We measure how the world's news covered people being harmed — and the help and hope within it.
346 of its 1,060 stories (33%) were about people being harmed, usually 23%. 73 of Abuja's 79 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of people injured ran at about three times the usual rate (37 stories). Drownings were named in 10 of its stories about harm, about 8 times usual. Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.
137 of its 145 stories (94%) were about people being harmed, usually 50%. Mogadishu accounted for 127 of Somalia's 137 stories about harm, carried by 350 outlets. Reports of people injured ran at more than ten times the usual rate (109 stories). Its coverage was about three times as angry as the world's. Grief in its coverage rose to about three times its own usual.
170 of its 780 stories (22%) were about people being harmed, usually 15%. Reports of people affected ran at about three times the usual rate (64 stories). Bridge collapse was named in 23 of its stories about harm, about 9 times usual. Grief in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.
183 of its 480 stories (38%) were about people being harmed, usually 29%. Reports of abductions ran at about three times the usual rate (5 stories).
184 of its 299 stories (62%) were about people being harmed, usually 43%. Tehran accounted for 149 of Iran's 184 stories about harm, carried by 346 outlets. Reports of arrests ran at about 4 times the usual rate (30 stories). Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.
95 of its 178 stories (53%) were about people being harmed, usually 35%. Caracas accounted for 67 of Venezuela's 95 stories about harm, carried by 175 outlets. 55 of Caracas' 67 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of people killed ran at about twice the usual rate (50 stories).
897 of its 3,560 stories (25%) were about people being harmed, usually 17%. 190 of Southport's 222 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of people injured ran at about 4 times the usual rate (189 stories). Drownings were named in 19 of its stories about harm, about 4 times usual.
137 of its 190 stories (72%) were about people being harmed, usually 63%. Gaza accounted for 83 of Palestine's 137 stories about harm, carried by 195 outlets. Reports of refugees ran at about twice the usual rate (24 stories). Its coverage was about three times as grief-stricken as the world's.
48 of its 91 stories (53%) were about people being harmed, usually 30%. Hurricane was named in 14 of its stories about harm, about 5 times usual, with heavy rain.
7 of its 11 stories (64%) were about people being harmed, usually 25%. 4 of Banjul's 5 stories were about protests or strikes.
Also named far more than usual: earthquake in Philippines (50 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); drought in Brazil (14 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); hurricane in Cuba (14 of its stories, about 5 times its usual); heavy rain in Ireland (16 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); storm surge in US (156 of its stories, about 6 times its usual).
Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 3 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 11,297 stories about harm among 56,824 counted on 3 Aug.
Mentions of the earthquake ran more than ten times their usual in the Philippines' news. of the day's 56,824 news stories, 20 in every 100 were about people being harmed, above the usual 18. People falling ill were reported at about twice the usual rate, most often about the US and Japan. A year earlier, on 4 August 2023, 18 in every 100 stories were about people being harmed, against 20 today. In Nigeria, 33% of the news was about people being harmed, where 23% is usual.
Written by code from the day's numbers.
Countries with at least 50 stories that day.
Stories, not people.
The day's biggest events: attacks, accidents and disasters, people displaced, protests, outbreaks. Bigger dot: more stories. Ranked by the share of the day's outlets that reported it and how clearly it was about one thing, the same way for every place and year; the news data does not say who attacked whom, so both sides of a war appear where the news put them. Click a dot for its 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 much harsher 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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