We measure how the world's news covered people being harmed — and the help and hope within it.
209 of its 255 stories (82%) were about people being harmed, usually 40%. Havana accounted for 93 of Cuba's 209 stories about harm, carried by 240 outlets. Reports of people injured ran at about three times the usual rate (11 stories). Tropical storm was named in 113 of its stories about harm, about three times usual, with storms, heavy rain and landslides.
157 of its 228 stories (69%) were about people being harmed, usually 28%. Ganderbal accounted for 67 of Kashmir's 157 stories about harm, carried by 41 outlets. Reports of people killed ran at about 7 times the usual rate (115 stories). Its coverage was about three times as fearful as the world's. Anger in its coverage rose to about twice its own usual.
79 of its 220 stories (36%) were about people being harmed, usually 18%. Reports of people affected ran at about twice the usual rate (8 stories). Malaria was named in 41 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual.
25 of its 39 stories (64%) were about people being harmed, usually 40%. 14 of Maputo's 19 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of people killed ran at about twice the usual rate (15 stories).
167 of its 327 stories (51%) were about people being harmed, usually 20%. Reports of people injured ran at about 8 times the usual rate (42 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's. Fear in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.
576 of its 2,485 stories (23%) were about people being harmed, usually 17%. 84 of Canberra's 148 stories were about protests or strikes. Natural hazards were named in 25 of its stories about harm, about three times usual.
Gaza accounted for 111 of Palestine's 135 stories about harm, carried by 97 outlets. Reports of evacuations ran at about twice the usual rate (14 stories). Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.
Reports of abductions ran at more than ten times the usual rate (15 stories). Cyclone was named in 15 of its stories about harm, about 4 times usual, with tropical storm. Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.
63 of its 189 stories (33%) were about people being harmed, usually 21%. Reports of refugees ran at about 9 times the usual rate (7 stories).
17 of its 25 stories (68%) were about people being harmed, usually 44%. Reports of refugees ran at about 6 times the usual rate (6 stories).
Also named far more than usual: covid in Indonesia (19 of its stories, about three times its usual); flooding in Italy (14 of its stories, about 5 times its usual); food poisoning in South Africa (18 of its stories, about three times its usual); cyclone in India (66 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); cyclone in Philippines (15 of its stories, about 4 times its usual).
Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 21 Oct. 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 16,528 stories about harm among 92,046 counted on 21 Oct.
For the third day running, the news turned to Cuba. Stories about people being harmed made up 18 in every 100 of the day's 92,046 stories, below the usual 19. Cuba's news was 82% about people being harmed, against a usual 40%. In Cuba's news, mentions of tropical storm ran about three times their usual. A year earlier, on 22 October 2023, 21 in every 100 stories were about people being harmed, against 18 today.
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 about as 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?
Unlock a year of trends, free. Follow up to 5 countries, with a bell when their news changes, and 👍 vote for Pro — ten years of the archive, any period, daily alerts.
Create a free accountSign in · a username, an email and a password.