We measure how the world's news covered people being harmed — and the help and hope within it.
97 of its 113 stories (86%) were about people being harmed, usually 30%. Reports of people affected ran at more than ten times the usual rate (11 stories). Cyclone was named in 88 of its stories about harm, about 9 times usual, with flooding, tropical storm and heavy rain. Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.
128 of its 327 stories (39%) were about people being harmed, usually 20%. Milan accounted for 73 of Italy's 128 stories about harm, carried by 270 outlets. Reports of people killed ran at about 5 times the usual rate (75 stories). Plane crash was named in 12 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual.
26 of its 48 stories (54%) were about people being harmed, usually 25%. 9 of Bucharest's 17 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of people killed ran at about twice the usual rate (11 stories). Anger in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.
311 of its 481 stories (65%) were about people being harmed, usually 58%. Kabul accounted for 236 of Afghanistan's 311 stories about harm, carried by 475 outlets. Reports of people injured ran at about 7 times the usual rate (93 stories). Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.
99 of its 263 stories (38%) were about people being harmed, usually 30%. Reports of people killed ran at about twice the usual rate (45 stories). Outbreaks were named in 13 of its stories about harm, about 4 times usual. Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.
37 of its 77 stories (48%) were about people being harmed, usually 26%. Tripoli accounted for 24 of Libya's 37 stories about harm, carried by 94 outlets. Reports of people injured ran at more than ten times the usual rate (13 stories).
25 of its 31 stories (81%) were about people being harmed, usually 47%. Reports of people injured ran at about 8 times the usual rate (20 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as warm as the world's.
17 of its 22 stories (77%) were about people being harmed, usually 38%. Guanaja accounted for 13 of Honduras' 17 stories about harm, carried by 23 outlets. Reports of evacuations ran at more than ten times the usual rate (6 stories).
22 of its 25 stories (88%) were about people being harmed, usually 56%. Guayaquil accounted for 17 of Ecuador's 22 stories about harm, carried by 60 outlets. Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.
49 of its 105 stories (47%) were about people being harmed, usually 33%. Reports of people killed ran at about twice the usual rate (18 stories). Grief in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.
Also named far more than usual: cyclone in United Arab Emirates (29 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); outbreaks in Russia (13 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); oil spill in US (49 of its stories, about 8 times its usual).
Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 3 Oct. 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 11,559 stories about harm among 45,074 counted on 3 Oct.
Oman's news was 86% about people being harmed, against a usual 30%. On 3 October 2020, a year earlier, the share was 29 in every 100, against 26 today. Stories about people being harmed made up 26 in every 100 of the day's 45,074 stories, below the usual 28. This week the news turned most often to Afghanistan, on 4 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 26 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?
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.