← 19 Aug Sunday 20 August 2023 · to 23:59 UTC 21 Aug →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
10,421 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 news turned to violence in Chernihiv, wildfires in Canada and illness in Dhaka. Ukraine's coverage was about twice as angry as the world's. Across the world, the tone of the words was much harsher than usual.

Reports of evacuations ran at about twice the usual rate, most often about Canada and the US →
Part of lifeDisasters & accidents 28 in 100 of the stories about harm · much more than usual Country that rose mostCanada 38 in 100 of its 1,308 stories, usually 22
RegionLatin America & Caribbean 28 in 100 of its stories, usually 22
Tone of the words Much harsher than usual across the world's stories about harm

What the world's news was about today

how these are picked →
Conflict & violence

Ukraine

242 of its 512 stories (47%) were about people being harmed, usually 32%. Chernihiv accounted for 93 of Ukraine's 242 stories about harm, carried by 124 outlets. Reports of people injured ran at about three times the usual rate (155 stories). Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.

Ukraine over 30 days → its stories → Chernihiv stories →
Disasters & accidents

Canada

492 of its 1,308 stories (38%) were about people being harmed, usually 22%. Reports of evacuations ran at about 6 times the usual rate (150 stories). Wildfires were named in 313 of its stories about harm, about three times usual.

Canada over 30 days → its stories →
Deaths & injuries, cause not given

Peru

9 of its 26 stories (35%) were about people being harmed, usually 19%. Reports of people injured ran at more than ten times the usual rate (6 stories).

Peru over 30 days → its stories →
6 more places the news pointed at
Conflict & violence

Palestine

74 of its 97 stories (76%) were about people being harmed, usually 60%. Nablus accounted for 55 of Palestine's 74 stories about harm, carried by 57 outlets. Reports of abductions ran at about three times the usual rate (6 stories). Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Ecuador

52 of its 83 stories (63%) were about people being harmed, usually 51%. Quito accounted for 31 of Ecuador's 52 stories about harm, carried by 118 outlets. Covid was named in 24 of its stories about harm, about 9 times usual. Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.

its stories →
Disasters & accidents

Mexico

91 of its 272 stories (33%) were about people being harmed, usually 21%. Reports of evacuations ran at more than ten times the usual rate (15 stories). Hurricane was named in 62 of its stories about harm, about 5 times usual, with tropical storm and power cuts.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Pakistan

339 of its 803 stories (42%) were about people being harmed, usually 34%. Reports of evacuations ran at about 8 times the usual rate (10 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Kashmir

74 of its 163 stories (45%) were about people being harmed, usually 38%. Road crashes were named in 17 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual. Its coverage was about twice as fearful as the world's. Grief in its coverage rose to about twice its own usual.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Iran

Tehran accounted for 52 of Iran's 80 stories about harm, carried by 176 outlets. Illness was named in 21 of its stories about harm, about three times usual. Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: hurricane in Mexico (62 of its stories, about 5 times its usual); wildfires in Spain (54 of its stories, about 5 times its usual); tsunami in Japan (31 of its stories, about 9 times its usual); covid in Ecuador (24 of its stories, about 9 times its usual); hurricane in US (610 of its stories, about 4 times its usual).

20 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 19; 20 the day before
21 in 10018 in 10022 Jul29 Jul5 Aug12 Aug20 Aug22 Jul: 20 in 10023 Jul: 21 in 10024 Jul: 19 in 10025 Jul: 19 in 10026 Jul: 18 in 10027 Jul: 18 in 10028 Jul: 19 in 10029 Jul: 19 in 10030 Jul: 19 in 10031 Jul: 18 in 1001 Aug: 19 in 1002 Aug: 18 in 1003 Aug: 18 in 1004 Aug: 18 in 1005 Aug: 19 in 1006 Aug: 20 in 1007 Aug: 19 in 1008 Aug: 19 in 1009 Aug: 18 in 10010 Aug: 19 in 10011 Aug: 19 in 10012 Aug: 20 in 10013 Aug: 20 in 10014 Aug: 19 in 10015 Aug: 19 in 10016 Aug: 18 in 10017 Aug: 19 in 10018 Aug: 19 in 10019 Aug: 20 in 10020 Aug: 20 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 20 Aug. 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 10,421 stories about harm among 52,672 counted on 20 Aug.

Read the day's briefing

Reports of evacuations ran at about twice the usual rate, most often about Canada and the US. 20 in every 100 of the day's 52,672 news stories were about people being harmed, as usual. A year earlier, on 20 August 2022, 23 in every 100 stories were about people being harmed, against 20 today. Ukraine stood out: 47% of its news was about people being harmed, usually 32%.

Written by code from the day's numbers.

