We measure how the world's news covered people being harmed — and the help and hope within it.
86 of its 213 stories (40%) were about people being harmed, usually 21%. Blatten accounted for 58 of Switzerland's 86 stories about harm, carried by 134 outlets. Reports of evacuations ran at about 8 times the usual rate (37 stories). Heatwave was named in 11 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual, with tsunami.
378 of its 1,190 stories (32%) were about people being harmed, usually 26%. Reports of people displaced ran at about 6 times the usual rate (41 stories). Heavy rain was named in 36 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual. Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.
4 of Tripoli's 8 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of people displaced ran at more than ten times the usual rate (7 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.
Colombo accounted for 30 of Sri Lanka's 40 stories about harm, carried by 19 outlets. Reports of people affected ran at about 4 times the usual rate (7 stories). Covid was named in 10 of its stories about harm, about 9 times usual.
19 of its 28 stories (68%) were about people being harmed, usually 36%. Reports of people killed ran at about three times the usual rate (7 stories). Hurricane was named in 12 of its stories about harm, about 4 times usual.
655 of its 2,882 stories (23%) were about people being harmed, usually 13%. Reports of evacuations ran at about 4 times the usual rate (44 stories). Wildfires were named in 209 of its stories about harm, about three times usual.
Gaza accounted for 123 of Palestine's 147 stories about harm, carried by 130 outlets. Reports of evacuations ran at about twice the usual rate (6 stories). Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.
Khartoum accounted for 23 of Sudan's 46 stories about harm, carried by 41 outlets. Reports of people injured ran at about three times the usual rate (13 stories). Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.
18 of Tamaulipas' 26 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of abductions ran at more than ten times the usual rate (23 stories). Tropical storm was named in 13 of its stories about harm, about 7 times usual, with hurricane.
Damascus accounted for 37 of Syria's 63 stories about harm, carried by 62 outlets. Reports of people injured ran at about 4 times the usual rate (21 stories). Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.
Also named far more than usual: wildfires in Canada (209 of its stories, about three times its usual); hurricane in Puerto Rico (12 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); tropical storm in Mexico (13 of its stories, about 7 times its usual); storms in Pakistan (13 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); avalanche in US (37 of its stories, about 5 times its usual).
Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 30 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 16,482 stories about harm among 89,098 counted on 30 May.
It was the third day running that the news turned to Switzerland. of the day's 89,098 news stories, 18 in every 100 were about people being harmed, as usual. Canada's news mentioned wildfires about three times as often as usual. Switzerland's news was 40% about people being harmed, against a usual 21%. On 30 May 2024, a year earlier, the share was 17 in every 100, against 18 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 much 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?
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