← 17 Dec Sunday 18 December 2022 · to 23:59 UTC 19 Dec →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
6,938 stories about harm· Trends· Every past day

We measure how the world's news covered people being harmed — and the help and hope within it.

How to read these numbers →

The day's news pointed at landslides in Malaysia, violence in Kirkuk and protests in Machu Picchu (Peru). Iraq's coverage was about twice as angry as the world's. Across the world, the tone of the words was harsher than usual.

Part of lifeHealth 33 in 100 of the stories about harm · less than usual Country that rose mostMalaysia 56 in 100 of its 228 stories, usually 23
RegionSoutheast Asia 36 in 100 of its stories, usually 28
Tone of the words Harsher than usual across the world's stories about harm

What the world's news was about today

how these are picked →
Disasters & accidents

Malaysia

128 of its 228 stories (56%) were about people being harmed, usually 23%. Batang Kali accounted for 95 of Malaysia's 128 stories about harm, carried by 56 outlets. Reports of people displaced ran at about 9 times the usual rate (11 stories). Landslides were named in 87 of its stories about harm, about 4 times usual. Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.

Malaysia over 30 days → its stories → Batang Kali stories →
Conflict & violence

Iraq

52 of its 64 stories (81%) were about people being harmed, usually 42%. Kirkuk accounted for 29 of Iraq's 52 stories about harm, carried by 36 outlets. Reports of people injured ran at about 4 times the usual rate (39 stories). Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.

Iraq over 30 days → its stories → Kirkuk stories →
Protests & strikes

Peru

70 of its 97 stories (72%) were about people being harmed, usually 44%. 21 of Machu Picchu's 23 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of people affected ran at about three times the usual rate (17 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's.

Peru over 30 days → its stories → Machu Picchu stories →
Deaths & injuries, cause not given

Sweden

25 of its 50 stories (50%) were about people being harmed, usually 24%. Reports of people killed ran at about 5 times the usual rate (19 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.

Sweden over 30 days → its stories →
6 more places the news pointed at
Disasters & accidents

Afghanistan

73 of its 113 stories (65%) were about people being harmed, usually 50%. Kabul accounted for 39 of Afghanistan's 73 stories about harm, carried by 77 outlets. Reports of people injured ran at about three times the usual rate (51 stories). Avalanche 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.

its stories →
Protests & strikes

Nigeria

197 of its 588 stories (34%) were about people being harmed, usually 25%. 13 of Lagos' 23 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of people injured ran at about twice the usual rate (11 stories). Cholera was named in 14 of its stories about harm, about 8 times usual.

its stories →
Protests & strikes

Iran

Tehran accounted for 46 of Iran's 96 stories about harm, carried by 74 outlets. 35 of Tehran's 46 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of arrests ran at about twice the usual rate (44 stories). Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Pakistan

195 of its 536 stories (36%) were about people being harmed, usually 28%. Reports of abductions ran at about twice the usual rate (7 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's. Anger in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Russia

131 of its 413 stories (32%) were about people being harmed, usually 25%. Reports of people displaced ran at about three times the usual rate (6 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's.

its stories →
Health

Greece

26 of its 88 stories (30%) were about people being harmed, usually 19%. Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: drownings in South Africa (14 of its stories, about 6 times its usual); avalanche in Afghanistan (10 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); snowstorms in Canada (16 of its stories, about 6 times its usual); cholera in Nigeria (14 of its stories, about 8 times its usual); flu in India (11 of its stories, about 6 times its usual).

20 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 19; 21 the day before
21 in 10018 in 10019 Nov26 Nov3 Dec10 Dec18 Dec19 Nov: 18 in 10020 Nov: 19 in 10021 Nov: 19 in 10022 Nov: 19 in 10023 Nov: 20 in 10024 Nov: 19 in 10025 Nov: 18 in 10026 Nov: 19 in 10027 Nov: 19 in 10028 Nov: 20 in 10029 Nov: 20 in 10030 Nov: 20 in 1001 Dec: 19 in 1002 Dec: 19 in 1003 Dec: 19 in 1004 Dec: 19 in 1005 Dec: 19 in 1006 Dec: 19 in 1007 Dec: 19 in 1008 Dec: 19 in 1009 Dec: 19 in 10010 Dec: 20 in 10011 Dec: 20 in 10012 Dec: 20 in 10013 Dec: 20 in 10014 Dec: 20 in 10015 Dec: 20 in 10016 Dec: 20 in 10017 Dec: 21 in 10018 Dec: 20 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 18 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 6,938 stories about harm among 35,324 counted on 18 Dec.

