We measure how the world's news covered people being harmed — and the help and hope within it.
180 of its 263 stories (68%) were about people being harmed, usually 43%. Jakarta accounted for 129 of Indonesia's 180 stories about harm, carried by 371 outlets. Reports of people injured ran at more than ten times the usual rate (90 stories). Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's. Anger in its coverage rose to about twice its own usual.
300 of its 579 stories (52%) were about people being harmed, usually 32%. Reports of evacuations ran at about 6 times the usual rate (12 stories). Earthquake was named in 177 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual, with tsunami, landslides and power cuts. Its coverage was about twice as fearful as the world's.
90 of its 129 stories (70%) were about people being harmed, usually 52%. Tigray accounted for 59 of Ethiopia's 90 stories about harm, carried by 70 outlets. Reports of people killed ran at about twice the usual rate (55 stories). Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.
315 of its 604 stories (52%) were about people being harmed, usually 45%. Reports of evacuations ran at about 6 times the usual rate (15 stories). Typhoon was named in 47 of its stories about harm, about 7 times usual, with tropical storm, heavy rain and storms.
Kabul accounted for 626 of Afghanistan's 955 stories about harm, carried by 823 outlets. Reports of arrests ran at about 4 times the usual rate (64 stories). Natural hazards were named in 21 of its stories about harm, about 7 times usual. Its coverage was about twice as fearful as the world's.
25 of its 39 stories (64%) were about people being harmed, usually 50%. Reports of arrests ran at about three times the usual rate (17 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.
29 of its 35 stories (83%) were about people being harmed, usually 68%. Marib accounted for 19 of Yemen's 29 stories about harm, carried by 19 outlets. Its coverage was about three times as angry as the world's.
37 of its 67 stories (55%) were about people being harmed, usually 45%. Reports of people displaced ran at about three times the usual rate (5 stories). Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.
12 of its 37 stories (32%) were about people being harmed, usually 20%. Reports of people killed ran at about 5 times the usual rate (8 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.
222 of its 838 stories (26%) were about people being harmed, usually 21%. Reports of people injured ran at about three times the usual rate (31 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.
Also named far more than usual: tropical storm in Bermuda (10 of its stories, about 5 times its usual); gas explosion in Russia (27 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); nipah virus in India (34 of its stories, about three times its usual); natural hazards in Afghanistan (21 of its stories, about 7 times its usual); food poisoning in Canada (14 of its stories, about 7 times its usual).
Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 8 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 24,867 stories about harm among 87,218 counted on 8 Sep.
Mexico's news mentioned the earthquake more than ten times as often as usual. 29 in every 100 of the day's 87,218 news stories were about people being harmed, above the usual 27. In Indonesia, 68% of the news was about people being harmed, where 43% is usual. A year earlier, on 8 September 2020, 27 in every 100 stories were about people being harmed, against 29 today.
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 29 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 softer 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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