What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
We measure how the world's news covered people being harmed — and the help and hope within it.
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The news turned to deaths in Viacha, violence in Iran and volcanic eruption in Indonesia. Iran's coverage was about twice as angry as the world's. Everywhere we counted, the words were much harsher than usual.
Deaths & injuries, cause not given
33 of its 39 stories (85%) were about people being harmed, usually 27%. Viacha accounted for 33 of Bolivia's 33 stories about harm, carried by 65 outlets. Reports of people injured ran at more than ten times the usual rate (32 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.
Conflict & violence
224 of its 548 stories (41%) were about people being harmed, usually 30%. Accidents were named in 42 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual. Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.
Disasters & accidents
58 of its 119 stories (49%) were about people being harmed, usually 38%. Reports of evacuations ran at about twice the usual rate (8 stories). Volcanic eruption was named in 10 of its stories about harm, about three times usual.
Displacement
23 of its 39 stories (59%) were about people being harmed, usually 46%. Reports of people displaced ran at more than ten times the usual rate (5 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.
6 more places the news pointed at
Disasters & accidents
116 of its 335 stories (35%) were about people being harmed, usually 27%. Reports of arrests ran at about three times the usual rate (28 stories). Anger in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.
Conflict & violence
Kyiv accounted for 89 of Ukraine's 107 stories about harm, carried by 443 outlets. Reports of people displaced ran at about twice the usual rate (6 stories). Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.
Disasters & accidents
12 of its 20 stories (60%) were about people being harmed, usually 23%. Reports of people affected ran at about three times the usual rate (5 stories).
Conflict & violence
34 of its 38 stories (89%) were about people being harmed, usually 67%. Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.
Rights & justice
16 of its 59 stories (27%) were about people being harmed, usually 14%. Reports of people affected ran at about twice the usual rate (5 stories).
Shelter & services
42 of its 76 stories (55%) were about people being harmed, usually 45%. Havana accounted for 21 of Cuba's 42 stories about harm, carried by 10 outlets.
Also named far more than usual:
outbreaks in Bangladesh (10 of its stories, about 8 times its usual); road crashes in Ireland (14 of its stories, about three times its usual); outbreaks in Nigeria (22 of its stories, about three times its usual); drought in China (12 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); rabies in India (10 of its stories, about 7 times its usual).
Read the day's briefing
In Bolivia, 85% of the news was about people being harmed, where 27% is usual. Stories about people being harmed made up 20 in every 100 of the day's 39,730 stories, as usual. Mentions of outbreaks ran about 8 times their usual in Bangladesh's news. On 5 September 2025, a year earlier, the share was 18 in every 100, against 20 today.
- 20 in every 100 of the day's 39,730 news stories were about people being harmed (usually 20).
- Bolivia: 33 of its 39 stories (85%) were about people being harmed, usually 27%.
- Iran: 224 of its 548 stories (41%) were about people being harmed, usually 30%.
- Indonesia: 58 of its 119 stories (49%) were about people being harmed, usually 38%.
- Afghanistan: 23 of its 39 stories (59%) were about people being harmed, usually 46%.
- Mentions of outbreaks ran about 8 times their usual in Bangladesh's news.
- Mentions of road crashes ran about three times their usual in Ireland's news.
- Across the world, the words of the day's news were much harsher than usual.
- A year earlier, on 5 September 2025, 18 in every 100 stories were about people being harmed, against 20 today.
Written by code from the day's numbers.
The day in three measures
harshwarm
The words in the day's stories were much harsher than usual.
Filled dot: today. Ring: usual.
● Angerabout as usual
● Warmthabout as usual
● Griefa little more than usual
● Fearabout as usual
From the words reporters used across the whole day, never one story. Fear is the weakest of the four measures. How?
The weekly briefing · 18 Oct – 24 Oct
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How to read these numbers →
These are counts of stories, not counts of suffering. Most of what happens to people is never reported at all.