We measure how the world's news covered people being harmed — and the help and hope within it.
227 of its 303 stories (75%) were about people being harmed, usually 29%. Bundibugyo accounted for 154 of Uganda's 227 stories about harm, carried by 287 outlets. Reports of evacuations ran at more than ten times the usual rate (6 stories). Outbreaks were named in 202 of its stories about harm, about 4 times usual, with hantavirus and haemorrhagic fever. Its coverage was about twice as fearful as the world's.
99 of its 284 stories (35%) were about people being harmed, usually 22%. Nairobi accounted for 64 of Kenya's 99 stories about harm, carried by 106 outlets. 41 of Nairobi's 64 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of people injured ran at about 9 times the usual rate (16 stories).
56 of its 170 stories (33%) were about people being harmed, usually 20%. Reports of people injured ran at about 9 times the usual rate (27 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's. Anger in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.
Reports of arrests ran at about twice the usual rate (85 stories). Flooding was named in 14 of its stories about harm, about 5 times usual. Its coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's.
26 of its 134 stories (19%) were about people being harmed, usually 7%. Reports of people injured ran at more than ten times the usual rate (5 stories). Hantavirus was named in 15 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual, with outbreaks. Anger in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.
307 of its 1,687 stories (18%) were about people being harmed, usually 11%. Reports of evacuations ran at about 7 times the usual rate (13 stories). Earthquake was named in 43 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual, with flu, bird flu and norovirus. Grief in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.
48 of its 57 stories (84%) were about people being harmed, usually 27%. Vaavu Atoll accounted for 44 of the Maldives' 48 stories about harm, carried by 181 outlets. Reports of people affected ran at about 4 times the usual rate (22 stories).
91 of its 98 stories (93%) were about people being harmed, usually 49%. Covid was named in 20 of its stories about harm, about three times usual. Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.
34 of its 36 stories (94%) were about people being harmed, usually 58%. Ituri accounted for 23 of the DR Congo's 34 stories about harm, carried by 80 outlets. Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.
96 of its 233 stories (41%) were about people being harmed, usually 25%. Rotterdam accounted for 53 of the Netherlands' 96 stories about harm, carried by 313 outlets. Reports of people killed ran at about three times the usual rate (58 stories).
Also named far more than usual: hantavirus in Romania (15 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); covid in Congo (20 of its stories, about three times its usual); earthquake in China (43 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); polio in Pakistan (14 of its stories, about 6 times its usual); covid in New Zealand (11 of its stories, about three times its usual).
Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 18 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 12,915 stories about harm among 69,931 counted on 18 May.
The news turned to Uganda for the third day running. 18 in every 100 of the day's 69,931 news stories were about people being harmed, above the usual 17. On the side of help, reports of vaccination ran at about one and a half times the usual rate. Uganda stood out: 75% of its news was about people being harmed, usually 29%. A year earlier, on 18 May 2025, 19 in every 100 stories were about people being harmed, 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 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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