We measure how the world's news covered people being harmed — and the help and hope within it.
83 of its 104 stories (80%) were about people being harmed, usually 35%. Antioquia accounted for 43 of Colombia's 83 stories about harm, carried by 69 outlets. Reports of people injured ran at more than ten times the usual rate (68 stories). Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.
Reports of refugees ran at about three times the usual rate (84 stories). Hurricane was named in 27 of its stories about harm, about 5 times usual. Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.
30 of its 82 stories (37%) were about people being harmed, usually 17%. Earthquake was named in 14 of its stories about harm, about 8 times usual, with tsunami.
Reports of refugees ran at about three times the usual rate (7 stories). Flu was named in 21 of its stories about harm, about 6 times usual, with bird flu and hurricane.
Gaza accounted for 206 of Palestine's 223 stories about harm, carried by 290 outlets. Reports of evacuations ran at about three times the usual rate (16 stories). Illness was named in 25 of its stories about harm, about 4 times usual. Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.
19 of its 54 stories (35%) were about people being harmed, usually 14%. Reports of people killed ran at about 9 times the usual rate (13 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.
Jerusalem accounted for 144 of Israel's 552 stories about harm, carried by 225 outlets. Reports of evacuations ran at about twice the usual rate (21 stories). Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.
29 of its 99 stories (29%) were about people being harmed, usually 17%. Reports of people affected ran at about 4 times the usual rate (6 stories).
23 of its 49 stories (47%) were about people being harmed, usually 33%. Reports of arrests ran at about 5 times the usual rate (12 stories).
59 of its 203 stories (29%) were about people being harmed, usually 22%. Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.
Also named far more than usual: tsunami in Chile (15 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); illness in Palestine (25 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); rabies in India (74 of its stories, about 6 times its usual); power cuts in Pakistan (17 of its stories, about 5 times its usual).
Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 22 Aug. 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 15,026 stories about harm among 84,447 counted on 22 Aug.
It was the lowest share of stories about people being harmed since 16 May 2025. of the day's 84,447 news stories, 18 in every 100 were about people being harmed, below the usual 19. Colombia stood out: 80% of its news was about people being harmed, usually 35%. Mentions of the tsunami ran about 4 times their usual in Chile's news. On 22 August 2024, a year earlier, the share was 18 in every 100, 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 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?
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