We measure how the world's news covered people being harmed — and the help and hope within it.
292 of its 617 stories (47%) were about people being harmed, usually 37%. Colombo accounted for 228 of Sri Lanka's 292 stories about harm, carried by 279 outlets. 218 of Colombo's 228 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of abductions ran at about 9 times the usual rate (6 stories). Natural hazards were named in 13 of its stories about harm, about 5 times usual.
51 of its 109 stories (47%) were about people being harmed, usually 20%. Reports of evacuations ran at more than ten times the usual rate (25 stories). Wildfires were named in 37 of its stories about harm, about 6 times usual, with storms and heatwave. Anger in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.
33 of its 44 stories (75%) were about people being harmed, usually 47%. Port-au-Prince accounted for 27 of Haiti's 33 stories about harm, carried by 74 outlets. Reports of people injured ran at about three times the usual rate (10 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's.
435 of its 854 stories (51%) were about people being harmed, usually 38%. Polio was named in 10 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual. Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's. Fear in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.
22 of its 31 stories (71%) were about people being harmed, usually 48%. Bamako accounted for 16 of Mali's 22 stories about harm, carried by 38 outlets. Reports of arrests ran at about 5 times the usual rate (17 stories).
10 of its 18 stories (56%) were about people being harmed, usually 26%. 7 of Sandeng's 8 stories were about protests or strikes. Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.
365 of its 1,175 stories (31%) were about people being harmed, usually 25%. Reports of people killed ran at about twice the usual rate (134 stories). Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's. Grief in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.
Reports of abductions ran at about three times the usual rate (12 stories). Drownings were named in 12 of its stories about harm, about 4 times usual. Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.
5 of Hong Kong's 10 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of arrests ran at about three times the usual rate (9 stories). Anger in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.
84 of its 197 stories (43%) were about people being harmed, usually 29%. Bali accounted for 42 of Indonesia's 84 stories about harm, carried by 69 outlets.
Also named far more than usual: outbreaks in Japan (14 of its stories, about three times its usual); drownings in Pakistan (12 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); train derailment in Canada (15 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); wildfires in UK (21 of its stories, about 6 times its usual); landslides in US (59 of its stories, about three times its usual).
Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 14 Jul. 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 18,448 stories about harm among 84,468 counted on 14 Jul.
The news turned to Sri Lanka for the second day running. 22 in every 100 of the day's 84,468 news stories were about people being harmed, as usual. In Portugal's news, mentions of wildfires ran about 6 times their usual. Sri Lanka stood out: 47% of its news was about people being harmed, usually 37%. A year earlier, on 14 July 2021, 22 in every 100 stories were about people being harmed, the same as today.
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 22 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 softer 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?
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