We measure how the world's news covered people being harmed — and the help and hope within it.
85 of its 112 stories (76%) were about people being harmed, usually 51%. Tehran accounted for 64 of Iran's 85 stories about harm, carried by 188 outlets. Reports of people affected ran at more than ten times the usual rate (29 stories). Avalanche was named in 23 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual, with snowstorms. Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.
122 of its 294 stories (41%) were about people being harmed, usually 27%. Paris accounted for 82 of France's 122 stories about harm, carried by 134 outlets. Reports of people killed ran at about twice the usual rate (59 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.
52 of its 69 stories (75%) were about people being harmed, usually 62%. Bangui accounted for 37 of the Central African Republic's 52 stories about harm, carried by 92 outlets. Reports of people injured ran at about twice the usual rate (23 stories). Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.
19 of its 26 stories (73%) were about people being harmed, usually 30%. Reports of people injured ran at about 10 times the usual rate (11 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.
1,234 of its 3,192 stories (39%) were about people being harmed, usually 32%. Reports of evacuations ran at about 4 times the usual rate (9 stories). Flooding was named in 102 of its stories about harm, about 5 times usual, with heavy rain, power cuts and extreme cold. Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.
123 of its 247 stories (50%) were about people being harmed, usually 26%. Reports of people killed ran at about twice the usual rate (48 stories). Volcanic eruption was named in 28 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual.
89 of its 162 stories (55%) were about people being harmed, usually 31%. Reports of abductions ran at more than ten times the usual rate (6 stories). Its coverage was about twice as fearful as the world's. Anger in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.
38 of its 83 stories (46%) were about people being harmed, usually 23%. Reports of people killed ran at about three times the usual rate (21 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's. Grief in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.
110 of its 228 stories (48%) were about people being harmed, usually 33%. Reports of people injured ran at about 4 times the usual rate (12 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.
168 of its 340 stories (49%) were about people being harmed, usually 35%. Jerusalem accounted for 103 of Israel's 168 stories about harm, carried by 85 outlets. Reports of refugees ran at about 7 times the usual rate (15 stories).
Also named far more than usual: covid in Ethiopia (17 of its stories, about 5 times its usual); earthquake in Chile (11 of its stories, about 5 times its usual); volcanic eruption in Italy (28 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); earthquake in Türkiye (17 of its stories, about 7 times its usual); flooding in Ireland (17 of its stories, about three times its usual).
Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 27 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 12,153 stories about harm among 39,304 counted on 27 Dec.
The share of stories about people being harmed was the highest since 23 August 2020. 31 in every 100 of the day's 39,304 news stories were about people being harmed, above the usual 26. Reports of people injured ran at about twice the usual rate, most often about the US and India. the news turned to Iran for the second day running. This week the news turned most often to Ethiopia, on 3 of 7 days; help rose on 1 of them.
Written by code from the day's numbers.
Countries with at least 50 stories that day.
Stories, not people.
The day's biggest events: attacks, accidents and disasters, people displaced, protests, outbreaks. Bigger dot: more stories. Ranked by the share of the day's outlets that reported it and how clearly it was about one thing, the same way for every place and year; the news data does not say who attacked whom, so both sides of a war appear where the news put them. Click a dot for its stories.
Of the stories about people being harmed, what part of life each was about. The mark is usual.
Stories that report it, not people: we count what reporters wrote, not what happened.
The words in the day's stories were much harsher than usual. Filled dot: today. Ring: usual.
From the words reporters used across the whole day, never one story. Fear is the weakest of the four measures. How?
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