← 2 Dec Thursday 3 December 2020 · to 23:59 UTC 4 Dec →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
25,840 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 cyclone in Sri Lanka, arrests in Hong Kong and people affected in Azerbaijan drew the news. Azerbaijan's coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's. Over the whole world, the tone was much softer than usual.

Help and hope: reports of vaccination ran at about one and a half times the usual rate →
Part of lifeHealth 62 in 100 of the stories about harm · more than usual Country that rose mostHong Kong 52 in 100 of its 149 stories, usually 34
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

Sri Lanka

86 of its 202 stories (43%) were about people being harmed, usually 34%. Reports of evacuations ran at more than ten times the usual rate (5 stories). Cyclone was named in 22 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual. Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's. Anger in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

Sri Lanka over 30 days → its stories →
Rights & justice

Hong Kong

78 of its 149 stories (52%) were about people being harmed, usually 34%. Reports of arrests ran at about twice the usual rate (23 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.

Hong Kong over 30 days → its stories →
Conflict & violence

Azerbaijan

47 of its 86 stories (55%) were about people being harmed, usually 44%. Reports of people affected ran at about 4 times the usual rate (21 stories). Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.

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

Lebanon

85 of its 174 stories (49%) were about people being harmed, usually 39%. Beirut accounted for 55 of Lebanon's 85 stories about harm, carried by 106 outlets. Reports of arrests ran at about twice the usual rate (15 stories).

its stories →
Health

Thailand

Reports of people affected ran at about three times the usual rate (15 stories). Flooding was named in 20 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual, with heavy rain. Grief in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

its stories →
Health

Samoa

13 of its 15 stories (87%) were about people being harmed, usually 25%. Measles was named in 10 of its stories about harm, about 5 times usual.

its stories →
Health

South Korea

158 of its 403 stories (39%) were about people being harmed, usually 30%. Seoul accounted for 103 of South Korea's 158 stories about harm, carried by 206 outlets.

its stories →
Health

Malawi

31 of its 77 stories (40%) were about people being harmed, usually 28%. Reports of people affected ran at about twice the usual rate (6 stories).

its stories →
Displacement

Ethiopia

Tigray accounted for 83 of Ethiopia's 108 stories about harm, carried by 93 outlets. Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: flooding in Thailand (20 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); measles in Samoa (10 of its stories, about 5 times its usual); wildfires in France (14 of its stories, about 8 times its usual); natural hazards in China (25 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); house fires in Australia (11 of its stories, about 5 times its usual).

25 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 26; 25 the day before
30 in 10023 in 10011 Oct23 Oct18 Nov25 Nov3 Dec11 Oct: 29 in 10012 Oct: 27 in 10014 Oct: 26 in 10015 Oct: 25 in 10018 Oct: 29 in 10019 Oct: 26 in 10022 Oct: 25 in 10023 Oct: 27 in 10027 Oct: 26 in 1005 Nov: 23 in 10011 Nov: 25 in 10012 Nov: 26 in 10013 Nov: 27 in 10015 Nov: 30 in 10018 Nov: 26 in 10019 Nov: 26 in 10020 Nov: 26 in 10021 Nov: 26 in 10022 Nov: 28 in 10023 Nov: 26 in 10024 Nov: 25 in 10025 Nov: 25 in 10026 Nov: 25 in 10027 Nov: 25 in 10028 Nov: 26 in 10029 Nov: 26 in 10030 Nov: 25 in 1001 Dec: 25 in 1002 Dec: 25 in 1003 Dec: 25 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 3 Dec. 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 25,840 stories about harm among 102,724 counted on 3 Dec.

Read the day's briefing

The news turned to Sri Lanka for the fourth day running. 25 in every 100 of the day's 102,724 news stories were about people being harmed, as usual. On the side of help, reports of vaccination ran at about one and a half times the usual rate. On 4 December 2019, a year earlier, the share was 16 in every 100, against 25 today. Sri Lanka's news was 43% about people being harmed, against a usual 34%.

Written by code from the day's numbers.

Where harm was most of the news all →

Yemen64 in 100 of its 56 stories · usually 67 · mostly conflict & violence Ethiopia62 in 100 of its 173 stories · usually 59 · mostly displacement Azerbaijan55 in 100 of its 86 stories · usually 44 · mostly conflict & violence Syria54 in 100 of its 79 stories · usually 57 · mostly conflict & violence Bangladesh53 in 100 of its 196 stories · usually 47 · mostly displacement

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

Washington US125 stories about protests or strikes, of its 1113 Beijing China74 stories about protests or strikes, of its 232 Delhi India68 stories about protests or strikes, of its 277 Los Angeles US62 stories about protests or strikes, of its 241 Staten Island US52 stories about protests or strikes, of its 202

Stories, not people.

