in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

its stories →
Health

Jamaica

94 of its 235 stories (40%) were about people being harmed, usually 27%. Reports of arrests ran at about 6 times the usual rate (18 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as warm as the world's.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Kashmir

58 of its 92 stories (63%) were about people being harmed, usually 52%. Reports of arrests ran at about 4 times the usual rate (25 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.

its stories →
Health

China

412 of its 1,186 stories (35%) were about people being harmed, usually 29%. Reports of refugees ran at about 5 times the usual rate (6 stories). Natural hazards were named in 12 of its stories about harm, about three times usual.

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: covid in Antarctica (10 of its stories, about 5 times its usual); outbreaks in Liberia (10 of its stories, about 8 times its usual); tsunami in Japan (24 of its stories, about 7 times its usual); wildfires in US (937 of its stories, about three times its usual); flu in Ireland (19 of its stories, about 4 times its usual).

30 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 28; 28 the day before
31 in 10027 in 10014 Aug21 Aug28 Aug4 Sep12 Sep14 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 10023 Aug: 31 in 10024 Aug: 29 in 10025 Aug: 28 in 10026 Aug: 29 in 10027 Aug: 29 in 10028 Aug: 29 in 10029 Aug: 30 in 10030 Aug: 31 in 10031 Aug: 29 in 1001 Sep: 27 in 1002 Sep: 27 in 1003 Sep: 27 in 1004 Sep: 27 in 1005 Sep: 29 in 1006 Sep: 31 in 1007 Sep: 29 in 1008 Sep: 27 in 1009 Sep: 27 in 10010 Sep: 27 in 10011 Sep: 28 in 10012 Sep: 30 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 12 Sep. 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 17,592 stories about harm among 58,676 counted on 12 Sep.

Read the day's briefing

For the third day running, the news turned to Colombia. Stories about people being harmed made up 30 in every 100 of the day's 58,676 stories, above the usual 28. Mentions of heavy rain ran more than ten times their usual in Congo's news. On the side of help, reports of people freed or reunited ran at about twice the usual rate. Reports of evacuations ran at about twice the usual rate, most often about the US and the UK.

Written by code from the day's numbers.

Where harm was most of the news all →

Belarus80 in 100 of its 80 stories · usually 56 · mostly rights & justice Afghanistan67 in 100 of its 372 stories · usually 64 · mostly conflict & violence Colombia67 in 100 of its 54 stories · usually 41 · mostly rights & justice Kashmir63 in 100 of its 92 stories · usually 52 · mostly conflict & violence Hong Kong63 in 100 of its 62 stories · usually 43 · mostly health

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

Washington US113 stories about protests or strikes, of its 743 Delhi India55 stories about protests or strikes, of its 299 Minsk Belarus48 stories about protests or strikes, of its 49 London UK46 stories about protests or strikes, of its 273 Paris France45 stories about protests or strikes, of its 94

Stories, not people.

