← 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.

Where the news was warmest

feelings in full →
Feelings Events Harm Warmth
Zimbabwe: about as warm as its own usual or lessZambia: about as warm as its own usual or lessYemen: about as warm as its own usual or lessVietnam: about as warm as its own usual or lessVenezuela: about as warm as its own usual or lessVanuatu: too little coverage to readUzbekistan: about as warm as its own usual or lessUruguay: about as warm as its own usual or lessMicronesia: too little coverage to readU.S. Virgin Islands: about as warm as its own usual or lessGuam: about as warm as its own usual or lessUnited States: about as warm as its own usual or lessSouth Georgia & South Sandwich Islands: too little coverage to readFalkland Islands: too little coverage to readCayman Islands: about as warm as its own usual or lessIsle of Man: too little coverage to readUnited Kingdom: about as warm as its own usual or lessUnited Arab Emirates: about as warm as its own usual or lessUkraine: about as warm as its own usual or lessUganda: about as warm as its own usual or lessTurkmenistan: about as warm as its own usual or lessTurkey: about as warm as its own usual or lessTunisia: about as warm as its own usual or lessTrinidad & Tobago: about as warm as its own usual or lessTonga: about as warm as its own usual or lessTogo: too little coverage to readTimor-Leste: about as warm as its own usual or lessThailand: about as warm as its own usual or lessTanzania: about as warm as its own usual or lessTajikistan: too little coverage to readTaiwan: about as warm as its own usual or lessSyria: about as warm as its own usual or lessSwitzerland: about as warm as its own usual or lessSweden: about as warm as its own usual or lessEswatini: about as warm as its own usual or lessSuriname: too little coverage to readSouth Sudan: about as warm as its own usual or lessSudan: about as warm as its own usual or lessSri Lanka: about as warm as its own usual or lessSpain: about as warm as its own usual or lessSouth Korea: about as warm as its own usual or lessSouth Africa: about as warm as its own usual or lessSomalia: about as warm as its own usual or lessSomaliland: too little coverage to readSolomon Islands: too little coverage to readSlovakia: about as warm as its own usual or lessSlovenia: about as warm as its own usual or lessSingapore: about as warm as its own usual or lessSierra Leone: about as warm as its own usual or lessSeychelles: too little coverage to readSerbia: too little coverage to readSenegal: about as warm as its own usual or lessSaudi Arabia: about as warm as its own usual or lessSão Tomé: too little coverage to readSamoa: about as warm as its own usual or lessSt Vincent: about as warm as its own usual or lessSt. Lucia: too little coverage to readRwanda: about as warm as its own usual or lessRussia: about as warm as its own usual or lessRomania: about as warm as its own usual or lessQatar: about as warm as its own usual or lessPortugal: too little coverage to readPoland: about as warm as its own usual or lessPhilippines: about as warm as its own usual or lessPeru: about as warm as its own usual or lessParaguay: about as warm as its own usual or lessPapua New Guinea: about as warm as its own usual or lessPanama: about as warm as its own usual or lessPalau: about as warm as its own usual or lessOman: about as warm as its own usual or lessNorway: about as warm as its own usual or lessNorth Korea: about as warm as its own usual or lessNigeria: about as warm as its own usual or lessNiger: about as warm as its own usual or lessNicaragua: about as warm as its own usual or lessNew Zealand: about as warm as its own usual or lessNiue: too little coverage to readNetherlands: about as warm as its own usual or lessCuraçao: too little coverage to readNepal: about as warm as its own usual or lessNamibia: too little coverage to readMozambique: about as warm as its own usual or lessMorocco: about as warm as its own usual or lessWestern Sahara: too little coverage to readMontenegro: too little coverage to readMongolia: about as warm as its own usual or lessMoldova: about as warm as its own usual or lessMexico: about as warm as its own usual or lessMauritius: about as warm as its own usual or lessMauritania: about as warm as its own usual or lessMalta: about as warm as its own usual or lessMali: about as warm as its own usual or lessMalaysia: about as warm as its own usual or lessMalawi: about as warm as its own usual or lessMadagascar: about as warm as its own usual or lessNorth Macedonia: about as warm as its own usual or lessLuxembourg: about as warm as its own usual or lessLithuania: too little coverage to readLibya: about as warm as its own usual or lessLiberia: about as warm as its own usual or lessLesotho: about as warm as its own usual or lessLebanon: about as warm as its own usual or lessLatvia: about as warm as its own usual or lessLaos: too little coverage to readKyrgyzstan: too little coverage to readKuwait: about as warm as its own usual or lessKosovo: too little coverage to readKiribati: too little coverage to readKenya: about as warm as its own usual or lessKazakhstan: about as warm as its own usual or lessJordan: about as warm as its own usual or lessJapan: about as warm as its own usual or lessJamaica: about as warm as its own usual or lessItaly: about as warm as its own usual or lessIsrael: about as warm as its own usual or lessPalestine: about as warm as its own usual or lessIreland: about as warm as its own usual or lessIraq: about as warm as its own usual or lessIran: about as warm as its own usual or lessIndonesia: about as warm as its own usual or lessIndia: about as warm as its own usual or lessIceland: about as warm as its own usual or lessHungary: about as warm as its own usual or lessHonduras: too little coverage to readHaiti: about as warm as its own usual or lessGuyana: about as warm as its own usual or lessGuinea-Bissau: too little coverage to readGuinea: about as warm as its own usual or lessGuatemala: about as warm as its own usual or lessGrenada: about as warm as its own usual or lessGreece: about as warm as its own usual or lessGhana: about as warm as its own usual or lessGermany: about as warm as its own usual or lessGeorgia: