We measure how the world's news covered people being harmed — and the help and hope within it.
1,092 of its 1,542 stories (71%) were about people being harmed, usually 56%. Tehran accounted for 726 of Iran's 1,092 stories about harm, carried by 907 outlets. 692 of Tehran's 726 stories were about protests or strikes. Flooding was named in 90 of its stories about harm, about 6 times usual. Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.
27 of its 35 stories (77%) were about people being harmed, usually 26%. Puerto Lopez accounted for 24 of Ecuador's 27 stories about harm, carried by 37 outlets. Reports of people killed ran at about three times the usual rate (25 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.
29 of its 56 stories (52%) were about people being harmed, usually 33%. Plane crash was named in 13 of its stories about harm, about 5 times usual.
14 of its 66 stories (21%) were about people being harmed, usually 11%. Reports of arrests ran at about three times the usual rate (6 stories).
32 of its 48 stories (67%) were about people being harmed, usually 33%. Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's. Anger in its coverage rose to about twice its own usual.
32 of its 82 stories (39%) were about people being harmed, usually 25%. 7 of Kampala's 14 stories were about protests or strikes.
Heavy rain was named in 11 of its stories about harm, about 5 times usual. Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.
Reports of abductions ran at about 4 times the usual rate (5 stories). Landslides were named in 16 of its stories about harm, about 4 times usual.
Reports of people injured ran at about twice the usual rate (25 stories). Its coverage was about twice as fearful as the world's. Grief in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.
Havana accounted for 54 of Cuba's 73 stories about harm, carried by 120 outlets. Reports of arrests ran at about twice the usual rate (17 stories).
Also named far more than usual: heavy rain in Fiji (11 of its stories, about 5 times its usual); wildfires in Australia (58 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); wildfires in South Africa (21 of its stories, about 5 times its usual); landslides in Canada (16 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); extreme cold in India (33 of its stories, about three times its usual).
Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 12 Jan. 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 13,530 stories about harm among 75,633 counted on 12 Jan.
The news turned to Iran for the tenth day running. 18 in every 100 of the day's 75,633 news stories were about people being harmed, as usual. In Fiji's news, mentions of heavy rain ran about 5 times their usual. On 12 January 2025, a year earlier, the share was 22 in every 100, against 18 today. Iran's news was 71% about people being harmed, against a usual 56%.
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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