← 17 Dec Friday 18 December 2020 · to 23:59 UTC 19 Dec →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
23,799 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 →

Most of the day's attention went to landslides in Fiji, violence in Cabo Delgado and abductions in Nigeria. Mozambique's coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's. In the world's news as a whole, the wording was much softer than usual.

Reports of abductions ran at about three times the usual rate, most often about Nigeria and the US → Help and hope: reports of people freed or reunited ran at about one and a half times the usual rate →
Part of lifeHealth 62 in 100 of the stories about harm · about as usual Country that rose mostFiji 83 in 100 of its 151 stories, usually 35
RegionOceania 31 in 100 of its stories, usually 25
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 →
Disasters & accidents

Fiji

126 of its 151 stories (83%) were about people being harmed, usually 35%. Vanua Levu accounted for 56 of Fiji's 126 stories about harm, carried by 54 outlets. Reports of evacuations ran at about 7 times the usual rate (32 stories). Landslides were named in 35 of its stories about harm, about 4 times usual. Grief in its coverage rose to about twice its own usual.

Fiji over 30 days → its stories → Vanua Levu stories →
Conflict & violence

Mozambique

32 of its 46 stories (70%) were about people being harmed, usually 51%. Cabo Delgado accounted for 20 of Mozambique's 32 stories about harm, carried by 22 outlets. Reports of people displaced ran at about twice the usual rate (14 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.

Mozambique over 30 days → its stories → Cabo Delgado stories →
6 more places the news pointed at
Disasters & accidents

Libya

26 of its 45 stories (58%) were about people being harmed, usually 34%. Reports of people affected ran at about 4 times the usual rate (10 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Afghanistan

111 of its 165 stories (67%) were about people being harmed, usually 60%. Kabul accounted for 47 of Afghanistan's 111 stories about harm, carried by 94 outlets. Its coverage was about three times as angry as the world's.

its stories →
Health

Ghana

97 of its 398 stories (24%) were about people being harmed, usually 17%. Reports of arrests ran at about 4 times the usual rate (21 stories).

its stories →
Disasters & accidents

Tonga

22 of its 40 stories (55%) were about people being harmed, usually 41%. Cyclone was named in 20 of its stories about harm, about 4 times usual, with heavy rain and flooding.

its stories →
Rights & justice

Türkiye

78 of its 223 stories (35%) were about people being harmed, usually 27%. Reports of refugees ran at about 4 times the usual rate (9 stories).

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Mali

13 of its 22 stories (59%) were about people being harmed, usually 41%. Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: outbreaks in Australia (187 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); cyclone in Tonga (20 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); hunger in South Sudan (11 of its stories, about 5 times its usual); snowstorms in Japan (24 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); flu in France (21 of its stories, about 6 times its usual).

25 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 26; 25 the day before
28 in 10024 in 10019 Nov26 Nov3 Dec10 Dec18 Dec19 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 10013 Dec: 27 in 10014 Dec: 26 in 10015 Dec: 25 in 10016 Dec: 25 in 10017 Dec: 25 in 10018 Dec: 25 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 18 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 23,799 stories about harm among 93,988 counted on 18 Dec.

Read the day's briefing

The news turned to Fiji for the third day running. 25 in every 100 of the day's 93,988 news stories were about people being harmed, as usual. Abductions were reported at about three times the usual rate, most often about Nigeria and the US. Reports of people freed or reunited, a sign of help, ran at about one and a half times the usual rate. Fiji's news was 83% about people being harmed, against a usual 35%.

Written by code from the day's numbers.

Where harm was most of the news all →

Fiji83 in 100 of its 151 stories · usually 35 · mostly disasters & accidents Afghanistan67 in 100 of its 165 stories · usually 60 · mostly conflict & violence Ethiopia57 in 100 of its 105 stories · usually 61 · mostly conflict & violence Syria50 in 100 of its 80 stories · usually 54 · mostly displacement Palestine45 in 100 of its 102 stories · usually 49 · mostly health

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

Washington US172 stories about protests or strikes, of its 1268 Delhi India59 stories about protests or strikes, of its 262 London UK36 stories about protests or strikes, of its 476 Manhattan US33 stories about protests or strikes, of its 173 New York US33 stories about protests or strikes, of its 315

