← 21 Dec Tuesday 22 December 2020 · to 23:59 UTC 23 Dec →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
23,887 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 violence in Tripoli, illness in Taipei and people affected in Fiji. Ethiopia's coverage was about twice as angry as the world's. Taken together, the world's news read softer than usual.

Part of lifeHealth 66 in 100 of the stories about harm · more than usual Country that rose mostTaiwan 45 in 100 of its 176 stories, usually 26
RegionEurope 32 in 100 of its stories, usually 28
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 →
Conflict & violence

Libya

38 of its 69 stories (55%) were about people being harmed, usually 39%. Tripoli accounted for 28 of Libya's 38 stories about harm, carried by 66 outlets. Reports of people injured ran at about three times the usual rate (11 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's.

Libya over 30 days → its stories → Tripoli stories →
Disasters & accidents

Fiji

48 of its 81 stories (59%) were about people being harmed, usually 44%. Reports of people affected ran at about three times the usual rate (14 stories).

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

Türkiye

105 of its 251 stories (42%) were about people being harmed, usually 29%. Reports of arrests ran at about twice the usual rate (22 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.

its stories →
Health

Thailand

114 of its 256 stories (45%) were about people being harmed, usually 34%. Samut Sakhon accounted for 82 of Thailand's 114 stories about harm, carried by 80 outlets. Outbreaks were named in 75 of its stories about harm, about 4 times usual.

its stories →
Health

UK

2,925 of its 7,551 stories (39%) were about people being harmed, usually 31%. Wildfires were named in 10 of its stories about harm, about three times usual. Its coverage was about twice as fearful as the world's.

its stories →
Health

United Arab Emirates

69 of its 275 stories (25%) were about people being harmed, usually 17%. Reports of people affected ran at about three times the usual rate (8 stories). Grief in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

its stories →
Health

Mexico

110 of its 313 stories (35%) were about people being harmed, usually 28%. Reports of refugees 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. Anger in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Sudan

Khartoum accounted for 36 of Sudan's 55 stories about harm, carried by 81 outlets. Reports of people injured ran at about twice the usual rate (8 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's.

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: outbreaks in Thailand (75 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); poisoning in Russia (75 of its stories, about 5 times its usual); ebola in DR Congo (10 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); respiratory illness in Italy (15 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); hunger in Afghanistan (10 of its stories, about 4 times its usual).

27 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 26; 27 the day before
28 in 10024 in 10023 Nov30 Nov7 Dec14 Dec22 Dec23 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 10019 Dec: 28 in 10020 Dec: 28 in 10021 Dec: 27 in 10022 Dec: 27 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 22 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 23,887 stories about harm among 88,158 counted on 22 Dec.

Read the day's briefing

It was the second day running that the news turned to Libya. of the day's 88,158 news stories, 27 in every 100 were about people being harmed, above the usual 26. On 23 December 2019, a year earlier, the share was 19 in every 100, against 27 today. Libya's news was 55% about people being harmed, against a usual 39%.

Written by code from the day's numbers.

Where harm was most of the news all →

Afghanistan65 in 100 of its 189 stories · usually 62 · mostly conflict & violence Fiji59 in 100 of its 81 stories · usually 44 · mostly disasters & accidents Sudan57 in 100 of its 97 stories · usually 53 · mostly conflict & violence Ethiopia55 in 100 of its 92 stories · usually 60 · mostly rights & justice Libya55 in 100 of its 69 stories · usually 39 · mostly conflict & violence

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

Washington US128 stories about protests or strikes, of its 1233 Delhi India78 stories about protests or strikes, of its 339 Jerusalem Israel35 stories about protests or strikes, of its 115 London UK33 stories about protests or strikes, of its 826 Salem US32 stories about protests or strikes, of its 43

