← 21 Sep Tuesday 22 September 2020 · to 23:59 UTC 23 Sep →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
27,586 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 →

Flooding in Indonesia, the earthquake in Kashmir and arrests in Malta drew the news. Colombia's coverage was about three times as angry as the world's. Taken together, the world's news read much softer than usual.

Part of lifeHealth 58 in 100 of the stories about harm · more than usual Country that rose mostBotswana 50 in 100 of its 70 stories, usually 29
RegionEvery region about as usual
Tone of the words Much softer than usual across the world's stories about harm

What the world's news was about today

how these are picked →
Health

Indonesia

125 of its 234 stories (53%) were about people being harmed, usually 45%. Jakarta accounted for 79 of Indonesia's 125 stories about harm, carried by 51 outlets. Reports of people injured ran at about 7 times the usual rate (12 stories). Flooding was named in 13 of its stories about harm, about 6 times usual, with landslides. Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.

Indonesia over 30 days → its stories → Jakarta stories →
Conflict & violence

Kashmir

Jammu accounted for 52 of Kashmir's 81 stories about harm, carried by 30 outlets. Reports of refugees ran at about 9 times the usual rate (9 stories). Earthquake was named in 10 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual. Its coverage was about twice as fearful as the world's.

Kashmir over 30 days → its stories → Jammu stories →
Rights & justice

Malta

29 of its 70 stories (41%) were about people being harmed, usually 29%. Reports of arrests ran at about three times the usual rate (8 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.

Malta over 30 days → its stories →
6 more places the news pointed at
Health

Botswana

35 of its 70 stories (50%) were about people being harmed, usually 29%. Reports of people killed ran at about three times the usual rate (26 stories). Poisoning was named in 11 of its stories about harm, about 4 times usual. Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.

its stories →
Protests & strikes

Cameroon

5 of Douala's 6 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of arrests ran at about twice the usual rate (7 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's.

its stories →
Displacement

Mozambique

Cabo Delgado accounted for 15 of Mozambique's 21 stories about harm, carried by 39 outlets. Reports of people displaced ran at about three times the usual rate (13 stories). Hunger was named in 10 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Bulgaria

15 of its 39 stories (38%) were about people being harmed, usually 18%. Reports of people killed ran at about twice the usual rate (9 stories).

its stories →
Health

Sweden

62 of its 153 stories (41%) were about people being harmed, usually 32%. Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.

its stories →
Health

Vietnam

92 of its 240 stories (38%) were about people being harmed, usually 31%. Reports of people injured ran at about three times the usual rate (13 stories).

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: dengue in Brazil (23 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); hunger in Mozambique (10 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); poisoning in Botswana (11 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); flu in South Korea (11 of its stories, about 7 times its usual); hurricane in Canada (55 of its stories, about 5 times its usual).

26 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 28; 26 the day before
31 in 10026 in 10024 Aug31 Aug7 Sep14 Sep22 Sep24 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 10020 Sep: 28 in 10021 Sep: 26 in 10022 Sep: 26 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 22 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 27,586 stories about harm among 105,634 counted on 22 Sep.

Read the day's briefing

The share of stories about people being harmed was the lowest since 6 March 2020. Mentions of the dengue ran more than ten times their usual in Brazil's news. A year earlier, on 23 September 2019, 18 in every 100 stories were about people being harmed, against 26 today. Stories about people being harmed made up 26 in every 100 of the day's 105,634 stories, below the usual 28.

Written by code from the day's numbers.

Where harm was most of the news all →

Yemen68 in 100 of its 57 stories · usually 62 · mostly conflict & violence Syria57 in 100 of its 93 stories · usually 60 · mostly conflict & violence Kashmir54 in 100 of its 150 stories · usually 52 · mostly conflict & violence Indonesia53 in 100 of its 234 stories · usually 45 · mostly health Ethiopia53 in 100 of its 85 stories · usually 46 · mostly health

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

Washington US275 stories about protests or strikes, of its 1373 Delhi India80 stories about protests or strikes, of its 366 Chicago US68 stories about protests or strikes, of its 265 Beijing China52 stories about protests or strikes, of its 328 New York US44 stories about protests or strikes, of its 310

