We measure how the world's news covered people being harmed — and the help and hope within it.
49 of its 112 stories (44%) were about people being harmed, usually 28%. Beirut accounted for 39 of Lebanon's 49 stories about harm, carried by 55 outlets. Reports of arrests ran at about 5 times the usual rate (13 stories). Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.
85 of its 263 stories (32%) were about people being harmed, usually 22%. Amsterdam accounted for 64 of the Netherlands' 85 stories about harm, carried by 102 outlets. Reports of abductions ran at more than ten times the usual rate (27 stories).
Reports of people affected ran at about 5 times the usual rate (7 stories). Snowstorms were 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.
122 of its 374 stories (33%) were about people being harmed, usually 25%. Seoul accounted for 72 of South Korea's 122 stories about harm, carried by 66 outlets.
19 of its 21 stories (90%) were about people being harmed, usually 49%. Bangui accounted for 13 of the Central African Republic's 19 stories about harm, carried by 27 outlets. Reports of arrests ran at about 4 times the usual rate (10 stories).
5 of its 7 stories (71%) were about people being harmed, usually 19%. Reports of people killed ran at about three times the usual rate (5 stories).
45 of its 145 stories (31%) were about people being harmed, usually 24%. Reports of people affected ran at about three times the usual rate (6 stories).
Reports of people displaced ran at about twice the usual rate (14 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's.
Outbreaks were named in 20 of its stories about harm, about three times usual. Grief in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.
5 of Bogota's 8 stories were about protests or strikes. Illness was named in 10 of its stories about harm, about three times usual.
Also named far more than usual: outbreaks in Tonga (20 of its stories, about three times its usual); illness in Colombia (10 of its stories, about three times its usual); flooding in Australia (45 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); road crashes in South Africa (25 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); snowstorms in UK (53 of its stories, about 5 times its usual).
Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 23 Feb. 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 19,972 stories about harm among 88,711 counted on 23 Feb.
Tonga's news mentioned outbreaks about three times as often as usual. 23 in every 100 of the day's 88,711 news stories were about people being harmed, below the usual 24. On 23 February 2021, a year earlier, the share was 26 in every 100, against 23 today. Lebanon stood out: 44% of its news was about people being harmed, usually 28%.
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 23 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 about as 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.