← 28 May Saturday 29 May 2021 · to 23:59 UTC 30 May →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
11,860 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 Minsk (Belarus), the earthquake in Rwanda and people killed in Vietnam. Vietnam's coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's. Everywhere we counted, the words were harsher than usual.

Part of lifeHealth 48 in 100 of the stories about harm · less than usual Country that rose mostVietnam 57 in 100 of its 250 stories, usually 31
RegionSoutheast Asia 43 in 100 of its stories, usually 37
Tone of the words Harsher than usual across the world's stories about harm

What the world's news was about today

how these are picked →
Protests & strikes

Belarus

110 of its 158 stories (70%) were about people being harmed, usually 54%. Minsk accounted for 92 of Belarus' 110 stories about harm, carried by 326 outlets. 53 of Minsk's 92 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of abductions ran at about 8 times the usual rate (5 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.

Belarus over 30 days → its stories → Minsk stories →
Disasters & accidents

Rwanda

52 of its 60 stories (87%) were about people being harmed, usually 55%. Kivu accounted for 28 of Rwanda's 52 stories about harm, carried by 31 outlets. Reports of people displaced ran at about three times the usual rate (5 stories). Earthquake was named in 24 of its stories about harm, about 4 times usual.

Rwanda over 30 days → its stories → Kivu stories →
Health

Vietnam

143 of its 250 stories (57%) were about people being harmed, usually 31%. Reports of people killed ran at about 4 times the usual rate (95 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.

Vietnam over 30 days → its stories →
Conflict & violence

Kashmir

74 of its 114 stories (65%) were about people being harmed, usually 48%. Reports of people injured ran at about twice the usual rate (5 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's. Anger in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

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

Sri Lanka

61 of its 115 stories (53%) were about people being harmed, usually 36%. Colombo accounted for 46 of Sri Lanka's 61 stories about harm, carried by 49 outlets. Reports of people affected ran at about three times the usual rate (13 stories). Oil spill was named in 22 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual.

its stories →
Health

Saudi Arabia

60 of its 119 stories (50%) were about people being harmed, usually 28%. Reports of people affected ran at about 5 times the usual rate (8 stories). Anger in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

its stories →
Protests & strikes

Colombia

62 of its 82 stories (76%) were about people being harmed, usually 51%. 25 of Bogota's 25 stories were about protests or strikes. Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's. Grief in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

its stories →
Protests & strikes

Hong Kong

34 of its 70 stories (49%) were about people being harmed, usually 31%. 9 of Hong Kong Island's 14 stories were about protests or strikes. Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.

its stories →
Health

Nepal

50 of its 76 stories (66%) were about people being harmed, usually 52%. Kathmandu accounted for 35 of Nepal's 50 stories about harm, carried by 111 outlets. Reports of evacuations ran at about three times the usual rate (12 stories).

its stories →
Disasters & accidents

DR Congo

11 of its 15 stories (73%) were about people being harmed, usually 47%. Natural hazards were named in 10 of its stories about harm, about 4 times usual. Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: heavy rain in New Zealand (20 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); oil spill in Sri Lanka (22 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); hunger in North Korea (12 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); natural hazards in DR Congo (10 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); illness in United Arab Emirates (10 of its stories, about 4 times its usual).

25 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 25; 24 the day before
29 in 10024 in 10030 Apr7 May14 May21 May29 May30 Apr: 24 in 1001 May: 25 in 1002 May: 25 in 1003 May: 25 in 1004 May: 24 in 1005 May: 24 in 1006 May: 24 in 1007 May: 24 in 1008 May: 26 in 1009 May: 27 in 10010 May: 25 in 10011 May: 25 in 10012 May: 25 in 10013 May: 24 in 10014 May: 24 in 10015 May: 26 in 10016 May: 28 in 10017 May: 25 in 10018 May: 24 in 10019 May: 24 in 10020 May: 24 in 10021 May: 24 in 10022 May: 26 in 10023 May: 29 in 10024 May: 24 in 10025 May: 24 in 10026 May: 24 in 10027 May: 24 in 10028 May: 24 in 10029 May: 25 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 29 May. 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 11,860 stories about harm among 47,980 counted on 29 May.

