We measure how the world's news covered people being harmed — and the help and hope within it.
64 of its 97 stories (66%) were about people being harmed, usually 49%. Gudauri accounted for 40 of Georgia's 64 stories about harm, carried by 45 outlets. Reports of people killed ran at more than ten times the usual rate (47 stories). Power cuts were named in 12 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual. Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.
229 of its 741 stories (31%) were about people being harmed, usually 22%. Reports of evacuations ran at about 5 times the usual rate (13 stories). Oil spill was named in 19 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.
84 of its 91 stories (92%) were about people being harmed, usually 54%. Mamoudzou accounted for 58 of Mayotte's 84 stories about harm, carried by 195 outlets. Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.
53 of its 69 stories (77%) were about people being harmed, usually 64%. Reports of arrests ran at about 6 times the usual rate (9 stories). Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.
112 of its 136 stories (82%) were about people being harmed, usually 22%. Lautoka accounted for 55 of Fiji's 112 stories about harm, carried by 147 outlets. Reports of people injured ran at more than ten times the usual rate (34 stories). Anger in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.
170 of its 787 stories (22%) were about people being harmed, usually 14%. Reports of people displaced ran at more than ten times the usual rate (10 stories). Flooding was named in 19 of its stories about harm, about 5 times usual, with drought and heavy rain.
Reports of abductions ran at about 7 times the usual rate (6 stories). House fires were named in 15 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual. Anger in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.
Damascus accounted for 397 of Syria's 619 stories about harm, carried by 530 outlets. Earthquake was named in 33 of its stories about harm, about 6 times usual. Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.
24 of its 36 stories (67%) were about people being harmed, usually 36%. Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.
20 of its 27 stories (74%) were about people being harmed, usually 52%. Reports of people affected ran at about three times the usual rate (7 stories).
Also named far more than usual: polio in Pakistan (41 of its stories, about 5 times its usual); flooding in Zimbabwe (12 of its stories, about 5 times its usual); landslides in Philippines (11 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); flooding in France (19 of its stories, about 5 times its usual); house fires in Ireland (15 of its stories, more than ten times its usual).
Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 16 Dec. 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 14,943 stories about harm among 85,530 counted on 16 Dec.
17 in every 100 of the day's 85,530 news stories were about people being harmed, as usual. On 17 December 2023, a year earlier, the share was 19 in every 100, against 17 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 17 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 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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