Read the day's briefing

It was the third day running that the news turned to Malaysia. of the day's 35,324 news stories, 20 in every 100 were about people being harmed, as usual. Malaysia stood out: 56% of its news was about people being harmed, usually 23%. A year earlier, on 18 December 2021, 27 in every 100 stories were about people being harmed, against 20 today. This week the news turned most often to Peru, on 6 of 7 days.

Written by code from the day's numbers.

Where harm was most of the news all →

Iraq81 in 100 of its 64 stories · usually 42 · mostly conflict & violence Peru72 in 100 of its 97 stories · usually 44 · mostly rights & justice Afghanistan65 in 100 of its 113 stories · usually 50 · mostly disasters & accidents Malaysia56 in 100 of its 228 stories · usually 23 · mostly disasters & accidents Sweden50 in 100 of its 50 stories · usually 24 · mostly deaths & injuries, cause not given

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

Washington US49 stories about protests or strikes, of its 257 Tehran Iran35 stories about protests or strikes, of its 46 Jerusalem Israel29 stories about protests or strikes, of its 79 Machu Picchu Peru21 stories about protests or strikes, of its 23 Ayacucho Peru19 stories about protests or strikes, of its 19

Stories, not people.

Where the news was warmest

feelings in full →
Feelings Events Harm Warmth
Zimbabwe: about as warm as its own usual or lessZambia: about as warm as its own usual or lessYemen: about as warm as its own usual or lessVietnam: about as warm as its own usual or lessVenezuela: about as warm as its own usual or lessVanuatu: about as warm as its own usual or lessUzbekistan: about as warm as its own usual or lessUruguay: about as warm as its own usual or lessMicronesia: too little coverage to readU.S. Virgin Islands: too little coverage to readGuam: about as warm as its own usual or lessPuerto Rico: too little coverage to readUnited States: about as warm as its own usual or lessSouth Georgia & South Sandwich Islands: too little coverage to readFalkland Islands: too little coverage to readCayman Islands: too little coverage to readIsle of Man: too little coverage to readUnited Kingdom: about as warm as its own usual or lessUnited Arab Emirates: about as warm as its own usual or lessUkraine: about as warm as its own usual or lessUganda: about as warm as its own usual or lessTurkmenistan: too little coverage to readTurkey: about as warm as its own usual or lessTunisia: about as warm as its own usual or lessTrinidad & Tobago: about as warm as its own usual or lessTonga: too little coverage to readTogo: too little coverage to readTimor-Leste: too little coverage to readThailand: about as warm as its own usual or lessTanzania: about as warm as its own usual or lessTajikistan: about as warm as its own usual or lessTaiwan: about as warm as its own usual or lessSyria: about as warm as its own usual or lessSwitzerland: about as warm as its own usual or lessSweden: about as warm as its own usual or lessEswatini: about as warm as its own usual or lessSuriname: too little coverage to readSouth Sudan: about as warm as its own usual or lessSudan: about as warm as its own usual or lessSri Lanka: about as warm as its own usual or lessSpain: about as warm as its own usual or lessSouth Korea: about as warm as its own usual or lessSouth Africa: about as warm as its own usual or lessSomalia: about as warm as its own usual or lessSomaliland: too little coverage to readSolomon Islands: too little coverage to readSlovakia: about as warm as its own usual or lessSlovenia: too little coverage to readSingapore: about as warm as its own usual or lessSierra Leone: about as warm as its own usual or lessSeychelles: about as warm as its own usual or lessSerbia: too little coverage to readSenegal: about as warm as its own usual or lessSaudi Arabia: too little coverage to readSão Tomé: too little coverage to readSamoa: about as warm as its own usual or lessSt Vincent: about as warm as its own usual or lessSt. Lucia: too little coverage to readRwanda: about as warm as its own usual or lessRussia: about as warm as its own usual or lessRomania: about as warm as its own usual or lessQatar: about as warm as its own usual or lessPortugal: about as warm as its own usual or lessPoland: about as warm as its own usual or lessPhilippines: about as warm as its own usual or lessPeru: about as warm as its own usual or lessParaguay: too little coverage to readPapua New Guinea: too little coverage to readPanama: about as warm as its own usual or lessPalau: too little coverage to readPakistan: about as warm as its own usual or lessOman: about as warm as its own usual or lessNorway: about as warm as its own usual or lessNorth Korea: too little coverage to readNigeria: about as warm as its own usual or lessNiger: about as warm as its own usual or lessNicaragua: about as warm as its own usual or lessNew Zealand: about as warm as its own usual or lessNiue: too little coverage to readNetherlands: about as warm as its own usual or lessCuraçao: too little coverage to readNepal: about as warm as its own usual or lessNamibia: about as warm as its own usual or lessMozambique: about as warm as its own usual or lessMorocco: about as warm as its own usual or lessWestern Sahara: too little coverage to readMontenegro: too little coverage to readMongolia: too little coverage to readMoldova: too little coverage to readMexico: about as warm as its own usual or lessMauritius: too little coverage to readMauritania: too little coverage to readMalta: about as warm as its own usual or lessMali: about as warm as its own usual or lessMalaysia: about as warm as its own usual or lessMalawi: about as warm as its own usual or lessMadagascar: too little coverage to readNorth Macedonia: too little coverage to readLuxembourg: too little coverage to readLithuania: about as warm as its own usual or lessLibya: too little coverage to readLiberia: about as warm as its own usual or lessLesotho: too little coverage to readLebanon: about as warm as its own usual or lessLatvia: about as warm as its own usual or lessLaos: about as warm as its own usual or lessKyrgyzstan: too little coverage to readKuwait: about as warm as its own usual or lessKosovo: too little coverage to readKiribati: too little coverage to readKenya: about as warm as its own usual or lessKazakhstan: about as warm as its own usual or lessJapan: about as warm as its own usual or lessJamaica: about as warm as its own