Read the day's briefing

Rwanda's news mentioned the earthquake about 4 times as often as usual. 25 in every 100 of the day's 47,980 news stories were about people being harmed, as usual. On 29 May 2020, a year earlier, the share was 32 in every 100, against 25 today. Belarus stood out: 70% of its news was about people being harmed, usually 54%.

Written by code from the day's numbers.

Where harm was most of the news all →

Rwanda87 in 100 of its 60 stories · usually 55 · mostly disasters & accidents Colombia76 in 100 of its 82 stories · usually 51 · mostly rights & justice Belarus70 in 100 of its 158 stories · usually 54 · mostly rights & justice Nepal66 in 100 of its 76 stories · usually 52 · mostly health Kashmir65 in 100 of its 114 stories · usually 48 · mostly conflict & violence

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

Washington US107 stories about protests or strikes, of its 374 Minsk Belarus53 stories about protests or strikes, of its 92 London UK53 stories about protests or strikes, of its 200 Tulsa US45 stories about protests or strikes, of its 83 Jerusalem Israel34 stories about protests or strikes, of its 84

Stories, not people.

Where the news was warmest

feelings in full →
Feelings Events Harm Warmth
Zimbabwe: too little coverage to readZambia: about as warm as its own usual or lessYemen: about as warm as its own usual or lessVietnam: about as warm as its own usual or lessVenezuela: about as warm as its own usual or lessVanuatu: too little coverage to readUzbekistan: about as warm as its own usual or lessUruguay: about as warm as its own usual or lessMicronesia: too little coverage to readU.S. Virgin Islands: too little coverage to readGuam: about as warm as its own usual or lessPuerto Rico: too little coverage to readUnited States: about as warm as its own usual or lessSouth Georgia & South Sandwich Islands: too little coverage to readFalkland Islands: too little coverage to readCayman Islands: about as warm as its own usual or lessIsle of Man: too little coverage to readUnited Kingdom: about as warm as its own usual or lessUnited Arab Emirates: about as warm as its own usual or lessUkraine: about as warm as its own usual or lessUganda: about as warm as its own usual or lessTurkmenistan: about as warm as its own usual or lessTurkey: about as warm as its own usual or lessTunisia: about as warm as its own usual or lessTrinidad & Tobago: about as warm as its own usual or lessTonga: about as warm as its own usual or lessTogo: too little coverage to readTimor-Leste: about as warm as its own usual or lessThailand: about as warm as its own usual or lessTanzania: about as warm as its own usual or lessTajikistan: about as warm as its own usual or lessTaiwan: about as warm as its own usual or lessSyria: about as warm as its own usual or lessSwitzerland: about as warm as its own usual or lessSweden: about as warm as its own usual or lessEswatini: too little coverage to readSuriname: about as warm as its own usual or lessSouth Sudan: about as warm as its own usual or lessSudan: about as warm as its own usual or lessSri Lanka: about as warm as its own usual or lessSpain: about as warm as its own usual or lessSouth Korea: about as warm as its own usual or lessSouth Africa: about as warm as its own usual or lessSomalia: about as warm as its own usual or lessSomaliland: too little coverage to readSolomon Islands: too little coverage to readSlovakia: too little coverage to readSlovenia: about as warm as its own usual or lessSingapore: about as warm as its own usual or lessSierra Leone: about as warm as its own usual or lessSeychelles: too little coverage to readSerbia: too little coverage to readSenegal: about as warm as its own usual or lessSaudi Arabia: about as warm as its own usual or lessSão Tomé: too little coverage to readSamoa: about as warm as its own usual or lessSt Vincent: about as warm as its own usual or lessSt. Lucia: about as warm as its own usual or lessRwanda: about as warm as its own usual or lessRussia: about as warm as its own usual or lessRomania: about as warm as its own usual or lessQatar: about as warm as its own usual or lessPortugal: too little coverage to readPoland: about as warm as its own usual or lessPhilippines: about as warm as its own usual or lessPeru: about as warm as its own usual or lessParaguay: about as warm as its own usual or lessPapua New Guinea: about as warm as its own usual or lessPanama: about as warm as its own usual or lessPalau: too little coverage to readPakistan: about as warm as its own usual or lessOman: too little coverage to readNorway: about as warm as its own usual or lessNorth Korea: about as warm as its own usual or lessNigeria: about as warm as its own usual or lessNiger: about as warm as its own usual or lessNicaragua: about as warm as its own usual or lessNew Zealand: about as warm as its own usual or lessNiue: too little coverage to readNetherlands: about as warm as its own usual or lessCuraçao: too little coverage to readNepal: about as warm as its own usual or lessNamibia: about as warm as its own usual or lessMozambique: about as warm as its own usual or lessMorocco: about as warm as its own usual or lessWestern Sahara: about as warm as its own usual or lessMontenegro: about as warm as its own usual or lessMongolia: about as warm as its own usual or lessMoldova: too little coverage to readMexico: about as warm as its own usual or lessMauritius: too little coverage to readMauritania: too little coverage to readMalta: about as warm as its own usual or lessMali: about as warm as its own usual or lessMalaysia: about as warm as its own usual or lessMalawi: about as warm as its own usual or lessMadagascar: about as warm as its own usual or lessNorth Macedonia: too little coverage to readLuxembourg: too little coverage to readLithuania: about as warm as its own usual or lessLibya: about as warm as its own usual or lessLiberia: too little coverage to readLesotho: too little coverage to readLebanon: about as warm as its own usual or lessLatvia: about as warm as its own usual or lessLaos: about as warm as its own usual or lessKyrgyzstan: about as warm as its own usual or lessKuwait: about as warm as its own usual or lessKosovo: too little coverage to readKiribati: too little coverage to readKenya: about as warm as its own usual or lessKazakhstan: about as warm as its own usual