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'sVanuatu: feelings about like the world'sUzbekistan: feelings about like the world'sUruguay: too little coverage to readMicronesia: 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: feelings about like the world'sUnited Arab Emirates: feelings about like the world'sTurkmenistan: 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'sSwitzerland: feelings about like the world'sSuriname: too little coverage to readSouth Korea: feelings about like the world'sSomaliland: too little coverage to readSlovakia: feelings about like the world'sSlovenia: feelings about like the world'sSingapore: feelings about like the world'sSeychelles: feelings about like the world'sSerbia: 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: too little coverage to readRwanda: feelings about like the world'sRomania: feelings about like the world'sPortugal: feelings about like the world'sPoland: feelings about like the world'sParaguay: too little coverage to readPapua New Guinea: feelings about like the world'sPanama: feelings about like the world'sPalau: too little coverage to readOman: feelings about like the world'sNiger: feelings about like the world'sNicaragua: too little coverage to readNew Zealand: feelings about like the world'sNiue: too little coverage to readNetherlands: feelings about like the world'sCuraçao: too little coverage to readWestern Sahara: too little coverage to readMontenegro: 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: feelings about like the world'sNorth Macedonia: feelings about like the world'sLuxembourg: 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: too little coverage to readKenya: feelings about like the world'sJordan: feelings about like the world'sJapan: 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: too little coverage to readGuatemala: feelings about like the world'sGrenada: too little coverage to readGreece: feelings about like the world'sGambia: feelings about like the world'sGabon: too little coverage to readFrance: 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 readEthiopia: 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: feelings about like the world'sEcuador: feelings about like the world'sDominican Republic: feelings about like the world'sDjibouti: 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'sComoros: too little coverage to readHong Kong: feelings about like the world'sChile: feelings about like the world'sCentral African Republic: too little coverage to readCape Verde: too little coverage to readCanada: feelings about like the world'sCambodia: feelings about like the world'sBurundi: 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'sBelize: feelings about like the world'sBarbados: feelings about like the world'sAustria: feelings about like the world'sHeard & McDonald Islands: too little coverage to readArgentina: feelings about like the world'sAntigua & Barbuda: too little coverage to readAngola: feelings about like the world'sAndorra: too little coverage to readAlbania: feelings about like the world'sWestern Sahara (Moroccan-controlled): too little coverage to readWestern Sahara (Free Zone): too little coverage to readVatican City: feelings about like the world'sMarshall Islands: too little coverage to readNorthern Mariana Islands: feelings about like the world'sAmerican 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 readGuernsey: feelings about like the world'sSan Marino: too little coverage to readSt Kitts & Nevis: too little coverage to readCook Islands: too little coverage to readAruba: feelings about like the world'sNauru: 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 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 readYemen: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sVietnam: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sVenezuela: coverage a little angrier than the world'sUK: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sUkraine: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sUganda: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sTürkiye: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sTunisia: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sTrinidad & Tobago: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sThailand: coverage a little angrier than the world'sTaiwan: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sSyria: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sSweden: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sEswatini: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sSouth Sudan: coverage a little warmer than the world'sSudan: coverage a little angrier than 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 about one and a half times as angry as the world'sSomalia: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sSolomon Islands: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sSierra Leone: coverage a little angrier than the world'sRussia: coverage a little angrier than the world'sQatar: coverage a little warmer than the world'sPhilippines: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sPeru: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sPakistan: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sNorway: coverage a little warmer than the world'sNorth Korea: coverage a little angrier than the world'sNigeria: coverage a little warmer 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 a little more fearful than the world'sMorocco: coverage a little angrier than the world'sMexico: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sMalta: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as 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 fearful as the world'sLiberia: coverage a little angrier than the world'sLesotho: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sLebanon: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sKazakhstan: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sJamaica: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sItaly: coverage a little warmer than the world'sIsrael: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sPalestine: coverage a little warmer than the world'sIreland: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sIraq: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sIran: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sIndonesia: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sIndia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sIceland: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sGuinea: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sGhana: coverage a little warmer than the world'sGermany: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sGeorgia: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sFinland: coverage a little angrier than the world'sFiji: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sEgypt: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sDominica: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sGreenland: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sDenmark: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sCuba: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sCroatia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sCôte d’Ivoire: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sCosta Rica: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sDR Congo: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sCongo: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sColombia: coverage about three times as angry as the world'sChina: coverage about one and a half times as angry as 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 a little angrier than the world'sBurkina Faso: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sBulgaria: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sBrazil: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sBotswana: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sBelgium: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sBelarus: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sBangladesh: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sBahrain: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sBahamas: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sAzerbaijan: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sAustralia: coverage a little more fearful 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 twice as angry as the world'sKashmir: coverage about twice as fearful as the world'sChina: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sPalestine: coverage a little warmer than the world'sPalestine: coverage a little warmer than the world'sKashmir: coverage about twice as fearful as the world'sKashmir: coverage about twice as fearful as the world'sUkraine: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sPalestine: coverage a little warmer than the world'sKashmir: coverage about twice as fearful as the world'sJersey: coverage a little warmer than the world'sMacao: 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

● Kashmir about twice as fearful as the world's · 81 stories about harm ● Colombia few stories about three times as angry as the world's · 47 stories about harm ● Botswana few stories about twice as grief-stricken as the world's · 35 stories about harm ● Afghanistan about twice as angry as the world's · 85 stories about harm ● Iran about twice as angry as the world's · 114 stories about harm ● Syria about twice as angry as the world's · 53 stories about harm

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Health58% 15,949 stories · more than usual (usually 54%) Rights & justice17% 4,515 stories · about as usual Disasters & accidents10% 2,855 stories · about as usual Conflict & violence6% 1,739 stories · about as usual Deaths & injuries, cause not given4% 1,057 stories · about as usual Shelter & services2% 587 stories · about as usual Displacement1% 318 stories · about as usual Food & livelihood1% 305 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 killed7,265 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people affected2,047 at about the usual rate Stories reporting arrests1,767 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about the US and India Stories reporting people injured1,096 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about the US and India Stories reporting refugees178 at about the usual rate Stories reporting evacuations138 at about half the usual rate · most about the US and India Stories reporting people displaced128 at about the usual rate Stories reporting abductions119 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about Nigeria and the US Stories reporting people falling ill47 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 softer 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 →

Unlock a year of trends, free. Follow up to 5 countries, with a bell when their news changes, and 👍 vote for Pro — ten years of the archive, any period, daily alerts.

Create a free account

Sign in · a username, an email and a password.

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.