too little coverage to readGambia: about as warm as its own usual or lessGabon: about as warm as its own usual or lessFrance: about as warm as its own usual or lessSt Pierre & Miquelon: too little coverage to readFrench Polynesia: about as warm as its own usual or lessNew Caledonia: too little coverage to readFrench Southern Territories: too little coverage to readÅland Islands: too little coverage to readFinland: about as warm as its own usual or lessFiji: about as warm as its own usual or lessEthiopia: about as warm as its own usual or lessEstonia: too little coverage to readEritrea: about as warm as its own usual or lessEquatorial Guinea: too little coverage to readEl Salvador: too little coverage to readEgypt: about as warm as its own usual or lessEcuador: about as warm as its own usual or lessDominican Republic: about as warm as its own usual or lessDominica: about as warm as its own usual or lessDjibouti: about as warm as its own usual or lessGreenland: about as warm as its own usual or lessFaroe Islands: too little coverage to readDenmark: too little coverage to readCzech Republic: about as warm as its own usual or lessN. Cyprus: too little coverage to readCyprus: too little coverage to readCuba: about as warm as its own usual or lessCroatia: about as warm as its own usual or lessCôte d'Ivoire: about as warm as its own usual or lessCosta Rica: about as warm as its own usual or lessDR Congo: about as warm as its own usual or lessCongo: about as warm as its own usual or lessComoros: too little coverage to readColombia: about as warm as its own usual or lessChina: about as warm as its own usual or lessHong Kong: about as warm as its own usual or lessChile: about as warm as its own usual or lessChad: about as warm as its own usual or lessCentral African Republic: about as warm as its own usual or lessCape Verde: too little coverage to readCanada: about as warm as its own usual or lessCameroon: about as warm as its own usual or lessCambodia: about as warm as its own usual or lessMyanmar: about as warm as its own usual or lessBurundi: about as warm as its own usual or lessBurkina Faso: about as warm as its own usual or lessBulgaria: about as warm as its own usual or lessBrunei: about as warm as its own usual or lessBrazil: about as warm as its own usual or lessBotswana: about as warm as its own usual or lessBosnia and Herzegovina: about as warm as its own usual or lessBolivia: too little coverage to readBhutan: about as warm as its own usual or lessBenin: about as warm as its own usual or lessBelize: about as warm as its own usual or lessBelgium: about as warm as its own usual or lessBelarus: about as warm as its own usual or lessBarbados: about as warm as its own usual or lessBangladesh: about as warm as its own usual or lessBahrain: about as warm as its own usual or lessBahamas: about as warm as its own usual or lessAzerbaijan: about as warm as its own usual or lessAustria: about as warm as its own usual or lessAustralia: about as warm as its own usual or lessHeard & McDonald Islands: too little coverage to readArmenia: about as warm as its own usual or lessArgentina: about as warm as its own usual or lessAntigua & Barbuda: about as warm as its own usual or lessAngola: about as warm as its own usual or lessAndorra: too little coverage to readAlgeria: about as warm as its own usual or lessAlbania: about as warm as its own usual or lessAfghanistan: about as warm as its own usual or lessAksai Chin: about as warm as its own usual or lessGaza: about as warm as its own usual or lessWest Bank: about as warm as its own usual or lessWestern Sahara (Moroccan-controlled): too little coverage to readWestern Sahara (Free Zone): too little coverage to readCrimea: about as warm as its own usual or lessEast Jerusalem: about as warm as its own usual or lessVatican 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: about as warm as its own usual or lessBritish Virgin Islands: too little coverage to readTurks & Caicos Islands: too little coverage to readMontserrat: too little coverage to readJersey: about as warm as its own usual or lessGuernsey: too little coverage to readSan Marino: too little coverage to readSt Kitts & Nevis: too little coverage to readCook Islands: about as warm as its own usual or lessAruba: too little coverage to readNauru: too little coverage to readMonaco: too little coverage to readMaldives: 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: about as warm as its own usual or lessNorfolk 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 readPuerto Rico: warmth about its own usualPakistan: warmth about its own usualKashmir: warmth about its own usualKashmir: warmth about its own usualKashmir: warmth about its own usualKashmir: warmth about its own usualMinnesota, US -- health: 44 stories, carried by 57 outletsTennessee, US -- health: 14 stories, carried by 28 outletsJammu, Kashmir -- health: 45 stories, carried by 29 outletsRome, Italy -- health: 10 stories, carried by 10 outletsColchester, UK -- health: 11 stories, carried by 15 outletsLagos State, Nigeria -- health: 14 stories, carried by 10 outletsCambridge, UK -- health: 20 stories, carried by 20 outletsAddis Ababa, Ethiopia -- health: 12 stories, carried by 58 outlets
Warmer than its own usual The warmest eventsAbout as warm or lessToo little news

Each country shaded by the warmth in its news — care, help, gratitude — against its own last 30 days. Stronger colour: further above. Dots: the events whose coverage carried the most warmth, even where the event itself began as harm. Warm words, not good outcomes. Click a country or a dot.

Warmest news

No country's news was much warmer than its usual (a quarter or more).

Warmest events

● Minnesota US about one and a half times as warm as the day's news · health · 44 stories ● Tennessee US about one and a half times as warm as the day's news · health · 14 stories ● Jammu Kashmir about one and a half times as warm as the day's news · health · 45 stories ● Rome Italy about one and a half times as warm as the day's news · health · 10 stories ● Colchester UK about one and a half times as warm as the day's news · health · 11 stories

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 · 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.