Where harm was most of the news all →

Palestine76 in 100 of its 97 stories · usually 60 · mostly conflict & violence Ecuador63 in 100 of its 83 stories · usually 51 · mostly conflict & violence Iran49 in 100 of its 164 stories · usually 44 · mostly conflict & violence Ukraine47 in 100 of its 512 stories · usually 32 · mostly conflict & violence Afghanistan47 in 100 of its 118 stories · usually 50 · mostly conflict & violence

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

Washington US35 stories about protests or strikes, of its 132 Forsyth County US24 stories about protests or strikes, of its 51 Islamabad Pakistan20 stories about protests or strikes, of its 95 Niamey Niger19 stories about protests or strikes, of its 58 London UK19 stories about protests or strikes, of its 125

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: too little coverage to readUzbekistan: too little coverage to readUruguay: too little coverage to readMicronesia: 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: too little coverage to readSouth 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: too little coverage to readTanzania: about as warm as its own usual or lessTajikistan: 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: too little coverage to readSouth 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: about as warm as its own usual or lessSlovakia: too little coverage to readSlovenia: too little coverage to readSierra 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: about as warm as its own usual or lessSão Tomé: too little coverage to readSamoa: about as warm as its own usual or lessSt Vincent: too little coverage to readSt. Lucia: about as warm as its own usual or lessRwanda: 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 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: about as warm as its own usual or lessPapua New Guinea: about as warm as its own usual or lessPanama: 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: about as warm as its own usual or lessNigeria: 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: about as warm as its own usual or lessMongolia: about as warm as its own usual or lessMoldova: too little coverage to readMexico: too little coverage to readMauritius: about as warm as its own usual or lessMauritania: 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: about as warm as its own usual or lessNorth Macedonia: about as warm as its own usual or lessLuxembourg: too little coverage to readLithuania: about as warm as its own usual or lessLibya: about as warm as its own usual or lessLiberia: 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: too little coverage to readKyrgyzstan: 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 lessJordan: 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 lessIndonesia: 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: too little coverage to readGuinea: too little coverage to readGuatemala: about as warm as its own usual or lessGrenada: 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: too little coverage to readFrench 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: about as warm as its own usual or lessEritrea: about as warm as its own usual or lessEquatorial Guinea: too little coverage to readEl Salvador: too little coverage to readEgypt: about as warm as its own usual or lessDominican 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: about as warm as its own usual or lessCroatia: about as warm as its own usual or lessCôte d'Ivoire: about as warm as its own usual or lessCosta Rica: about as warm as its own usual or lessDR Congo: about as warm as its own usual or lessCongo: about as warm as its own usual or lessComoros: too little coverage to readColombia: 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: about as warm as its own usual or lessCanada: about as warm as its own usual or lessCameroon: about as warm as its own usual or lessCambodia: 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: about as warm as its own usual or lessBrunei: 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: about as warm as its own usual or lessBolivia: too little coverage to readBhutan: about as warm as its own usual or lessBenin: about as warm as its own usual or lessBelize: about as warm as its own usual or lessBelgium: about as warm as its own usual or lessBelarus: about as warm as its own usual or lessBarbados: too little coverage to readBangladesh: about as warm as its own usual or lessBahrain: about as warm as its own usual or lessBahamas: about as warm as its own usual or lessAzerbaijan: 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: about as warm as its own usual or lessAngola: too little coverage to readAndorra: 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 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 readCrimea: about as warm as its own usual or lessEast Jerusalem: 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: about as warm as its own usual or lessSan Marino: too little coverage to readSt Kitts & Nevis: too little coverage to readCook Islands: about as warm as its own usual or lessAruba: 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: too little coverage to readNorfolk 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 readTaiwan: warmth about its own usualSingapore: warmth about its own usualPortugal: warmth about its own usualEcuador: warmth about its own usualChina: warmth about its own usualKashmir: warmth about its own usualChina: warmth about its own usualKashmir: warmth about its own usualKashmir: warmth about its own usualKashmir: warmth about its own usualPulwama, Kashmir -- conflict & violence: 12 stories, carried by 13 outletsWellington, New Zealand -- health: 14 stories, carried by 10 outletsQuito, Ecuador -- health: 31 stories, carried by 118 outletsManhattan, US -- health: 46 stories, carried by 61 outletsMaine, US -- other: 10 stories, carried by 18 outletsCalgary, Canada -- displacement: 11 stories, carried by 14 outletsJammu, Kashmir -- conflict & violence: 26 stories, carried by 19 outletsYoughal, Ireland -- deaths & injuries, cause not given: 37 stories, carried by 66 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

● Pulwama Kashmir about twice as warm as the day's news · conflict & violence · 12 stories ● Wellington New Zealand about one and a half times as warm as the day's news · health · 14 stories ● Quito Ecuador about one and a half times as warm as the day's news · health · 31 stories ● Manhattan US about one and a half times as warm as the day's news · health · 46 stories ● Maine US about one and a half times as warm as the day's news · other · 10 stories

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Disasters & accidents28% 2,916 stories · much more than usual (usually 21%) Health24% 2,511 stories · less than usual (usually 29%) Rights & justice19% 1,955 stories · less than usual (usually 23%) Conflict & violence13% 1,379 stories · more than usual (usually 11%) Deaths & injuries, cause not given5% 551 stories · about as usual Food & livelihood3% 320 stories · about as usual Shelter & services3% 316 stories · about as usual Displacement3% 311 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 killed2,642 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people affected1,093 at about the usual rate Stories reporting arrests994 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people injured913 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about the US and Ukraine Stories reporting evacuations396 at about twice the usual rate · most about Canada and the US Stories reporting people displaced97 at about the usual rate Stories reporting abductions72 at about the usual rate Stories reporting refugees63 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about the US and the UK

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 much 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.