We measure how the world's news covered people being harmed — and the help and hope within it.
179 of its 376 stories (48%) were about people being harmed, usually 40%. Tehran accounted for 104 of Iran's 179 stories about harm, carried by 181 outlets. Flooding was named in 15 of its stories about harm, about 4 times usual. Its coverage was about three times as grief-stricken as the world's.
258 of its 567 stories (46%) were about people being harmed, usually 24%. Reports of people injured ran at more than ten times the usual rate (135 stories). Storms were named in 47 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual, with hurricane, heatwave and power cuts.
86 of its 264 stories (33%) were about people being harmed, usually 24%. Bangkok accounted for 65 of Thailand's 86 stories about harm, carried by 131 outlets. Reports of people injured ran at about twice the usual rate (36 stories).
Reports of people displaced ran at about 5 times the usual rate (6 stories). Heatwave was named in 28 of its stories about harm, about 5 times usual. Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.
46 of its 49 stories (94%) were about people being harmed, usually 52%. Srebrenica accounted for 44 of Bosnia's 46 stories about harm, carried by 128 outlets. Its coverage was about 4 times as grief-stricken as the world's.
227 of its 552 stories (41%) were about people being harmed, usually 32%. Power cuts were named in 27 of its stories about harm, about 6 times usual. Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.
31 of its 56 stories (55%) were about people being harmed, usually 43%. Cholera was named in 10 of its stories about harm, about three times usual. Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.
99 of its 527 stories (19%) were about people being harmed, usually 13%. Reports of people injured ran at more than ten times the usual rate (35 stories). Building collapse was named in 25 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual.
Reports of abductions ran at about three times the usual rate (7 stories). Flu was named in 51 of its stories about harm, about 6 times usual, with bird flu, outbreaks and volcanic eruption. Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.
31 of its 56 stories (55%) were about people being harmed, usually 28%. Tunis accounted for 21 of Tunisia's 31 stories about harm, carried by 25 outlets.
Also named far more than usual: building collapse in Spain (25 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); cholera in Haiti (10 of its stories, about three times its usual); power cuts in Ukraine (27 of its stories, about 6 times its usual); flu in Australia (51 of its stories, about 6 times its usual); flooding in Ghana (10 of its stories, about three times its usual).
Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 23 May. 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 19,571 stories about harm among 108,721 counted on 23 May.
Mentions of building collapse ran more than ten times their usual in Spain's news. of the day's 108,721 news stories, 18 in every 100 were about people being harmed, as usual. the news turned to Iran for the second day running. Iran's news was 48% about people being harmed, against a usual 40%. On 24 May 2023, a year earlier, the share was 18 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 18 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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