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'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: too little coverage to readUnited Arab Emirates: feelings about like the world'sTurkmenistan: feelings about like the world'sTrinidad & Tobago: 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'sTajikistan: feelings about like the world'sTaiwan: feelings about like the world'sSwitzerland: feelings about like the world'sEswatini: feelings about like the world'sSuriname: too little coverage to readSomaliland: 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'sRwanda: feelings about like the world'sRomania: 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'sPalau: feelings about like the world'sOman: feelings about like the world'sNorway: feelings about like the world'sNorth Korea: feelings about like the world'sNicaragua: 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'sMauritania: feelings about like the world'sMalta: feelings about like the world'sMalawi: feelings about like the world'sMadagascar: too little coverage to readNorth Macedonia: feelings about like the world'sLuxembourg: feelings about like the world'sLiberia: feelings about like the world'sLesotho: too little coverage to readLaos: 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 readKazakhstan: feelings about like the world'sJordan: feelings about like the world'sJapan: feelings about like the world'sIndonesia: feelings about like the world'sIceland: feelings about like the world'sHungary: feelings about like the world'sHonduras: feelings about like the world'sHaiti: feelings about like the world'sGuinea-Bissau: feelings about like the world'sGuinea: feelings about like the world'sGuatemala: feelings about like the world'sGrenada: 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'sSt Pierre & Miquelon: too little coverage to readFrench Polynesia: too little coverage to readNew Caledonia: too little coverage to readFrench Southern Territories: too little coverage to readÅland Islands: too little coverage to readFinland: feelings about like the world'sEstonia: feelings about like the world'sEritrea: feelings about like the world'sEquatorial Guinea: feelings about like the world'sEl Salvador: feelings about like the world'sDominican Republic: feelings about like the world'sDominica: too little coverage to readDjibouti: feelings about like the world'sGreenland: feelings about like the world'sFaroe Islands: too little coverage to readCzech Republic: feelings about like the world'sN. Cyprus: too little coverage to readCuba: 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'sHong Kong: feelings about like the world'sChile: feelings about like the world'sCape Verde: too little coverage to readCanada: feelings about like the world'sCambodia: feelings about like the world'sBulgaria: feelings about like the world'sBrunei: 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: too little coverage to readBenin: 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'sAustria: 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: 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 readVatican City: too little coverage to readMarshall Islands: feelings about like the world'sNorthern 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: feelings about like the world'sSan Marino: too little coverage to readSt Kitts & Nevis: too little coverage to readCook Islands: feelings about like the world'sAruba: 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 readMacao: feelings about like the world'sNorfolk Island: too little coverage to readSint Maarten: too little coverage to readChristmas Island: feelings about like the world'sGibraltar: too little coverage to readMayotte: too little coverage to readZimbabwe: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sYemen: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sVenezuela: coverage a little angrier than the world'sUruguay: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sUK: coverage a little warmer than the world'sUkraine: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sUganda: coverage a little warmer than the world'sTürkiye: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sTunisia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sSyria: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sSweden: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sSouth Sudan: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sSudan: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sSri Lanka: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sSpain: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sSouth Korea: coverage a little angrier than the world'sSouth Africa: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sSomalia: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sSlovenia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sSaudi Arabia: coverage a little angrier than the world'sSamoa: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sRussia: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sQatar: coverage a little warmer than the world'sPoland: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sPanama: coverage a little angrier than the world'sPakistan: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sNigeria: coverage a little warmer than the world'sNiger: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sNepal: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sMozambique: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sMexico: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sMali: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sMalaysia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sLithuania: coverage a little angrier than the world'sLibya: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sLebanon: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sLatvia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sKenya: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sJamaica: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sItaly: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sIsrael: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sPalestine: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sIreland: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sIraq: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sIran: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sIndia: coverage a little angrier than the world'sGuyana: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sFrance: coverage a little angrier than the world'sFiji: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sEthiopia: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sEgypt: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sEcuador: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sDenmark: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sCyprus: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sCôte d’Ivoire: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sColombia: coverage a little angrier than the world'sChad: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sCentral African Republic: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sCameroon: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sMyanmar: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sBurundi: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sBurkina Faso: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sBrazil: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sBelarus: coverage a little angrier than the world'sBangladesh: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sBahamas: coverage a little angrier than the world'sAzerbaijan: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sAustralia: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sArmenia: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sAlgeria: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sAlbania: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sAfghanistan: coverage about three times as angry as the world'sKashmir: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sPalestine: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sPalestine: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sKashmir: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sKashmir: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sUkraine: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sPalestine: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sKashmir: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as 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 · 111 stories about harm ● Mozambique few stories about one and a half times as fearful as the world's · 32 stories about harm ● Sri Lanka few stories about twice as grief-stricken as the world's · 46 stories about harm ● South Sudan few stories about one and a half times as fearful as the world's · 18 stories about harm ● Mexico about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's · 106 stories about harm ● Burundi few stories about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's · 10 stories about harm

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Health62% 14,730 stories · about as usual Rights & justice14% 3,403 stories · about as usual Disasters & accidents8% 1,961 stories · about as usual Conflict & violence6% 1,422 stories · about as usual Deaths & injuries, cause not given4% 941 stories · about as usual Shelter & services2% 515 stories · about as usual Food & livelihood1% 334 stories · about as usual Displacement1% 268 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 killed6,249 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people affected1,742 at about the usual rate Stories reporting arrests1,430 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people injured1,072 at about the usual rate Stories reporting abductions479 at about three times the usual rate · most about Nigeria and the US Stories reporting refugees193 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people displaced129 at about the usual rate Stories reporting evacuations76 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people falling ill25 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about the US and Afghanistan

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 →

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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.