What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
We measure how the world's news covered people being harmed — and the help and hope within it.
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Protests in Beirut (Lebanon), people displaced in Villach and landslides in Mali drew the news. Austria's coverage was about three times as angry as the world's. Across the world, the tone of the words was much harsher than usual.
Protests & strikes
58 of its 97 stories (60%) were about people being harmed, usually 45%. Beirut accounted for 41 of Lebanon's 58 stories about harm, carried by 88 outlets. 25 of Beirut's 41 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of arrests ran at about 4 times the usual rate (14 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's.
Displacement
120 of its 148 stories (81%) were about people being harmed, usually 18%. Villach accounted for 106 of Austria's 120 stories about harm, carried by 294 outlets. Reports of refugees ran at more than ten times the usual rate (48 stories). Its coverage was about three times as angry as the world's.
Disasters & accidents
32 of its 38 stories (84%) were about people being harmed, usually 36%. Reports of people killed ran at about three times the usual rate (30 stories). Landslides were named in 24 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual. Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.
Deaths & injuries, cause not given
894 of its 3,222 stories (28%) were about people being harmed, usually 17%. Reports of evacuations ran at more than ten times the usual rate (30 stories). Drownings were named in 22 of its stories about harm, about 4 times usual. Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.
6 more places the news pointed at
Health
60 of its 227 stories (26%) were about people being harmed, usually 13%. Illness was named in 39 of its stories about harm, about 6 times usual. Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.
Protests & strikes
41 of its 96 stories (43%) were about people being harmed, usually 35%. 12 of Tehran's 23 stories were about protests or strikes. Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.
Rights & justice
21 of its 42 stories (50%) were about people being harmed, usually 38%. Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.
Conflict & violence
The Congo River accounted for 21 of Congo's 31 stories about harm, carried by 174 outlets. Its coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's.
Conflict & violence
Drought was named in 10 of its stories about harm, about 5 times usual. Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.
Disasters & accidents
Reports of people falling ill ran at about twice the usual rate (11 stories). Flooding was named in 355 of its stories about harm, about 5 times usual, with power cuts, tornadoes and heavy rain.
Also named far more than usual:
illness in Italy (39 of its stories, about 6 times its usual); flooding in US (355 of its stories, about 5 times its usual); snowstorms in Canada (34 of its stories, about 8 times its usual); poisoning in Russia (17 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); drought in Pakistan (10 of its stories, about 5 times its usual).
Read the day's briefing
The share of stories about people being harmed was the highest since 13 January 2025. 20 in every 100 of the day's 46,119 news stories were about people being harmed, above the usual 18. In Mali's news, mentions of landslides ran more than ten times their usual. the news turned to Lebanon for the third day running. A year earlier, on 17 February 2024, 18 in every 100 stories were about people being harmed, against 20 today. This week the news turned most often to Bangladesh, on 3 of 7 days.
- 20 in every 100 of the day's 46,119 news stories were about people being harmed (usually 18).
- Lebanon: 58 of its 97 stories (60%) were about people being harmed, usually 45%.
- Austria: 120 of its 148 stories (81%) were about people being harmed, usually 18%.
- Mali: 32 of its 38 stories (84%) were about people being harmed, usually 36%.
- India: 894 of its 3,222 stories (28%) were about people being harmed, usually 17%.
- Mentions of landslides ran more than ten times their usual in Mali's news.
- Mentions of flooding ran about 5 times their usual in the US's news.
- Across the world, the words of the day's news were much harsher than usual.
- It was the highest share of stories about people being harmed since 13 January 2025.
- It was the third day running that the news turned to Lebanon.
- A year earlier, on 17 February 2024, 18 in every 100 stories were about people being harmed, against 20 today.
- This week the news turned most often to Bangladesh, on 3 of 7 days.
Written by code from the day's numbers.
The day in three measures
harshwarm
The words in the day's stories were much harsher than usual.
Filled dot: today. Ring: usual.
● Angerabout as usual
● Warmthabout as usual
● Griefa little more than usual
● Fearabout as 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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How to read these numbers →
These are counts of stories, not counts of suffering. Most of what happens to people is never reported at all.