We measure how the world's news covered people being harmed — and the help and hope within it.
32 of its 67 stories (48%) were about people being harmed, usually 21%. Pongau accounted for 27 of Austria's 32 stories about harm, carried by 180 outlets. Reports of evacuations ran at more than ten times the usual rate (9 stories). Avalanche was named in 29 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual, with snowstorms. Its coverage was about three times as grief-stricken as the world's.
61 of its 120 stories (51%) were about people being harmed, usually 33%. Kyiv accounted for 35 of Ukraine's 61 stories about harm, carried by 94 outlets. Power cuts were named in 22 of its stories about harm, about three times usual. Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.
25 of its 28 stories (89%) were about people being harmed, usually 43%. Reports of abductions ran at more than ten times the usual rate (23 stories). Fear in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.
Tehran accounted for 207 of Iran's 332 stories about harm, carried by 255 outlets. 178 of Tehran's 207 stories were about protests or strikes. Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.
84 of its 139 stories (60%) were about people being harmed, usually 33%. Makassar accounted for 47 of Indonesia's 84 stories about harm, carried by 102 outlets. Reports of people affected ran at about twice the usual rate (33 stories). Storms were named in 18 of its stories about harm, about three times usual.
176 of its 377 stories (47%) were about people being harmed, usually 30%. Karachi accounted for 107 of Pakistan's 176 stories about harm, carried by 233 outlets. Reports of people injured ran at about 6 times the usual rate (78 stories). Building collapse was named in 10 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual.
45 of its 64 stories (70%) were about people being harmed, usually 20%. Reports of people killed ran at about 10 times the usual rate (40 stories). Wildfires were named in 37 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual, with storms.
51 of its 101 stories (50%) were about people being harmed, usually 26%. Reports of people injured ran at about 9 times the usual rate (14 stories). Its coverage was about twice as fearful as the world's.
69 of its 211 stories (33%) were about people being harmed, usually 14%. Reports of people injured ran at more than ten times the usual rate (30 stories). Train derailment was named in 48 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual.
78 of its 181 stories (43%) were about people being harmed, usually 29%. Reports of evacuations ran at about 9 times the usual rate (9 stories). Flooding was named in 28 of its stories about harm, about 4 times usual, with heavy rain.
Also named far more than usual: train derailment in Spain (48 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); wildfires in Chile (37 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); flooding in South Africa (28 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); storms in Indonesia (18 of its stories, about three times its usual); tropical storm in Philippines (14 of its stories, more than ten times its usual).
Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 18 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 7,195 stories about harm among 39,788 counted on 18 Jan.
Spain's news mentioned train derailment more than ten times as often as usual. 18 in every 100 of the day's 39,788 news stories were about people being harmed, as usual. For the second day running, the news turned to Austria. Austria stood out: 48% of its news was about people being harmed, usually 21%. A year earlier, on 18 January 2025, 19 in every 100 stories were about people being harmed, against 18 today. This week the news turned most often to Uganda, on 5 of 7 days.
Written by code from the day's numbers.
Countries with at least 50 stories that day.
Stories, not people.
The day's biggest events: attacks, accidents and disasters, people displaced, protests, outbreaks. Bigger dot: more stories. Ranked by the share of the day's outlets that reported it and how clearly it was about one thing, the same way for every place and year; the news data does not say who attacked whom, so both sides of a war appear where the news put them. Click a dot for its 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 harsher 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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