We measure how the world's news covered people being harmed — and the help and hope within it.
345 of its 980 stories (35%) were about people being harmed, usually 26%. Reports of people killed ran at about twice the usual rate (165 stories). Avalanche was named in 12 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual, with hunger. Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.
48 of its 63 stories (76%) were about people being harmed, usually 52%. 12 of Bogota's 15 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.
85 of its 236 stories (36%) were about people being harmed, usually 22%. Reports of arrests ran at about 4 times the usual rate (23 stories). Road crashes were named in 23 of its stories about harm, about 7 times usual.
345 of its 830 stories (42%) were about people being harmed, usually 34%. Reports of people injured ran at about twice the usual rate (17 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's.
48 of its 95 stories (51%) were about people being harmed, usually 33%. 12 of Rio de Janeiro's 14 stories were about protests or strikes. Flu was named in 15 of its stories about harm, about 8 times usual.
26 of its 42 stories (62%) were about people being harmed, usually 38%. 5 of Havana's 9 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of people affected ran at about 4 times the usual rate (9 stories).
103 of its 330 stories (31%) were about people being harmed, usually 22%. Reports of evacuations ran at more than ten times the usual rate (24 stories). Flooding was named in 49 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual, with heavy rain and power cuts.
306 of its 921 stories (33%) were about people being harmed, usually 26%. Reports of people falling ill ran at about 6 times the usual rate (7 stories). Ebola was named in 10 of its stories about harm, about 4 times usual.
63 of its 99 stories (64%) were about people being harmed, usually 55%. Minsk accounted for 45 of Belarus' 63 stories about harm, carried by 75 outlets. Reports of arrests ran at about twice the usual rate (27 stories).
105 of its 227 stories (46%) were about people being harmed, usually 33%. Reports of people killed ran at about three times the usual rate (71 stories).
Also named far more than usual: flooding in New Zealand (49 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); covid in Lebanon (12 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); earthquake in Rwanda (11 of its stories, about 5 times its usual); flu in Brazil (15 of its stories, about 8 times its usual); oil spill in Sri Lanka (15 of its stories, about 5 times its usual).
Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 30 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 10,901 stories about harm among 40,202 counted on 30 May.
Mentions of flooding ran more than ten times their usual in New Zealand's news. On 30 May 2020, a year earlier, the share was 36 in every 100, against 27 today. Stories about people being harmed made up 27 in every 100 of the day's 40,202 stories, above the usual 25. Canada's news was 35% about people being harmed, against a usual 26%. This week the news turned most often to Rwanda, on 5 of 7 days.
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 27 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 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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