We measure how the world's news covered people being harmed — and the help and hope within it.
29 of its 47 stories (62%) were about people being harmed, usually 21%. Bubiyan Island accounted for 23 of Kuwait's 29 stories about harm, carried by 31 outlets. 12 of Bubiyan Island's 23 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of arrests ran at about three times the usual rate (24 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's.
371 of its 1,240 stories (30%) were about people being harmed, usually 24%. Tehran accounted for 171 of Iran's 371 stories about harm, carried by 217 outlets. Reports of arrests ran at about twice the usual rate (44 stories). Earthquake was named in 19 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual. Its coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's.
183 of its 788 stories (23%) were about people being harmed, usually 14%. Reports of people falling ill ran at more than ten times the usual rate (8 stories). Outbreaks were named in 55 of its stories about harm, about 7 times usual, with norovirus and road crashes.
207 of its 688 stories (30%) were about people being harmed, usually 20%. Philippine accounted for 105 of the Philippines' 207 stories about harm, carried by 218 outlets.
100 of its 150 stories (67%) were about people being harmed, usually 56%. Beirut accounted for 65 of Lebanon's 100 stories about harm, carried by 93 outlets. Reports of evacuations ran at about 4 times the usual rate (20 stories). Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.
8 of its 14 stories (57%) were about people being harmed, usually 24%. 6 of Tocoa's 6 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of arrests ran at about three times the usual rate (5 stories).
100 of its 512 stories (20%) were about people being harmed, usually 12%. Illness was named in 46 of its stories about harm, about 4 times usual.
23 of its 73 stories (32%) were about people being harmed, usually 20%. Reports of people affected ran at about 5 times the usual rate (13 stories).
7 of its 17 stories (41%) were about people being harmed, usually 16%. Reports of arrests ran at about 5 times the usual rate (7 stories).
Gaza accounted for 30 of Palestine's 71 stories about harm, carried by 24 outlets. Its coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's.
Also named far more than usual: illness in Italy (46 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); illness in Russia (13 of its stories, about three times its usual); power cuts in South Africa (12 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); hepatitis in Australia (14 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); norovirus in UK (31 of its stories, more than ten times its usual).
Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 13 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 14,293 stories about harm among 83,930 counted on 13 May.
Kuwait's news was 62% about people being harmed, against a usual 21%. of the day's 83,930 news stories, 17 in every 100 were about people being harmed, as usual. the news turned to Kuwait for the second day running. Mentions of outbreaks ran about 7 times their usual in France's news. On 13 May 2025, a year earlier, the share was 18 in every 100, against 17 today.
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 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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