We measure how the world's news covered people being harmed — and the help and hope within it.
55 of its 63 stories (87%) were about people being harmed, usually 66%. Khartoum accounted for 30 of Sudan's 55 stories about harm, carried by 50 outlets. Reports of people falling ill ran at more than ten times the usual rate (8 stories). Cholera was named in 29 of its stories about harm, about 6 times usual, with outbreaks. 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.
52 of its 166 stories (31%) were about people being harmed, usually 9%. Reports of arrests ran at about 7 times the usual rate (11 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's.
68 of its 213 stories (32%) were about people being harmed, usually 19%. Reports of evacuations ran at more than ten times the usual rate (18 stories). Avalanche was named in 14 of its stories about harm, about three times usual, with landslides.
17 of its 65 stories (26%) were about people being harmed, usually 13%. Reports of people killed ran at about 4 times the usual rate (8 stories).
Reports of people displaced ran at about twice the usual rate (7 stories). Flu was named in 16 of its stories about harm, about 4 times usual, with oil spill. Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.
Heatwave was named in 16 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual, with wildfires, storms and drought. Its coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's.
Reports of people killed ran at about twice the usual rate (16 stories). Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.
Reports of refugees ran at about 4 times the usual rate (6 stories). Heatwave was named in 16 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual, with hurricane.
Reports of people injured ran at about twice the usual rate (91 stories). Hurricane was named in 22 of its stories about harm, about 6 times usual, with typhoon.
Sanaa accounted for 20 of Yemen's 23 stories about harm, carried by 32 outlets. Its coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's. Fear in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.
Also named far more than usual: drownings in Spain (15 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); heatwave in France (16 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); storms in Pakistan (12 of its stories, about 7 times its usual); heatwave in Canada (16 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); hurricane in UK (22 of its stories, about 6 times its usual).
Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 28 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 17,216 stories about harm among 95,186 counted on 28 May.
For the second day running, the news turned to Sudan. Stories about people being harmed made up 18 in every 100 of the day's 95,186 stories, as usual. Sudan's news was 87% about people being harmed, against a usual 66%. A year earlier, on 28 May 2024, 18 in every 100 stories were about people being harmed, 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?
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.