The emotional weather

feelings in full →
Feelings Events Harm Warmth
Zimbabwe: feelings about like the world'sZambia: feelings about like the world'sVietnam: feelings about like the world'sVanuatu: feelings about like the world'sUzbekistan: feelings about like the world'sUruguay: too little coverage to readMicronesia: too little coverage to readU.S. Virgin Islands: feelings about like the world'sGuam: too little coverage to readUnited 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 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'sTunisia: feelings about like the world'sTonga: too little coverage to readTogo: feelings about like the world'sTimor-Leste: too little coverage to readTanzania: feelings about like the world'sTaiwan: feelings about like the world'sSweden: feelings about like the world'sEswatini: feelings about like the world'sSuriname: feelings about like the world'sSouth Sudan: feelings about like the world'sSudan: feelings about like the world'sSri Lanka: feelings about like the world'sSouth Korea: feelings about like the world'sSomaliland: too little coverage to readSolomon Islands: too little coverage to readSlovakia: feelings about like the world'sSingapore: feelings about like the world'sSierra Leone: too little coverage to readSeychelles: feelings about like the world'sSerbia: too little coverage to readSão Tomé: too little coverage to readSamoa: too little coverage to readSt Vincent: too little coverage to readSt. Lucia: feelings about like the world'sRwanda: feelings about like the world'sRomania: feelings about like the world'sPoland: feelings about like the world'sPhilippines: 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 readOman: feelings about like the world'sNorway: feelings about like the world'sNorth Korea: 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: feelings about like the world'sMorocco: feelings about like the world'sWestern Sahara: feelings about like the world'sMontenegro: feelings about like the world'sMongolia: feelings about like the world'sMoldova: feelings about like the world'sMauritius: feelings about like the world'sMauritania: feelings about like the world'sMalaysia: feelings about like the world'sMalawi: feelings about like the world'sMadagascar: too little coverage to readNorth Macedonia: feelings about like the world'sLuxembourg: feelings about like the world'sLithuania: feelings about like the world'sLibya: feelings about like the world'sLesotho: too little coverage to readLatvia: feelings about like the world'sLaos: feelings about like the world'sKyrgyzstan: feelings about like the world'sKosovo: too little coverage to readKiribati: too little coverage to readKenya: feelings about like the world'sJordan: feelings about like the world'sJapan: feelings about like the world'sPalestine: 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 readGhana: feelings about like the world'sGeorgia: feelings about like the world'sGambia: feelings about like the world'sGabon: 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: feelings about like the world'sEquatorial Guinea: feelings about like the world'sEgypt: feelings about like the world'sEcuador: feelings about like the world'sDominican Republic: too little coverage to readDominica: too little coverage to readDjibouti: too little coverage to readGreenland: feelings about like the world'sFaroe Islands: too little coverage to readDenmark: 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'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'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'sCambodia: feelings about like the world'sMyanmar: 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: too little coverage to readBelize: feelings about like the world'sBarbados: 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 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'sGaza: feelings about like the world'sWest Bank: feelings about like the world'sWestern Sahara (Moroccan-controlled): feelings about like the world'sWestern Sahara (Free Zone): feelings about like the world'sCrimea: feelings about like the world'sEast Jerusalem: feelings about like the world'sVatican City: feelings about like the world'sMarshall Islands: too little coverage to readNorthern 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: too little coverage to readBermuda: feelings about like the world'sBritish Virgin Islands: feelings about like the world'sTurks & 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: feelings about like the world'sAruba: too little coverage to readNauru: 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: too little coverage to readGibraltar: too little coverage to readMayotte: too little coverage to readYemen: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sVenezuela: coverage a little angrier than the world'sPuerto Rico: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sUK: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sTürkiye: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sTrinidad & Tobago: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sThailand: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sTajikistan: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sSyria: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sSwitzerland: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sSpain: 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 one and a half times as angry as the world'sSlovenia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sSenegal: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sSaudi Arabia: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sRussia: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sQatar: coverage a little warmer than the world'sPortugal: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sPakistan: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sNigeria: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sNiger: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sNicaragua: coverage a little angrier than the world'sNew Zealand: coverage a little warmer than the world'sMexico: coverage a little angrier than the world'sMalta: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sMali: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sLiberia: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sLebanon: coverage a little angrier than the world'sKuwait: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sKazakhstan: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sJamaica: coverage about one and a half times as warm as the world'sItaly: coverage a little warmer than the world'sIsrael: coverage a little warmer 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 twice 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'sGuyana: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sGuinea: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sGreece: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sGermany: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sFrance: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sEl Salvador: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sCôte d’Ivoire: coverage a little angrier than the world'sDR Congo: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sCongo: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sColombia: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sCameroon: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sBurundi: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sBurkina Faso: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sBrazil: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sBotswana: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sBelgium: coverage a little warmer than the world'sBelarus: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sBangladesh: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sBahrain: coverage a little warmer than the world'sAzerbaijan: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sArmenia: coverage a little angrier than the world'sAfghanistan: coverage about twice as warm as 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'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'sMonaco: coverage a little angrier 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

● Afghanistan about twice as warm as the world's · 249 stories about harm ● Kashmir about one and a half times as fearful as the world's · 58 stories about harm ● Colombia few stories about twice as grief-stricken as the world's · 36 stories about harm ● Congo few stories about twice as grief-stricken as the world's · 42 stories about harm ● Belarus about twice as angry as the world's · 64 stories about harm ● Switzerland few stories about one and a half times as fearful as the world's · 24 stories about harm

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Health48% 8,421 stories · much less than usual (usually 54%) Rights & justice19% 3,386 stories · about as usual Disasters & accidents14% 2,503 stories · more than usual (usually 12%) Conflict & violence9% 1,511 stories · about as usual Deaths & injuries, cause not given4% 755 stories · about as usual Displacement2% 371 stories · about as usual Shelter & services2% 360 stories · about as usual Food & livelihood1% 171 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 killed5,270 at about the usual rate Stories reporting arrests1,680 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about the US and India Stories reporting people affected1,603 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about the US and India Stories reporting people injured857 at about the usual rate Stories reporting evacuations406 at about twice the usual rate · most about the US and the UK Stories reporting abductions161 at about twice the usual rate · most about the US and India Stories reporting refugees152 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about Greece and the US Stories reporting people displaced111 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about the US and Nigeria Stories reporting people falling ill25 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 · 18 Oct – 24 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.