usual or lessItaly: about as warm as its own usual or lessIsrael: about as warm as its own usual or lessPalestine: about as warm as its own usual or lessIreland: about as warm as its own usual or lessIraq: about as warm as its own usual or lessIran: about as warm as its own usual or lessIndia: about as warm as its own usual or lessIceland: about as warm as its own usual or lessHungary: about as warm as its own usual or lessHonduras: too little coverage to readHaiti: about as warm as its own usual or lessGuyana: about as warm as its own usual or lessGuinea-Bissau: about as warm as its own usual or lessGuinea: about as warm as its own usual or lessGuatemala: too little coverage to readGrenada: too little coverage to readGreece: about as warm as its own usual or lessGhana: about as warm as its own usual or lessGermany: about as warm as its own usual or lessGeorgia: about as warm as its own usual or lessGambia: too little coverage to readGabon: too little coverage to readFrance: about as warm as its own usual or lessSt Pierre & Miquelon: too little coverage to readFrench Polynesia: too little coverage to readNew Caledonia: about as warm as its own usual or lessFrench Southern Territories: too little coverage to readÅland Islands: too little coverage to readFinland: about as warm as its own usual or lessFiji: about as warm as its own usual or lessEthiopia: about as warm as its own usual or lessEstonia: too little coverage to readEritrea: too little coverage to readEquatorial Guinea: too little coverage to readEl Salvador: too little coverage to readEgypt: about as warm as its own usual or lessEcuador: too little coverage to readDominican Republic: about as warm as its own usual or lessDominica: too little coverage to readDjibouti: too little coverage to readGreenland: too little coverage to readFaroe Islands: too little coverage to readDenmark: about as warm as its own usual or lessCzech Republic: about as warm as its own usual or lessN. Cyprus: too little coverage to readCyprus: about as warm as its own usual or lessCuba: too little coverage to readCroatia: too little coverage to readCôte d'Ivoire: too little coverage to readCosta Rica: too little coverage to readDR Congo: too little coverage to readCongo: about as warm as its own usual or lessComoros: too little coverage to readColombia: about as warm as its own usual or lessChina: about as warm as its own usual or lessHong Kong: about as warm as its own usual or lessChile: about as warm as its own usual or lessChad: about as warm as its own usual or lessCentral African Republic: too little coverage to readCape Verde: too little coverage to readCanada: about as warm as its own usual or lessCameroon: too little coverage to readCambodia: about as warm as its own usual or lessMyanmar: about as warm as its own usual or lessBurundi: too little coverage to readBurkina Faso: about as warm as its own usual or lessBulgaria: too little coverage to readBrunei: about as warm as its own usual or lessBrazil: about as warm as its own usual or lessBotswana: too little coverage to readBosnia and Herzegovina: too little coverage to readBolivia: too little coverage to readBhutan: too little coverage to readBenin: too little coverage to readBelize: too little coverage to readBelgium: about as warm as its own usual or lessBelarus: too little coverage to readBarbados: about as warm as its own usual or lessBangladesh: about as warm as its own usual or lessBahrain: about as warm as its own usual or lessBahamas: too little coverage to readAzerbaijan: about as warm as its own usual or lessAustria: about as warm as its own usual or lessAustralia: about as warm as its own usual or lessHeard & McDonald Islands: too little coverage to readArmenia: too little coverage to readArgentina: about as warm as its own usual or lessAntigua & Barbuda: too little coverage to readAngola: about as warm as its own usual or lessAndorra: too little coverage to readAlgeria: about as warm as its own usual or lessAlbania: about as warm as its own usual or lessAfghanistan: about as warm as its own usual or lessJammu & Kashmir: about as warm as its own usual or lessAksai Chin: about as warm as its own usual or lessGaza: about as warm as its own usual or lessWest Bank: about as warm as its own usual or lessWestern Sahara (Moroccan-controlled): too little coverage to readWestern Sahara (Free Zone): too little coverage to readAzad Kashmir & Gilgit-Baltistan: about as warm as its own usual or lessSiachen Glacier: about as warm as its own usual or lessCrimea: about as warm as its own usual or lessEast Jerusalem: about as warm as its own usual or lessAzad Kashmir & Gilgit-Baltistan: about as warm as its own usual or lessVatican City: too little coverage to readMarshall Islands: about as warm as its own usual or lessNorthern Mariana Islands: too little coverage to readAmerican Samoa: too little coverage to readChagos Islands: too little coverage to readSt. Helena: too little coverage to readPitcairn: too little coverage to readAnguilla: too little coverage to readBermuda: too little coverage to readBritish Virgin Islands: too little coverage to readTurks & Caicos Islands: too little coverage to readMontserrat: too little coverage to readJersey: about as warm as its own usual or lessGuernsey: too little coverage to readSan Marino: too little coverage to readSt Kitts & Nevis: about as warm as its own usual or lessCook Islands: too little coverage to readAruba: too little coverage to readNauru: too little coverage to readMonaco: too little coverage to readMaldives: about as warm as its own usual or lessLiechtenstein: too little coverage to readWallis & Futuna: too little coverage to readSt. Martin: too little coverage to readSt. Barthélemy: too little coverage to readMacao: about as warm as its own usual or lessNorfolk Island: too little coverage to readSint Maarten: too little coverage to readChristmas Island: too little coverage to readGibraltar: too little coverage to readMayotte: too little coverage to readJordan: warmth about its own usualIndonesia: warmth about its own usualBeirut, Lebanon -- conflict & violence: 11 stories, carried by 28 outletsKaduna, Nigeria -- conflict & violence: 16 stories, carried by 12 outletsSandy Hook, US -- health: 13 stories, carried by 12 outletsAbuja, Nigeria -- health: 22 stories, carried by 19 outletsCalifornia, US -- health: 26 stories, carried by 59 outlets
Warmer than its own usual The warmest eventsAbout as warm or lessToo little news

