← 11 Dec Saturday 12 December 2020 · to 23:59 UTC 13 Dec →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
14,624 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 Tirana (Albania), the earthquake in Japan and violence in Beirut. Albania's coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's. Everywhere we counted, the words were about as usual.

Part of lifeHealth 59 in 100 of the stories about harm · about as usual Country that rose mostLebanon 64 in 100 of its 66 stories, usually 40
RegionEast Asia 29 in 100 of its stories, usually 25
Tone of the words About as usual across the world's stories about harm

What the world's news was about today

how these are picked →
Protests & strikes

Albania

19 of its 29 stories (66%) were about people being harmed, usually 39%. 9 of Tirana's 12 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of arrests ran at about three times the usual rate (7 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's.

Albania over 30 days → its stories → Tirana stories →
Health

Japan

97 of its 391 stories (25%) were about people being harmed, usually 19%. Reports of people injured ran at about 4 times the usual rate (5 stories). Earthquake was named in 15 of its stories about harm, about 4 times usual. Grief in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

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

South Korea

92 of its 220 stories (42%) were about people being harmed, usually 31%. Seoul accounted for 62 of South Korea's 92 stories about harm, carried by 61 outlets. Anger in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

its stories →
Health

Latvia

10 of its 20 stories (50%) were about people being harmed, usually 25%. Reports of people killed ran at about twice the usual rate (9 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.

its stories →
Health

Indonesia

Jakarta accounted for 42 of Indonesia's 67 stories about harm, carried by 81 outlets. Reports of arrests ran at about three times the usual rate (14 stories). Anger in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

its stories →
Health

Switzerland

32 of its 117 stories (27%) were about people being harmed, usually 13%. Reports of people killed ran at about three times the usual rate (12 stories).

its stories →
Protests & strikes

Bahrain

29 of its 94 stories (31%) were about people being harmed, usually 16%. 3 of Manama's 6 stories were about protests or strikes.

its stories →
Rights & justice

Trinidad & Tobago

20 of its 45 stories (44%) were about people being harmed, usually 26%. Reports of people affected ran at about three times the usual rate (5 stories).

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: flu in Peru (10 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); outbreaks in Thailand (12 of its stories, about three times its usual); flooding in Australia (30 of its stories, about 6 times its usual); wildfires in France (15 of its stories, about 6 times its usual); storms in UK (13 of its stories, about 5 times its usual).

27 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 26; 25 the day before
30 in 10023 in 1005 Nov20 Nov27 Nov4 Dec12 Dec5 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 1004 Dec: 25 in 1005 Dec: 27 in 1006 Dec: 26 in 1007 Dec: 25 in 1008 Dec: 25 in 1009 Dec: 25 in 10010 Dec: 24 in 10011 Dec: 25 in 10012 Dec: 27 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 12 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 14,624 stories about harm among 54,469 counted on 12 Dec.

Read the day's briefing

Peru's news mentioned the flu more than ten times as often as usual. 27 in every 100 of the day's 54,469 news stories were about people being harmed, above the usual 26. On 13 December 2019, a year earlier, the share was 16 in every 100, against 27 today. Albania stood out: 66% of its news was about people being harmed, usually 39%.

Written by code from the day's numbers.

Where harm was most of the news all →

Ethiopia66 in 100 of its 113 stories · usually 61 · mostly displacement Afghanistan65 in 100 of its 141 stories · usually 60 · mostly conflict & violence Lebanon64 in 100 of its 66 stories · usually 40 · mostly conflict & violence Indonesia52 in 100 of its 130 stories · usually 45 · mostly health Hong Kong51 in 100 of its 71 stories · usually 35 · mostly rights & justice

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

Washington US127 stories about protests or strikes, of its 667 Delhi India65 stories about protests or strikes, of its 202 Manhattan US61 stories about protests or strikes, of its 124 Beijing China39 stories about protests or strikes, of its 90 Paris France34 stories about protests or strikes, of its 100

Stories, not people.

