We measure how the world's news covered people being harmed — and the help and hope within it.
185 of its 241 stories (77%) were about people being harmed, usually 57%. Yangon accounted for 78 of Myanmar's 185 stories about harm, carried by 188 outlets. 74 of Yangon's 78 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of people injured ran at about 8 times the usual rate (17 stories). Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.
34 of its 78 stories (44%) were about people being harmed, usually 28%. Reports of people affected ran at about 5 times the usual rate (15 stories). Heavy rain was named in 13 of its stories about harm, about 9 times usual. Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's. Anger in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.
Tehran accounted for 65 of Iran's 111 stories about harm, carried by 110 outlets. Outbreaks were named in 25 of its stories about harm, about 5 times usual. Its coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's.
28 of its 61 stories (46%) were about people being harmed, usually 32%. Reports of refugees ran at about 6 times the usual rate (7 stories).
37 of its 90 stories (41%) were about people being harmed, usually 31%. Minsk accounted for 27 of Belarus' 37 stories about harm, carried by 23 outlets. 21 of Minsk's 27 stories were about protests or strikes. Its coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's. Fear in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.
36 of its 54 stories (67%) were about people being harmed, usually 44%. 11 of Port-au-Prince's 18 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of arrests ran at about three times the usual rate (28 stories).
8 of its 10 stories (80%) were about people being harmed, usually 32%. Anger in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.
26 of its 81 stories (32%) were about people being harmed, usually 24%. Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.
Reports of people affected ran at about three times the usual rate (268 stories). Avalanche was named in 141 of its stories about harm, about 7 times usual, with landslides and malaria.
Jerusalem accounted for 107 of Israel's 208 stories about harm, carried by 120 outlets. Reports of refugees ran at about three times the usual rate (10 stories).
Also named far more than usual: avalanche in India (141 of its stories, about 7 times its usual); extreme cold in Canada (32 of its stories, about 5 times its usual); extreme cold in UK (26 of its stories, about 4 times its usual).
Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 9 Feb. 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 24,598 stories about harm among 99,236 counted on 9 Feb.
For the third day running, the news turned to Myanmar. Stories about people being harmed made up 25 in every 100 of the day's 99,236 stories, below the usual 27. Mentions of outbreaks ran about 5 times their usual in Iran's news. On 10 February 2020, a year earlier, the share was 21 in every 100, against 25 today. Myanmar stood out: 77% of its news was about people being harmed, usually 57%.
Written by code from the day's numbers.
Countries with at least 50 stories that day.
Stories, not people.
Each country shaded by how much of its news was about people being harmed, against the world's 25 in 100 that day. Stronger colour: further above. A country with few stories is drawn closer to the world's. Click a country.
Stories, not people. Countries with at least 50 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 about as 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?
Unlock a year of trends, free. Follow up to 5 countries, with a bell when their news changes, and 👍 vote for Pro — ten years of the archive, any period, daily alerts.
Create a free accountSign in · a username, an email and a password.