or lessJordan: about as warm as its own usual or lessJapan: about as warm as its own usual or lessJamaica: about as warm as its own usual or lessItaly: about as warm as its own usual or lessIsrael: about as warm as its own usual or lessPalestine: about as warm as its own usual or lessIreland: about as warm as its own usual or lessIraq: about as warm as its own usual or lessIran: about as warm as its own usual or lessIndonesia: about as warm as its own usual or lessIndia: about as warm as its own usual or lessIceland: about as warm as its own usual or lessHungary: about as warm as its own usual or lessHonduras: about as warm as its own usual or lessHaiti: about as warm as its own usual or lessGuyana: about as warm as its own usual or lessGuinea-Bissau: too little coverage to readGuinea: about as warm as its own usual or lessGuatemala: about as warm as its own usual or lessGrenada: too little coverage to readGreece: about as warm as its own usual or lessGhana: about as warm as its own usual or lessGermany: about as warm as its own usual or lessGeorgia: about as warm as its own usual or lessGambia: too little coverage to readGabon: too little coverage to readFrance: about as warm as its own usual or lessSt Pierre & Miquelon: too little coverage to readFrench Polynesia: about as warm as its own usual or lessNew Caledonia: too little coverage to readFrench Southern Territories: too little coverage to readÅland Islands: too little coverage to readFinland: about as warm as its own usual or lessFiji: about as warm as its own usual or lessEthiopia: about as warm as its own usual or lessEstonia: about as warm as its own usual or lessEritrea: about as warm as its own usual or lessEquatorial Guinea: too little coverage to readEl Salvador: about as warm as its own usual or lessEgypt: about as warm as its own usual or lessEcuador: about as warm as its own usual or lessDominican Republic: too little coverage to readDominica: too little coverage to readDjibouti: too little coverage to readGreenland: about as warm as its own usual or lessFaroe Islands: too little coverage to readDenmark: about as warm as its own usual or lessCzech Republic: too little coverage to readN. Cyprus: too little coverage to readCyprus: about as warm as its own usual or lessCuba: about as warm as its own usual or lessCroatia: about as warm as its own usual or lessCôte d'Ivoire: too little coverage to readCosta Rica: about as warm as its own usual or lessDR Congo: about as warm as its own usual or lessCongo: about as warm as its own usual or lessComoros: too little coverage to readColombia: about as warm as its own usual or lessChina: too little coverage to readHong Kong: about as warm as its own usual or lessChile: about as warm as its own usual or lessChad: about as warm as its own usual or lessCentral African Republic: too little coverage to readCape Verde: too little coverage to readCanada: about as warm as its own usual or lessCameroon: about as warm as its own usual or lessCambodia: about as warm as its own usual or lessMyanmar: about as warm as its own usual or lessBurundi: about as warm as its own usual or lessBurkina Faso: too little coverage to readBulgaria: about as warm as its own usual or lessBrunei: about as warm as its own usual or lessBrazil: about as warm as its own usual or lessBotswana: too little coverage to readBosnia and Herzegovina: about as warm as its own usual or lessBolivia: about as warm as its own usual or lessBhutan: too little coverage to readBenin: too little coverage to readBelize: about as warm as its own usual or lessBelgium: about as warm as its own usual or lessBelarus: about as warm as its own usual or lessBarbados: about as warm as its own usual or lessBangladesh: about as warm as its own usual or lessBahrain: about as warm as its own usual or lessBahamas: about as warm as its own usual or lessAzerbaijan: about as warm as its own usual or lessAustria: about as warm as its own usual or lessAustralia: about as warm as its own usual or lessHeard & McDonald Islands: too little coverage to readArmenia: about as warm as its own usual or lessArgentina: about as warm as its own usual or lessAntigua & Barbuda: about as warm as its own usual or lessAngola: about as warm as its own usual or lessAndorra: too little coverage to readAlgeria: about as warm as its own usual or lessAlbania: too little coverage to readAfghanistan: about as warm as its own usual or lessAksai Chin: too little coverage to readGaza: about as warm as its own usual or lessWest Bank: about as warm as its own usual or lessWestern Sahara (Moroccan-controlled): about as warm as its own usual or lessWestern Sahara (Free Zone): about as warm as its own usual or lessCrimea: about as warm as its own usual or lessEast Jerusalem: about as warm as its own usual or lessVatican City: too little coverage to readMarshall 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: about as warm as its own usual or lessBermuda: about as warm as its own usual or lessBritish Virgin Islands: too little coverage to readTurks & Caicos Islands: too little coverage to readMontserrat: too little coverage to readJersey: about as warm as its own usual or lessGuernsey: about as warm as its own usual or lessSan Marino: too little coverage to readSt Kitts & Nevis: too little coverage to readCook Islands: too little coverage to readAruba: too little coverage to readNauru: too little coverage to readMonaco: too little coverage to readMaldives: about as warm as its own usual or lessLiechtenstein: 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: too little coverage to readMayotte: too little coverage to readKashmir: warmth about its own usualKashmir: warmth about its own usualKashmir: warmth about its own usualKashmir: warmth about its own usualOhio, US -- health: 11 stories, carried by 11 outletsGeorgia, US -- health: 21 stories, carried by 25 outletsCairo, Egypt -- health: 11 stories, carried by 10 outletsCape Town, South Africa -- rights & justice: 11 stories, carried by 10 outletsPort Harcourt, Nigeria -- conflict & violence: 11 stories, carried by 11 outletsGosforth, UK -- health: 10 stories, carried by 134 outletsJammu, Kashmir -- health: 28 stories, carried by 13 outletsDubai, United Arab Emirates -- health: 19 stories, carried by 10 outlets
Warmer than its own usual The warmest eventsAbout as warm or lessToo little news