The emotional weather

feelings in full →
Feelings Events Harm Warmth
Zimbabwe: feelings about like the world'sVenezuela: feelings about like the world'sVanuatu: feelings about like the world'sUzbekistan: 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: feelings about like the world'sIsle of Man: too little coverage to readUnited Arab Emirates: 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 readTimor-Leste: feelings about like the world'sThailand: feelings about like the world'sTanzania: feelings about like the world'sTaiwan: feelings about like the world'sEswatini: feelings about like the world'sSuriname: too little coverage to readSpain: feelings about like the world'sSouth Africa: feelings about like the world'sSomalia: 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: feelings about like the world'sSerbia: too little coverage to readSenegal: feelings about like the world'sSão Tomé: too little coverage to readSt 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'sPortugal: 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'sNicaragua: feelings about like the world'sNew Zealand: feelings about like the world'sNiue: too little coverage to readCuraçao: too little coverage to readNepal: feelings about like the world'sMorocco: feelings about like the world'sWestern Sahara: feelings about like the world'sMontenegro: too little coverage to readMongolia: feelings about like the world'sMoldova: feelings about like the world'sMauritius: feelings about like the world'sMauritania: feelings about like the world'sMalta: feelings about like the world'sMali: 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: feelings about like the world'sLatvia: 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'sKazakhstan: feelings about like the world'sJordan: feelings about like the world'sJapan: feelings about like the world'sItaly: feelings about like the world'sPalestine: feelings about like the world'sIreland: feelings about like the world'sIndonesia: feelings about like the world'sIceland: feelings about like the world'sGuinea-Bissau: too little coverage to readGuinea: feelings about like the world'sGuatemala: feelings about like the world'sGrenada: feelings about like the world'sGreece: 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 readEstonia: feelings about like the world'sEritrea: too little coverage to readEquatorial Guinea: 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 readCzech 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'sDR Congo: feelings about like the world'sCongo: feelings about like the world'sComoros: too little coverage to readChina: feelings about like the world'sChile: feelings about like the world'sChad: 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'sBurundi: feelings about like the world'sBurkina Faso: feelings about like the world'sBulgaria: feelings about like the world'sBrunei: feelings about like the world'sBrazil: feelings about like the world'sBotswana: 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'sBelgium: feelings about like the world'sBarbados: feelings about like the world'sBahrain: 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): feelings about like the world'sWestern Sahara (Free Zone): feelings about like the world'sEast Jerusalem: feelings about like the world'sVatican City: feelings about like the world'sMarshall Islands: feelings about like the world'sNorthern Mariana Islands: too little coverage to readAmerican Samoa: feelings about like the world'sChagos 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: 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: 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: feelings about like the world'sMayotte: feelings about like the world'sZambia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sYemen: coverage about twice as fearful as the world'sVietnam: coverage a little angrier than the world'sUK: coverage a little warmer than the world'sUkraine: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as 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'sTajikistan: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sSyria: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sSwitzerland: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sSweden: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sSouth Sudan: coverage a little warmer than the world'sSudan: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sSri Lanka: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sSouth Korea: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sSlovenia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sSaudi Arabia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sSamoa: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sRwanda: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sRussia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sPoland: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sPakistan: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sNorth Korea: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sNigeria: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sNiger: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sNetherlands: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sNamibia: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sMozambique: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sMexico: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sMalawi: coverage a little angrier than the world'sLibya: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sLiberia: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sLesotho: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sLebanon: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sLaos: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sJamaica: coverage a little angrier than the world'sIsrael: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sIraq: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sIran: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sIndia: coverage a little angrier than the world'sHungary: coverage a little angrier than the world'sHonduras: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sHaiti: coverage a little angrier than the world'sGuyana: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sGhana: coverage a little warmer than the world'sGermany: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sFrance: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sFinland: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sFiji: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sEthiopia: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sEl Salvador: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sEgypt: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sDenmark: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sCôte d’Ivoire: coverage a little angrier than the world'sColombia: coverage a little warmer than the world'sHong Kong: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sCentral African Republic: coverage a little angrier than the world'sCameroon: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sBelarus: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sBangladesh: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sBahamas: coverage a little angrier than the world'sAzerbaijan: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sAustria: coverage a little angrier than 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'sArgentina: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sAlgeria: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sAfghanistan: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sKashmir: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sKashmir: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sKashmir: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sUkraine: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sKashmir: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sMonaco: coverage a little more grief-stricken 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

● Azerbaijan few stories about twice as grief-stricken as the world's · 47 stories about harm ● Yemen few stories about twice as fearful as the world's · 36 stories about harm ● Nigeria about one and a half times as fearful as the world's · 431 stories about harm ● Afghanistan about twice as angry as the world's · 90 stories about harm ● Ghana a little warmer than the world's · 85 stories about harm ● Iraq about twice as angry as the world's · 63 stories about harm

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Health62% 15,852 stories · more than usual (usually 59%) Rights & justice16% 4,025 stories · about as usual Disasters & accidents8% 2,116 stories · about as usual Conflict & violence6% 1,527 stories · about as usual Deaths & injuries, cause not given4% 948 stories · about as usual Shelter & services2% 493 stories · about as usual Displacement1% 337 stories · about as usual Food & livelihood1% 319 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 killed7,058 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people affected1,789 at about the usual rate Stories reporting arrests1,744 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people injured1,395 at about the usual rate Stories reporting refugees195 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people displaced143 at about the usual rate Stories reporting abductions131 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about the US and Nigeria Stories reporting evacuations123 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people falling ill26 at about two-thirds of 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 much softer than usual. Filled dot: today. Ring: usual.

● Angera little less than 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

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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.