Where harm was most of the news

feelings in full →
Feelings Events Harm Warmth
Zimbabwe: near the world's share or lessZambia: near the world's share or lessVietnam: near the world's share or lessVenezuela: near the world's share or lessVanuatu: near the world's share or lessUzbekistan: near the world's share or lessUruguay: near the world's share or lessMicronesia: near the world's share or lessU.S. Virgin Islands: near the world's share or lessGuam: near the world's share or lessPuerto Rico: near the world's share or lessSouth Georgia & South Sandwich Islands: no storiesFalkland Islands: no storiesCayman Islands: near the world's share or lessIsle of Man: near the world's share or lessUnited Kingdom: near the world's share or lessUnited Arab Emirates: near the world's share or lessTurkmenistan: near the world's share or lessTurkey: near the world's share or lessTonga: near the world's share or lessTogo: near the world's share or lessTimor-Leste: near the world's share or lessTanzania: near the world's share or lessTajikistan: near the world's share or lessTaiwan: near the world's share or lessSwitzerland: near the world's share or lessSweden: near the world's share or lessEswatini: no storiesSuriname: no storiesSri Lanka: near the world's share or lessSpain: near the world's share or lessSouth Africa: near the world's share or lessSomaliland: no storiesSolomon Islands: near the world's share or lessSlovakia: near the world's share or lessSlovenia: near the world's share or lessSingapore: near the world's share or lessSierra Leone: near the world's share or lessSeychelles: near the world's share or lessSerbia: no storiesSenegal: near the world's share or lessSaudi Arabia: near the world's share or lessSão Tomé: no storiesSamoa: near the world's share or lessSt Vincent: near the world's share or lessSt. Lucia: near the world's share or lessRussia: near the world's share or lessRomania: near the world's share or lessQatar: near the world's share or lessPortugal: near the world's share or lessPoland: near the world's share or lessParaguay: near the world's share or lessPapua New Guinea: near the world's share or lessPanama: near the world's share or lessPalau: no storiesPakistan: near the world's share or lessOman: near the world's share or lessNorway: near the world's share or lessNiger: near the world's share or lessNicaragua: near the world's share or lessNew Zealand: near the world's share or lessNiue: no storiesNetherlands: near the world's share or lessCuraçao: no storiesNepal: near the world's share or lessNamibia: near the world's share or lessMozambique: near the world's share or lessMorocco: near the world's share or lessWestern Sahara: near the world's share or lessMontenegro: no storiesMongolia: near the world's share or lessMoldova: near the world's share or lessMexico: near the world's share or lessMauritius: near the world's share or lessMauritania: no storiesMalta: near the world's share or lessMali: near the world's share or lessMalaysia: near the world's share or lessMalawi: near the world's share or lessMadagascar: near the world's share or lessNorth Macedonia: near the world's share or lessLuxembourg: near the world's share or lessLithuania: near the world's share or lessLibya: near the world's share or lessLiberia: near the world's share or lessLesotho: near the world's share or lessLatvia: near the world's share or lessLaos: near the world's share or lessKyrgyzstan: near the world's share or lessKuwait: near the world's share or lessKosovo: no storiesKiribati: no storiesKenya: near the world's share or lessKazakhstan: near the world's share or lessJordan: near the world's share or lessJapan: near the world's share or lessJamaica: near the world's share or lessItaly: near the world's share or lessIsrael: near the world's share or lessIreland: near the world's share or lessIndia: near the world's share or lessIceland: near the world's share or lessHungary: near the world's share or lessHonduras: near the world's share or lessHaiti: near the world's share or lessGuyana: near the world's share or lessGuinea-Bissau: near the world's share or lessGuinea: near the world's share or lessGuatemala: near the world's share or lessGrenada: near the world's share or lessGreece: near the world's share or lessGhana: near the world's share or lessGermany: near the world's share or lessGeorgia: near the world's share or lessGambia: near the world's share or lessGabon: near the world's share or lessFrance: near the world's share or lessSt Pierre & Miquelon: no storiesFrench Polynesia: near the world's share or lessNew Caledonia: near the world's share or lessFrench Southern Territories: no storiesÅland Islands: no storiesFinland: near the world's share or lessFiji: near the world's share or lessEstonia: near the world's share or lessEritrea: near the world's share or lessEquatorial Guinea: no storiesEl Salvador: near the world's share or lessEcuador: near the world's share or lessDominican Republic: near the world's share or lessDominica: near the world's share or lessDjibouti: near the world's share or lessGreenland: near the world's share or lessFaroe Islands: no storiesDenmark: near the world's share or lessCzech Republic: near the world's share or lessN. Cyprus: no storiesCyprus: near the world's share or lessCuba: near the world's share or lessCroatia: near the world's share or lessCôte d'Ivoire: near the world's share or lessCosta Rica: near the world's share or lessDR Congo: near the world's share or lessCongo: near the world's share or lessComoros: no storiesColombia: near the world's share or lessChina: near the world's share or lessChile: near the world's share or lessChad: near the world's share or lessCentral African Republic: near the world's share or lessCape Verde: near the world's share or lessCanada: near the world's share or lessCameroon: near the world's share or lessCambodia: near the world's share or lessMyanmar: near the world's share or lessBurundi: near the world's share or lessBurkina Faso: no storiesBulgaria: near the world's share or lessBrunei: near the world's share or lessBrazil: near the world's share or lessBotswana: near the world's share or lessBosnia and Herzegovina: near the world's share or lessBolivia: near the world's share or lessBhutan: near the world's share or lessBenin: near the world's share or lessBelize: near the world's share or lessBelgium: near the world's share or lessBelarus: near the world's share or lessBarbados: near the world's share or lessBangladesh: near the world's share or lessBahrain: near the world's share or lessBahamas: near the world's share or lessAustria: near the world's share or lessAustralia: near the world's share or lessHeard & McDonald Islands: no storiesArmenia: near the world's share or lessArgentina: near the world's share or lessAntigua & Barbuda: near the world's share or lessAngola: near the world's share or lessAndorra: no storiesAlgeria: near the world's share or lessJammu & Kashmir: near the world's share or lessAksai Chin: near the world's share or lessWestern Sahara (Moroccan-controlled): near the world's share or lessWestern Sahara (Free Zone): near the world's share or lessAzad Kashmir & Gilgit-Baltistan: near the world's share or lessSiachen Glacier: near the world's share or lessAzad Kashmir & Gilgit-Baltistan: near the world's share or lessVatican City: near the world's share or lessMarshall Islands: near the world's share or lessNorthern Mariana Islands: no storiesAmerican Samoa: no storiesChagos Islands: no storiesSt. Helena: no storiesPitcairn: no storiesAnguilla: near the world's share or lessBermuda: near the world's share or lessBritish Virgin Islands: no storiesTurks & Caicos Islands: no storiesMontserrat: near the world's share or lessJersey: near the world's share or lessGuernsey: near the world's share or lessSan Marino: no storiesSt Kitts & Nevis: near the world's share or lessCook Islands: near the world's share or lessAruba: near the world's share or lessNauru: no storiesMonaco: near the world's share or lessMaldives: near the world's share or lessLiechtenstein: no storiesWallis & Futuna: no storiesSt. Martin: near the world's share or lessSt. Barthélemy: no storiesMacao: near the world's share or lessNorfolk Island: near the world's share or lessSint Maarten: no storiesChristmas Island: no storiesGibraltar: near the world's share or lessMayotte: no storiesYemen: 64 in 100 of its 14 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)US: 34 in 100 of its 16,608 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Ukraine: 46 in 100 of its 79 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Uganda: 41 in 100 of its 71 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Tunisia: 52 in 100 of its 23 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Trinidad & Tobago: 44 in 100 of its 45 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Thailand: 40 in 100 of its 98 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Syria: 55 in 100 of its 49 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)South Sudan: 91 in 100 of its 11 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Sudan: 50 in 100 of its 26 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)South Korea: 42 in 100 of its 220 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Somalia: 44 in 100 of its 39 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Rwanda: 59 in 100 of its 22 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Philippines: 39 in 100 of its 288 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Peru: 45 in 100 of its 53 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)North Korea: 63 in 100 of its 30 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Nigeria: 37 in 100 of its 1,002 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Lebanon: 64 in 100 of its 66 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Palestine: 43 in 100 of its 47 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Iraq: 45 in 100 of its 64 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Iran: 48 in 100 of its 227 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Indonesia: 52 in 100 of its 130 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Ethiopia: 66 in 100 of its 113 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Egypt: 41 in 100 of its 93 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Hong Kong: 51 in 100 of its 71 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Azerbaijan: 46 in 100 of its 50 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Albania: 66 in 100 of its 29 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Afghanistan: 65 in 100 of its 141 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Palestine: 43 in 100 of its 47 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Palestine: 43 in 100 of its 47 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Ukraine: 46 in 100 of its 79 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Palestine: 43 in 100 of its 47 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)
A quarter or more above the world's share Near the world's or lessNo stories

