← 18 Sep Saturday 19 September 2020 · to 23:59 UTC 20 Sep →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
17,127 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 Minsk (Belarus), the earthquake in Mexico and violence in Tehran. Belarus' coverage was about twice as angry as the world's. Everywhere we counted, the words were softer than usual.

Part of lifeHealth 54 in 100 of the stories about harm · about as usual Country that rose mostBelarus 81 in 100 of its 120 stories, usually 53
RegionCentral Asia 58 in 100 of its stories, usually 33
Tone of the words Softer than usual across the world's stories about harm

What the world's news was about today

how these are picked →
Protests & strikes

Belarus

97 of its 120 stories (81%) were about people being harmed, usually 53%. Minsk accounted for 73 of Belarus' 97 stories about harm, carried by 173 outlets. 65 of Minsk's 73 stories were about protests or strikes. Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.

Belarus over 30 days → its stories → Minsk stories →
Disasters & accidents

Mexico

118 of its 213 stories (55%) were about people being harmed, usually 34%. Mexico City accounted for 57 of Mexico's 118 stories about harm, carried by 69 outlets. Reports of people killed ran at about three times the usual rate (81 stories). Earthquake was named in 57 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual.

Mexico over 30 days → its stories → Mexico City stories →
Conflict & violence

Iran

98 of its 192 stories (51%) were about people being harmed, usually 39%. Tehran accounted for 60 of Iran's 98 stories about harm, carried by 148 outlets. Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.

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

Thailand

105 of its 192 stories (55%) were about people being harmed, usually 34%. Bangkok accounted for 77 of Thailand's 105 stories about harm, carried by 211 outlets. 64 of Bangkok's 77 stories were about protests or strikes. Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.

its stories →
Disasters & accidents

Greece

108 of its 196 stories (55%) were about people being harmed, usually 37%. Reports of people killed ran at about three times the usual rate (42 stories). Hurricane was named in 52 of its stories about harm, about 7 times usual, with flooding, cyclone and tropical storm. Grief in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Kashmir

97 of its 162 stories (60%) were about people being harmed, usually 52%. Reports of arrests ran at about twice the usual rate (34 stories). Its coverage was about twice as fearful as the world's.

its stories →
Health

Guatemala

14 of its 14 stories (100%) were about people being harmed, usually 46%. Covid was named in 13 of its stories about harm, about three times usual.

its stories →
Health

Vietnam

64 of its 137 stories (47%) were about people being harmed, usually 31%. Reports of people injured ran at about twice the usual rate (5 stories).

its stories →
Disasters & accidents

Puerto Rico

25 of its 42 stories (60%) were about people being harmed, usually 42%. Reports of people killed ran at about twice the usual rate (10 stories).

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: hurricane in Greece (52 of its stories, about 7 times its usual); covid in Guatemala (13 of its stories, about three times its usual); hurricane in Canada (13 of its stories, about three times its usual); earthquake in US (139 of its stories, about 5 times its usual).

29 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 28; 26 the day before
31 in 10026 in 10021 Aug28 Aug4 Sep11 Sep19 Sep21 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 10013 Sep: 30 in 10014 Sep: 27 in 10015 Sep: 27 in 10016 Sep: 27 in 10017 Sep: 26 in 10018 Sep: 26 in 10019 Sep: 29 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 19 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 17,127 stories about harm among 58,532 counted on 19 Sep.

Read the day's briefing

Mexico's news mentioned the earthquake more than ten times as often as usual. 29 in every 100 of the day's 58,532 news stories were about people being harmed, as usual. For the second day running, the news turned to Belarus. A year earlier, on 20 September 2019, 21 in every 100 stories were about people being harmed, against 29 today. Belarus' news was 81% about people being harmed, against a usual 53%.

Written by code from the day's numbers.

Where harm was most of the news all →

Belarus81 in 100 of its 120 stories · usually 53 · mostly rights & justice Syria68 in 100 of its 76 stories · usually 60 · mostly conflict & violence Afghanistan65 in 100 of its 129 stories · usually 62 · mostly conflict & violence Kashmir60 in 100 of its 162 stories · usually 52 · mostly conflict & violence Bangladesh57 in 100 of its 202 stories · usually 47 · mostly health

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

Washington US193 stories about protests or strikes, of its 1341 London UK75 stories about protests or strikes, of its 331 Minsk Belarus65 stories about protests or strikes, of its 73 Bangkok Thailand64 stories about protests or strikes, of its 77 Chicago US28 stories about protests or strikes, of its 121

