Libya
32 of its 63 stories (51%) were about people being harmed, usually 28%. Reports of arrests ran at about 6 times the usual rate (8 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
We measure how the world's news covered people being harmed — and the help and hope within it.
The day's news pointed at arrests in Libya, illness in Oslo and protests in Honiara (Solomon Islands). North Macedonia's coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's. In the world's news as a whole, the wording was about as usual.
Part of lifeHealth
60 in 100 of the stories about harm · more than usual
Country that rose mostLibya
51 in 100 of its 63 stories, usually 28
RegionSub-Saharan Africa
41 in 100 of its stories, usually 37
Tone of the words
About as usual
across the world's stories about harm
What the world's news was about today
how these are picked →Norway
49 of its 173 stories (28%) were about people being harmed, usually 19%. Oslo accounted for 36 of Norway's 49 stories about harm, carried by 40 outlets. Outbreaks were named in 16 of its stories about harm, about 6 times usual.
Solomon Islands
15 of its 21 stories (71%) were about people being harmed, usually 39%. 4 of Honiara's 6 stories were about protests or strikes.
North Macedonia
7 of its 10 stories (70%) were about people being harmed, usually 28%. Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.
6 more places the news pointed at
Benin
9 of its 10 stories (90%) were about people being harmed, usually 23%. Reports of abductions ran at about 5 times the usual rate (5 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's.
Iraq
55 of its 87 stories (63%) were about people being harmed, usually 47%. Reports of people killed ran at about twice the usual rate (39 stories). Its coverage was about three times as angry as the world's. Grief in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.
South Africa
675 of its 1,267 stories (53%) were about people being harmed, usually 42%. Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.
Zimbabwe
88 of its 202 stories (44%) were about people being harmed, usually 33%. Outbreaks were named in 13 of its stories about harm, about three times usual.
Brazil
50 of its 160 stories (31%) were about people being harmed, usually 21%. Reports of arrests ran at about 4 times the usual rate (5 stories).
Belgium
41 of its 125 stories (33%) were about people being harmed, usually 26%. Brussels accounted for 27 of Belgium's 41 stories about harm, carried by 51 outlets.
Also named far more than usual: snowstorms in Denmark (14 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); hiv in Kenya (10 of its stories, about 5 times its usual); outbreaks in Zimbabwe (13 of its stories, about three times its usual); cyclone in India (77 of its stories, about 9 times its usual); cyclone in Australia (12 of its stories, about three times its usual).
26 in 100 stories were about harm
usually 25; 25 the day beforeStories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 3 Dec. 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 22,034 stories about harm among 85,109 counted on 3 Dec.
Read the day's briefing
Of the day's 85,109 news stories, 26 in every 100 were about people being harmed, as usual. A year earlier, on 3 December 2020, 25 in every 100 stories were about people being harmed, against 26 today.
- 26 in every 100 of the day's 85,109 news stories were about people being harmed (usually 25).
- Libya: 32 of its 63 stories (51%) were about people being harmed, usually 28%.
- Norway: 49 of its 173 stories (28%) were about people being harmed, usually 19%.
- Solomon Islands: 15 of its 21 stories (71%) were about people being harmed, usually 39%.
- North Macedonia: 7 of its 10 stories (70%) were about people being harmed, usually 28%.
- Mentions of snowstorms ran more than ten times their usual in Denmark's news.
- Mentions of outbreaks ran about 6 times their usual in Norway's news.
- Across the world, the words of the day's news were about as usual.
- A year earlier, on 3 December 2020, 25 in every 100 stories were about people being harmed, against 26 today.
Written by code from the day's numbers.
Where harm was most of the news all →
Iraq63 in 100 of its 87 stories · usually 47 · mostly conflict & violence Palestine59 in 100 of its 54 stories · usually 50 · mostly health Syria58 in 100 of its 65 stories · usually 54 · mostly conflict & violence Ethiopia58 in 100 of its 83 stories · usually 59 · mostly conflict & violence South Africa53 in 100 of its 1,267 stories · usually 42 · mostly healthCountries with at least 50 stories that day.
Where people protested
Washington US136 stories about protests or strikes, of its 964 Chicago US37 stories about protests or strikes, of its 215 Los Angeles US35 stories about protests or strikes, of its 191 Sialkot Pakistan28 stories about protests or strikes, of its 61 London UK28 stories about protests or strikes, of its 304Stories, not people.
Where harm was most of the news
feelings in full →A quarter or more above the world's share
Near the world's or lessNo stories
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.
Most of its news about harm
● South Africa 53 in 100 of its 1,267 stories · mostly health ● Iraq 63 in 100 of its 87 stories · mostly conflict & violence ● Ethiopia 58 in 100 of its 83 stories · mostly conflict & violence ● Syria 58 in 100 of its 65 stories · mostly conflict & violence ● Palestine 59 in 100 of its 54 stories · mostly health ● Philippines 44 in 100 of its 592 stories · mostly healthStories, not people. Countries with at least 50 stories.
The day in three measures
Parts of life 30 days →
Health60% 13,038 stories · more than usual (usually 56%) Rights & justice17% 3,700 stories · about as usual Disasters & accidents8% 1,655 stories · about as usual Conflict & violence6% 1,401 stories · about as usual Food & livelihood3% 634 stories · about as usual Deaths & injuries, cause not given3% 616 stories · about as usual Shelter & services2% 531 stories · about as usual Displacement1% 273 stories · about as usualOf the stories about people being harmed, what part of life each was about. The mark is usual.
Harm reported 30 days →
Stories reporting people killed4,321 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people affected1,486 at about the usual rate Stories reporting arrests1,460 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people injured1,101 at about the usual rate Stories reporting refugees150 at about the usual rate Stories reporting evacuations123 at about the usual rate Stories reporting abductions105 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about Nigeria and the US Stories reporting people displaced82 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about Afghanistan and the US Stories reporting people falling ill15 at about the usual rateStories 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 about as 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 · 19 Oct – 25 Oct
The week in human impact
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These are counts of stories, not counts of suffering. Most of what happens to people is never reported at all.