We measure how the world's news covered people being harmed — and the help and hope within it.
552 of its 816 stories (68%) were about people being harmed, usually 54%. Cape Town accounted for 273 of South Africa's 552 stories about harm, carried by 607 outlets. 144 of Cape Town's 273 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of people killed ran at about three times the usual rate (258 stories). Tuberculosis was named in 68 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual, with polio. Its coverage was about one and a half times as warm as the world's.
51 of its 64 stories (80%) were about people being harmed, usually 39%. Kivu accounted for 23 of Uganda's 51 stories about harm, carried by 48 outlets. Reports of people injured ran at more than ten times the usual rate (38 stories). Ebola was named in 10 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual. Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.
34 of its 50 stories (68%) were about people being harmed, usually 25%. Reports of people killed ran at about three times the usual rate (25 stories). Drownings were named in 10 of its stories about harm, about three times usual. Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.
76 of its 114 stories (67%) were about people being harmed, usually 40%. Reports of people affected ran at about 4 times the usual rate (24 stories). Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.
42 of its 55 stories (76%) were about people being harmed, usually 54%. Sanaa accounted for 22 of Yemen's 42 stories about harm, carried by 24 outlets. Reports of refugees ran at about three times the usual rate (5 stories). Its coverage was about three times as angry as the world's.
48 of its 75 stories (64%) were about people being harmed, usually 50%. Reports of people affected ran at about twice the usual rate (9 stories). Drownings were named in 18 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual. Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.
22 of its 23 stories (96%) were about people being harmed, usually 41%. Reports of people injured ran at about 4 times the usual rate (12 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's. Fear in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.
113 of its 269 stories (42%) were about people being harmed, usually 26%. Paris accounted for 64 of France's 113 stories about harm, carried by 428 outlets. Reports of people killed ran at about 4 times the usual rate (77 stories).
54 of its 140 stories (39%) were about people being harmed, usually 24%. Reports of evacuations ran at more than ten times the usual rate (5 stories). Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.
33 of its 94 stories (35%) were about people being harmed, usually 23%. Reports of people killed ran at about three times the usual rate (20 stories). Flooding was named in 15 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual, with heavy rain.
Also named far more than usual: drownings in Iraq (18 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); flooding in Brazil (15 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); volcanic eruption in Spain (15 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); avalanche in Afghanistan (10 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); extreme cold in Canada (18 of its stories, more than ten times its usual).
Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 26 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 9,825 stories about harm among 33,051 counted on 26 Dec.
It was the highest share of stories about people being harmed since 11 September 2021. On the side of help, reports of peace efforts ran at about one and a half times the usual rate. Iraq's news mentioned drownings more than ten times as often as usual. 30 in every 100 of the day's 33,051 news stories were about people being harmed, above the usual 27. This week the news turned most often to Sudan, on 5 of 7 days; help rose on 1 of them.
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 30 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 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.