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'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: feelings about like the world'sUnited 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'sTonga: feelings about like the world'sTogo: too little coverage to readTanzania: feelings about like the world'sTajikistan: too little coverage to readTaiwan: feelings about like the world'sSwitzerland: feelings about like the world'sSweden: feelings about like the world'sEswatini: feelings about like the world'sSuriname: too little coverage to readSouth Sudan: feelings about like the world'sSudan: 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'sSingapore: feelings about like the world'sSierra Leone: feelings about like the world'sSeychelles: too little coverage to readSerbia: too little coverage to readSenegal: feelings about like the world'sSaudi Arabia: feelings about like the world'sSão Tomé: too little coverage to readSamoa: feelings about like the world'sSt Vincent: feelings about like the world'sSt. Lucia: feelings about like the world'sRwanda: feelings about like the world'sRomania: feelings about like the world'sQatar: feelings about like the world'sPortugal: feelings about like the world'sPoland: feelings about like the world'sPhilippines: 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: feelings about like the world'sOman: feelings about like the world'sNew Zealand: feelings about like the world'sNiue: too little coverage to readNetherlands: feelings about like the world'sCuraçao: too little coverage to readNamibia: feelings about like the world'sMorocco: 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'sMalta: 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: too little coverage to readLiberia: 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'sKosovo: too little coverage to readKiribati: too little coverage to readKenya: feelings about like the world'sJordan: feelings about like the world'sItaly: feelings about like the world'sIreland: feelings about like the world'sIceland: feelings about like the world'sHungary: feelings about like the world'sHonduras: too little coverage to readHaiti: feelings about like the world'sGuinea-Bissau: too little coverage to readGuatemala: feelings about like the world'sGreece: feelings about like the world'sGhana: feelings about like the world'sGermany: feelings about like the world'sGeorgia: 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: 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'sEstonia: feelings about like the world'sEritrea: feelings about like the world'sEquatorial Guinea: too little coverage to readEl Salvador: too little coverage to readEcuador: feelings about like the world'sDominican Republic: feelings about like the world'sDjibouti: feelings about like the world'sGreenland: 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'sCôte d'Ivoire: feelings about like the world'sCosta Rica: feelings about like the world'sDR Congo: feelings about like the world'sCongo: feelings about like the world'sComoros: too little coverage to readChina: feelings about like the world'sHong Kong: feelings about like the world'sCape Verde: too little coverage to readCanada: feelings about like the world'sMyanmar: feelings about like the world'sBurundi: feelings about like the world'sBulgaria: feelings about like the world'sBrunei: feelings about like the world'sBotswana: 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'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 readArgentina: feelings about like the world'sAntigua & 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'sWestern Sahara (Moroccan-controlled): too little coverage to readWestern Sahara (Free Zone): too little coverage to readCrimea: feelings about like the world'sVatican City: too little coverage to readMarshall 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: too little coverage to readTurks & Caicos Islands: too little coverage to readMontserrat: too little coverage to readJersey: feelings about like the world'sGuernsey: too little coverage to readSan Marino: too little coverage to readSt Kitts & Nevis: feelings about like the world'sAruba: too little coverage to readNauru: too little coverage to readMonaco: too little coverage to readMaldives: 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 readZimbabwe: coverage a little angrier than the world'sYemen: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sVenezuela: coverage a little angrier than the world'sUK: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sTürkiye: coverage about twice as fearful as the world'sTunisia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sTrinidad & Tobago: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sTimor-Leste: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sThailand: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sSyria: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sSri Lanka: coverage a little angrier than the world'sSpain: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sSouth Africa: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sSomalia: coverage a little angrier than the world'sSlovenia: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sRussia: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sPeru: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sPakistan: coverage about twice as fearful as the world'sNorway: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sNorth Korea: coverage a little angrier than the world'sNigeria: coverage a little angrier than the world'sNiger: coverage a little angrier than the world'sNicaragua: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sNepal: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sMozambique: coverage a little angrier than the world'sMexico: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sMauritania: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sMali: coverage a little more grief-stricken than 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'sLebanon: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sKuwait: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sKazakhstan: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sJapan: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sJamaica: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sIsrael: coverage a little angrier than the world'sPalestine: coverage a little angrier than the world'sIraq: coverage a little angrier than the world'sIran: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sIndonesia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sIndia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sGuyana: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sGuinea: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sGrenada: coverage a little angrier than the world'sEthiopia: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sEgypt: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sDominica: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sColombia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sChile: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sChad: coverage a little angrier than the world'sCentral African Republic: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sCameroon: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sCambodia: coverage a little angrier than the world'sBurkina Faso: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sBrazil: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sBosnia: coverage a little angrier than the world'sBelize: coverage a little more grief-stricken 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'sAzerbaijan: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sArmenia: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sAlgeria: coverage a little angrier than the world'sAfghanistan: coverage about three times 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'sCook Islands: coverage a little more fearful 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 three times as angry as the world's · 84 stories about harm ● Kashmir about twice as fearful as the world's · 97 stories about harm ● Türkiye about twice as fearful as the world's · 65 stories about harm ● Pakistan about twice as fearful as the world's · 256 stories about harm ● Belarus about twice as angry as the world's · 97 stories about harm ● Syria about twice as angry as the world's · 52 stories about harm

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Health54% 9,116 stories · about as usual Rights & justice17% 2,949 stories · about as usual Disasters & accidents12% 2,089 stories · about as usual Conflict & violence8% 1,293 stories · about as usual Deaths & injuries, cause not given5% 803 stories · about as usual Shelter & services2% 328 stories · about as usual Displacement1% 215 stories · about as usual Food & livelihood1% 168 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 killed5,621 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about the US and India Stories reporting arrests1,331 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people affected1,152 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people injured903 at about the usual rate Stories reporting evacuations119 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about the US and Canada Stories reporting refugees104 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people displaced75 at about the usual rate Stories reporting abductions63 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about the US and Nigeria Stories reporting people falling ill14 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 softer than usual. Filled dot: today. Ring: usual.

● Angerabout as usual
● Warmthabout as usual
● Griefa little more 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 · 18 Oct – 24 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.