We measure how the world's news covered people being harmed — and the help and hope within it.
Disasters & accidents
56 of its 85 stories (66%) were about people being harmed, usually 42%. Sumatra accounted for 26 of Indonesia's 56 stories about harm, carried by 29 outlets. Reports of people displaced ran at more than ten times the usual rate (7 stories). Earthquake was named in 32 of its stories about harm, about 6 times usual, with tsunami, volcanic eruption and landslides. Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.
Health
103 of its 231 stories (45%) were about people being harmed, usually 31%. Kuala Lumpur accounted for 47 of Malaysia's 103 stories about harm, carried by 22 outlets. Reports of evacuations ran at more than ten times the usual rate (5 stories). Heavy rain was named in 10 of its stories about harm, about 7 times usual. Anger in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.
Conflict & violence
1,566 of its 3,766 stories (42%) were about people being harmed, usually 33%. Kyiv accounted for 935 of Ukraine's 1,566 stories about harm, carried by 997 outlets. Reports of refugees ran at about 4 times the usual rate (291 stories). Train derailment was named in 17 of its stories about harm, about 4 times usual, with tsunami. Its coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's.
Protests & strikes
9 of Athens' 16 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of people killed ran at about twice the usual rate (20 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's. Anger in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.
Read the day's briefing
Refugees were reported at about 6 times the usual rate, most often about Ukraine and Russia. of the day's 40,185 news stories, 23 in every 100 were about people being harmed, as usual. Reports of volunteers, a sign of help, ran at about twice the usual rate. It was the third day running that the news turned to Indonesia. On 27 February 2021, a year earlier, the share was 27 in every 100, against 23 today. This week the news turned most often to Ukraine, on 4 of 7 days; help rose on 6 of them.
- 23 in every 100 of the day's 40,185 news stories were about people being harmed (usually 24).
- Indonesia: 56 of its 85 stories (66%) were about people being harmed, usually 42%.
- Malaysia: 103 of its 231 stories (45%) were about people being harmed, usually 31%.
- Ukraine: 1,566 of its 3,766 stories (42%) were about people being harmed, usually 33%.
- Greece: 9 of Athens' 16 stories were about protests or strikes.
- Reports of refugees ran at about 6 times the usual rate, most often about Ukraine and Russia.
- Help and hope: reports of volunteers ran at about twice the usual rate.
- Mentions of the earthquake ran about 6 times their usual in Indonesia's news.
- Mentions of storms ran more than ten times their usual in Australia's news.
- Across the world, the words of the day's news were much harsher than usual.
- It was the third day running that the news turned to Indonesia.
- A year earlier, on 27 February 2021, 27 in every 100 stories were about people being harmed, against 23 today.
- This week the news turned most often to Ukraine, on 4 of 7 days; help rose on 6 of them.
Written by code from the day's numbers.
These are counts of stories, not counts of suffering. Most of what happens to people is never reported at all.