Each country shaded by how much of its news was about people being harmed, against the world's 27 in 100 that day. Stronger colour: further above. A country with few stories is drawn closer to the world's. Click a country.

Most of its news about harm

● Afghanistan 65 in 100 of its 141 stories · mostly conflict & violence ● Ethiopia 66 in 100 of its 113 stories · mostly displacement ● Lebanon 64 in 100 of its 66 stories · mostly conflict & violence ● Indonesia 52 in 100 of its 130 stories · mostly health ● Iran 48 in 100 of its 227 stories · mostly rights & justice ● Hong Kong 51 in 100 of its 71 stories · mostly rights & justice

Stories, not people. Countries with at least 50 stories.

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Health59% 8,599 stories · about as usual Rights & justice18% 2,572 stories · about as usual Disasters & accidents8% 1,090 stories · about as usual Conflict & violence6% 914 stories · about as usual Deaths & injuries, cause not given5% 710 stories · about as usual Shelter & services2% 296 stories · about as usual Displacement1% 171 stories · about as usual Food & livelihood1% 167 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 killed4,541 at about the usual rate Stories reporting arrests1,114 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people affected1,055 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people injured977 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about the US and India Stories reporting refugees116 at about the usual rate Stories reporting abductions115 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about Nigeria and the US Stories reporting people displaced82 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people falling ill35 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about the US and India Stories reporting evacuations28 at about half the usual rate · most about the UK and the US

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 about as 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

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.