Each country shaded by the warmth in its news — care, help, gratitude — against its own last 30 days. Stronger colour: further above. Dots: the events whose coverage carried the most warmth, even where the event itself began as harm. Warm words, not good outcomes. Click a country or a dot.

Warmest news

No country's news was much warmer than its usual (a quarter or more).

Warmest events

● Ohio US about one and a half times as warm as the day's news · health · 11 stories ● Georgia US about one and a half times as warm as the day's news · health · 21 stories ● Cairo Egypt about one and a half times as warm as the day's news · health · 11 stories ● Cape Town South Africa about one and a half times as warm as the day's news · rights & justice · 11 stories ● Port Harcourt Nigeria about one and a half times as warm as the day's news · conflict & violence · 11 stories

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Health48% 5,664 stories · less than usual (usually 52%) Rights & justice20% 2,357 stories · about as usual Conflict & violence12% 1,360 stories · about as usual Disasters & accidents10% 1,194 stories · about as usual Deaths & injuries, cause not given5% 550 stories · about as usual Food & livelihood2% 238 stories · about as usual Shelter & services2% 237 stories · about as usual Displacement1% 126 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 killed3,804 at about the usual rate Stories reporting arrests1,031 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people affected880 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people injured638 at about the usual rate Stories reporting abductions87 at about the usual rate Stories reporting refugees79 at about the usual rate Stories reporting evacuations77 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about the US and Rwanda Stories reporting people displaced75 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people falling ill21 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about China 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 harsher than 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.