Each country shaded by the warmth in its news — care, help, gratitude — against its own last 30 days. Stronger colour: further above. Dots: the events whose coverage carried the most warmth, even where the event itself began as harm. Warm words, not good outcomes. Click a country or a dot.

Warmest news

No country's news was much warmer than its usual (a quarter or more).

Warmest events

● Beirut Lebanon about one and a half times as warm as the day's news · conflict & violence · 11 stories ● Kaduna Nigeria about one and a half times as warm as the day's news · conflict & violence · 16 stories ● Sandy Hook US about one and a half times as warm as the day's news · health · 13 stories ● Abuja Nigeria about one and a half times as warm as the day's news · health · 22 stories ● California US about one and a half times as warm as the day's news · health · 26 stories

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Health33% 2,259 stories · less than usual (usually 36%) Rights & justice21% 1,457 stories · less than usual (usually 24%) Disasters & accidents17% 1,165 stories · more than usual (usually 14%) Conflict & violence12% 829 stories · about as usual Food & livelihood5% 360 stories · about as usual Shelter & services5% 310 stories · about as usual Deaths & injuries, cause not given4% 302 stories · about as usual Displacement2% 167 stories · about as usual

Of the stories about people being harmed, what part of life each was about. The mark is usual.

Harm reported 30 days →

Stories reporting people killed1,841 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people affected731 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about the US and the UK Stories reporting arrests574 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people injured501 at about the usual rate Stories reporting refugees104 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about the US and the UK Stories reporting people displaced69 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about Malaysia and Russia Stories reporting abductions67 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about Nigeria and the US Stories reporting evacuations39 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about the US and Malaysia Stories reporting people falling ill8 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about the US and Australia

Stories 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 harsher than 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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How to read these numbers →

These are counts of stories, not counts of suffering. Most of what happens to people is never reported at all.