← 3 Sep Saturday 4 September 2021 · to 23:59 UTC 5 Sep →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
13,097 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 illness in Colombo, people injured in New Zealand and protests in Bangkok (Thailand). New Zealand's coverage was about three times as fearful as the world's. Everywhere we counted, the words were softer than usual.

Part of lifeHealth 53 in 100 of the stories about harm · more than usual Country that rose mostNew Zealand 67 in 100 of its 395 stories, usually 30
RegionOceania 45 in 100 of its stories, usually 29
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 →
Health

Sri Lanka

49 of its 99 stories (49%) were about people being harmed, usually 40%. Colombo accounted for 31 of Sri Lanka's 49 stories about harm, carried by 29 outlets. Reports of people injured ran at about 4 times the usual rate (7 stories). Fear in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

Sri Lanka over 30 days → its stories → Colombo stories →
Conflict & violence

New Zealand

266 of its 395 stories (67%) were about people being harmed, usually 30%. Reports of people injured ran at more than ten times the usual rate (120 stories). Its coverage was about three times as fearful as the world's. Anger in its coverage rose to about three times its own usual.

New Zealand over 30 days → its stories →
6 more places the news pointed at
Conflict & violence

Saudi Arabia

35 of its 97 stories (36%) were about people being harmed, usually 28%. Reports of people affected ran at about twice the usual rate (5 stories). Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Afghanistan

Kabul accounted for 509 of Afghanistan's 761 stories about harm, carried by 687 outlets. HIV was named in 11 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual. Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.

its stories →
Health

Philippines

183 of its 303 stories (60%) were about people being harmed, usually 43%. Philippine accounted for 75 of the Philippines' 183 stories about harm, carried by 58 outlets.

its stories →
Health

Taiwan

37 of its 79 stories (47%) were about people being harmed, usually 30%. Taipei accounted for 23 of Taiwan's 37 stories about harm, carried by 7 outlets.

its stories →
Disasters & accidents

Bermuda

12 of its 24 stories (50%) were about people being harmed, usually 19%. Hurricane was named in 10 of its stories about harm, about 7 times usual.

its stories →
Displacement

Poland

20 of its 46 stories (43%) were about people being harmed, usually 24%. Reports of refugees ran at about 4 times the usual rate (6 stories).

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: hurricane in Bermuda (10 of its stories, about 7 times its usual); outbreaks in France (12 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); power cuts in Pakistan (14 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); hiv in Afghanistan (11 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); helicopter crash in US (19 of its stories, more than ten times its usual).

30 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 27; 30 the day before
34 in 10021 in 10028 Jul4 Aug20 Aug27 Aug4 Sep28 Jul: 23 in 10029 Jul: 23 in 10030 Jul: 24 in 10031 Jul: 25 in 1001 Aug: 25 in 1002 Aug: 24 in 1003 Aug: 23 in 1004 Aug: 21 in 1005 Aug: 24 in 1006 Aug: 24 in 10011 Aug: 24 in 10012 Aug: 24 in 10013 Aug: 25 in 10014 Aug: 27 in 10020 Aug: 25 in 10021 Aug: 28 in 10022 Aug: 29 in 10023 Aug: 26 in 10024 Aug: 25 in 10025 Aug: 25 in 10026 Aug: 26 in 10027 Aug: 29 in 10028 Aug: 33 in 10029 Aug: 34 in 10030 Aug: 32 in 10031 Aug: 31 in 1001 Sep: 30 in 1002 Sep: 30 in 1003 Sep: 30 in 1004 Sep: 30 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 4 Sep. 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 13,097 stories about harm among 43,165 counted on 4 Sep.

Read the day's briefing

Of the day's 43,165 news stories, 30 in every 100 were about people being harmed, above the usual 27. Bermuda's news mentioned the hurricane about 7 times as often as usual. On 4 September 2020, a year earlier, the share was 27 in every 100, against 30 today. In Sri Lanka, 49% of the news was about people being harmed, where 40% is usual.

Written by code from the day's numbers.

Where harm was most of the news all →

New Zealand67 in 100 of its 395 stories · usually 30 · mostly conflict & violence Afghanistan61 in 100 of its 1,239 stories · usually 70 · mostly conflict & violence Philippines60 in 100 of its 303 stories · usually 43 · mostly health Indonesia58 in 100 of its 102 stories · usually 42 · mostly health Trinidad & Tobago58 in 100 of its 66 stories · usually 36 · mostly disasters & accidents

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

Kabul Afghanistan104 stories about protests or strikes, of its 509 Washington US74 stories about protests or strikes, of its 515 Chicago US22 stories about protests or strikes, of its 91 Delhi India20 stories about protests or strikes, of its 196 London UK20 stories about protests or strikes, of its 152

