We measure how the world's news covered people being harmed — and the help and hope within it.
108 of its 153 stories (71%) were about people being harmed, usually 19%. Port Moresby accounted for 103 of Papua New Guinea's 108 stories about harm, carried by 238 outlets. 89 of Port Moresby's 103 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of people injured ran at more than ten times the usual rate (21 stories).
133 of its 185 stories (72%) were about people being harmed, usually 62%. Guayaquil accounted for 72 of Ecuador's 133 stories about harm, carried by 120 outlets. Reports of evacuations ran at more than ten times the usual rate (6 stories). Its coverage was about twice as fearful as the world's.
14 of its 18 stories (78%) were about people being harmed, usually 38%. Reports of people killed ran at about twice the usual rate (12 stories). Flooding was named in 12 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual.
21 of its 50 stories (42%) were about people being harmed, usually 29%. Reports of refugees ran at about three times the usual rate (5 stories).
71 of its 162 stories (44%) were about people being harmed, usually 19%. Warsaw accounted for 48 of Poland's 71 stories about harm, carried by 60 outlets. 36 of Warsaw's 48 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of arrests ran at about 10 times the usual rate (39 stories).
37 of its 84 stories (44%) were about people being harmed, usually 22%. 10 of Medellin's 19 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of people killed ran at about 4 times the usual rate (29 stories). Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.
67 of its 90 stories (74%) were about people being harmed, usually 43%. Reports of abductions ran at more than ten times the usual rate (11 stories). Accidents were named in 12 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual.
Reports of refugees ran at about 4 times the usual rate (6 stories). Illness was named in 21 of its stories about harm, about three times usual. Its coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's.
Reports of evacuations ran at about three times the usual rate (19 stories). Storms were named in 12 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual. Its coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's.
The Red Sea accounted for 68 of Djibouti's 68 stories about harm, carried by 68 outlets. Reports of people affected ran at about 4 times the usual rate (9 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's.
Also named far more than usual: covid in Switzerland (35 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); power cuts in Ghana (13 of its stories, about 7 times its usual); accidents in Somalia (12 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); outbreaks in Philippines (22 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); hypothermia in Canada (72 of its stories, more than ten times its usual).
Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 11 Jan. 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 20,466 stories about harm among 108,302 counted on 11 Jan.
Papua New Guinea stood out: 71% of its news was about people being harmed, usually 19%. 19 in every 100 of the day's 108,302 news stories were about people being harmed, as usual. In Switzerland's news, mentions of Covid ran about 4 times their usual. On 11 January 2023, a year earlier, the share was 19 in every 100, 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 19 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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