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'sVietnam: 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: too little coverage to readU.S. Virgin Islands: too little coverage to readGuam: 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'sUkraine: feelings about like the world'sTurkmenistan: too little coverage to readTonga: feelings about like the world'sTogo: too little coverage to readTimor-Leste: too little coverage to readThailand: feelings about like the world'sTanzania: feelings about like the world'sTajikistan: feelings about like the world'sTaiwan: feelings about like the world'sEswatini: feelings about like the world'sSuriname: feelings about like the world'sSouth Sudan: feelings about like the world'sSpain: feelings about like the world'sSouth Korea: feelings about like the world'sSomaliland: too little coverage to readSolomon Islands: 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'sSão Tomé: too little coverage to readSamoa: too little coverage to readSt Vincent: too little coverage to readSt. Lucia: too little coverage to readRomania: feelings about like the world'sQatar: feelings about like the world'sPeru: 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: feelings about like the world'sNorway: feelings about like the world'sNorth Korea: feelings about like the world'sNiger: feelings about like the world'sNiue: too little coverage to readNetherlands: feelings about like the world'sCuraçao: too little coverage to readNepal: feelings about like the world'sMozambique: 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'sMalaysia: feelings about like the world'sMalawi: feelings about like the world'sNorth Macedonia: too little coverage to readLuxembourg: feelings about like the world'sLiberia: 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 readKazakhstan: feelings about like the world'sItaly: 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: too little coverage to readGuinea: too little coverage to readGuatemala: 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: too little coverage to readNew Caledonia: feelings about like the world'sFrench Southern Territories: too little coverage to readÅland Islands: too little coverage to readFinland: feelings about like the world'sFiji: 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: too little coverage to readEgypt: feelings about like the world'sEcuador: feelings about like the world'sDominican Republic: feelings about like the world'sDominica: feelings about like the world'sDjibouti: feelings about like the world'sGreenland: feelings about like the world'sFaroe Islands: too little coverage to readDenmark: feelings about like the world'sCzech 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'sCôte d'Ivoire: 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'sChad: feelings about like the world'sCape Verde: too little coverage to readCambodia: feelings about like the world'sMyanmar: feelings about like the world'sBurundi: too little coverage to readBrunei: 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'sBelarus: feelings about like the world'sBarbados: feelings about like the world'sBahrain: feelings about like the world'sBahamas: feelings about like the world'sAustria: feelings about like the world'sAustralia: 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: too little coverage to readAlgeria: feelings about like the world'sAlbania: feelings about like the world'sAksai Chin: feelings about like the world'sWestern Sahara (Moroccan-controlled): feelings about like the world'sWestern Sahara (Free Zone): feelings about like the world'sCrimea: feelings about like the world'sVatican City: feelings about like the world'sMarshall 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: 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: too little coverage to readAruba: too little coverage to readNauru: 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: 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 one and a half times as angry as the world'sUK: coverage about twice as fearful as the world'sUganda: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sTürkiye: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sTunisia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sTrinidad & Tobago: coverage a little angrier than the world'sSyria: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sSwitzerland: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sSweden: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sSudan: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sSri Lanka: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sSouth Africa: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sSomalia: coverage a little angrier than the world'sSlovakia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sSierra Leone: coverage a little warmer than the world'sSaudi Arabia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sRwanda: coverage a little angrier than the world'sRussia: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sPortugal: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sPoland: coverage a little angrier than the world'sPhilippines: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sPakistan: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sOman: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sNigeria: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sNicaragua: coverage a little angrier than the world'sNew Zealand: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sNamibia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sMexico: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sMalta: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sMali: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sMadagascar: 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 angry as the world'sLesotho: coverage a little angrier than the world'sLebanon: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sKiribati: coverage a little angrier than the world'sKenya: coverage a little angrier than the world'sJordan: coverage a little warmer than the world'sJapan: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sJamaica: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sIsrael: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sPalestine: coverage a little more grief-stricken than 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 a little more grief-stricken than the world'sGhana: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sGermany: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sFrance: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sEthiopia: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sColombia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sCentral African Republic: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sCanada: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sCameroon: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sBurkina Faso: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sBulgaria: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sBangladesh: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sAzerbaijan: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sArmenia: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sAfghanistan: coverage about three times as grief-stricken as the world'sKashmir: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sPalestine: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sPalestine: coverage a little more grief-stricken than 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'sPalestine: coverage a little more grief-stricken than 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 grief-stricken as the world's · 122 stories about harm ● UK about twice as fearful as the world's · 2,925 stories about harm ● Ethiopia about twice as angry as the world's · 51 stories about harm ● Pakistan about twice as grief-stricken as the world's · 229 stories about harm ● Kashmir few stories about one and a half times as fearful as the world's · 49 stories about harm ● Russia about twice as angry as the world's · 235 stories about harm

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Health66% 15,558 stories · more than usual (usually 61%) Rights & justice14% 3,331 stories · about as usual Disasters & accidents7% 1,690 stories · about as usual Conflict & violence5% 1,205 stories · about as usual Deaths & injuries, cause not given4% 848 stories · about as usual Shelter & services2% 562 stories · about as usual Food & livelihood1% 301 stories · about as usual Displacement1% 211 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 killed6,031 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people affected1,605 at about the usual rate Stories reporting arrests1,499 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people injured1,098 at about the usual rate Stories reporting abductions188 at about the usual rate Stories reporting refugees147 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people displaced103 at about the usual rate Stories reporting evacuations82 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people falling ill37 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 softer than usual. Filled dot: today. Ring: usual.

● Angerabout as usual
● Warmthabout as usual
● Griefabout as usual
● Feara little more than 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.