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'sVanuatu: too little coverage to readUzbekistan: feelings about like the world'sUruguay: feelings about like the world'sMicronesia: too little coverage to readU.S. Virgin Islands: feelings about like the world'sGuam: 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: too little coverage to readIsle of Man: feelings about like the world'sUnited Arab Emirates: feelings about like the world'sUganda: feelings about like the world'sTurkmenistan: feelings about like the world'sTurkey: feelings about like the world'sTonga: 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'sSwitzerland: feelings about like the world'sSweden: feelings about like the world'sEswatini: feelings about like the world'sSuriname: too little coverage to readSouth Sudan: feelings about like the world'sSpain: feelings about like the world'sSouth Korea: feelings about like the world'sSomalia: feelings about like the world'sSomaliland: too little coverage to readSolomon Islands: too little coverage to readSlovakia: too little coverage to readSlovenia: 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: feelings about like the world'sSamoa: feelings about like the world'sSt Vincent: feelings about like the world'sSt. Lucia: feelings about like the world'sRwanda: feelings about like the world'sRomania: feelings about like the world'sPortugal: feelings about like the world'sPhilippines: feelings about like the world'sPeru: feelings about like the world'sParaguay: feelings about like the world'sPapua New Guinea: feelings about like the world'sPanama: feelings about like the world'sPalau: too little coverage to readOman: feelings about like the world'sNorway: feelings about like the world'sNorth Korea: feelings about like the world'sNicaragua: 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'sNamibia: feelings about like the world'sMorocco: feelings about like the world'sWestern Sahara: too little coverage to readMontenegro: feelings about like the world'sMoldova: too little coverage to readMexico: feelings about like the world'sMauritius: feelings about like the world'sMauritania: too little coverage to readMalaysia: feelings about like the world'sMalawi: feelings about like the world'sMadagascar: feelings about like the world'sLuxembourg: feelings about like the world'sLithuania: feelings about like the world'sLibya: feelings about like the world'sLiberia: feelings about like the world'sLesotho: feelings about like the world'sLebanon: 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 readKiribati: too little coverage to readKazakhstan: feelings about like the world'sJordan: feelings about like the world'sJapan: feelings about like the world'sItaly: feelings about like the world'sIreland: feelings about like the world'sIndonesia: feelings about like the world'sIndia: 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'sGuyana: feelings about like the world'sGuinea-Bissau: too little coverage to readGuinea: feelings about like the world'sGuatemala: feelings about like the world'sGrenada: feelings about like the world'sGreece: feelings about like the world'sGhana: feelings about like the world'sGermany: feelings about like the world'sGeorgia: feelings about like the world'sGambia: too little coverage to readGabon: too little coverage to readFrance: feelings about like the world'sSt Pierre & Miquelon: too little coverage to readFrench Polynesia: feelings about like the world'sNew Caledonia: feelings about like the world'sFrench Southern Territories: too little coverage to readÅland Islands: too little coverage to readFiji: 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: 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: too little coverage to readGreenland: 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: too little coverage to readCôte d'Ivoire: feelings about like the world'sCosta Rica: feelings about like the world'sDR Congo: too little coverage to readComoros: 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'sCentral African Republic: too little coverage to readCape Verde: too little coverage to readCanada: feelings about like the world'sCameroon: feelings about like the world'sCambodia: feelings about like the world'sBurundi: too little coverage to readBulgaria: feelings about like the world'sBrunei: 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'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'sAzerbaijan: 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): too little coverage to readWestern Sahara (Free Zone): too little coverage to readVatican City: feelings about like the world'sMarshall Islands: too little coverage to readNorthern Mariana Islands: feelings about like the world'sAmerican Samoa: too little coverage to readChagos Islands: 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: feelings about like the world'sJersey: feelings about like the world'sGuernsey: too little coverage to readSan Marino: too little coverage to readSt Kitts & Nevis: 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: too little coverage to readMayotte: too little coverage to readYemen: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sVenezuela: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sUK: coverage a little warmer than the world'sUkraine: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sTunisia: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sTrinidad & Tobago: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sSyria: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sSudan: coverage a little angrier than the world'sSri Lanka: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sSouth Africa: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sSierra Leone: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sSaudi Arabia: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sRussia: coverage a little angrier than the world'sQatar: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sPoland: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sPakistan: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sNigeria: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sNiger: coverage a little angrier than the world'sNew Zealand: coverage about three times as fearful as the world'sMozambique: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sMongolia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sMalta: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sMali: coverage a little angrier than the world'sNorth Macedonia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sKenya: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sJamaica: coverage a little more grief-stricken than 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'sIraq: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sIran: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sFinland: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sEthiopia: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sEgypt: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sCongo: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sColombia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sMyanmar: coverage a little angrier than the world'sBurkina Faso: coverage a little angrier than the world'sBenin: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sBangladesh: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sArmenia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sAfghanistan: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sKashmir: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sPalestine: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sPalestine: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sKashmir: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sKashmir: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sUkraine: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sPalestine: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sKashmir: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sSt. Helena: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sCook Islands: coverage a little more fearful than 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

● New Zealand about three times as fearful as the world's · 266 stories about harm ● Nigeria about twice as grief-stricken as the world's · 248 stories about harm ● Saudi Arabia few stories about twice as angry as the world's · 35 stories about harm ● Malta few stories about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's · 10 stories about harm ● Benin few stories about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's · 6 stories about harm ● Afghanistan about one and a half times as fearful as the world's · 761 stories about harm

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Health53% 6,886 stories · more than usual (usually 50%) Rights & justice13% 1,723 stories · about as usual Disasters & accidents12% 1,538 stories · about as usual Conflict & violence11% 1,424 stories · about as usual Displacement4% 535 stories · about as usual Deaths & injuries, cause not given3% 389 stories · about as usual Shelter & services2% 297 stories · about as usual Food & livelihood2% 204 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 killed3,319 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people affected1,128 at about the usual rate Stories reporting arrests807 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people injured798 at about the usual rate Stories reporting evacuations259 at about the usual rate Stories reporting refugees149 at about the usual rate Stories reporting abductions125 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about Nigeria and the US Stories reporting people displaced75 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people falling ill18 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about the US and France

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
● 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 · 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.