We measure how the world's news covered people being harmed — and the help and hope within it.
382 of its 1,145 stories (33%) were about people being harmed, usually 25%. Paris accounted for 284 of France's 382 stories about harm, carried by 480 outlets. 234 of Paris' 284 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of arrests ran at about twice the usual rate (188 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's.
32 of its 84 stories (38%) were about people being harmed, usually 27%. Pyongyang accounted for 28 of North Korea's 32 stories about harm, carried by 47 outlets. Reports of people killed ran at about twice the usual rate (7 stories). Illness was named in 23 of its stories about harm, about three times usual. Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.
84 of its 102 stories (82%) were about people being harmed, usually 60%. Shabwa accounted for 41 of Yemen's 84 stories about harm, carried by 55 outlets. Reports of arrests ran at about twice the usual rate (6 stories). Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.
Havana accounted for 30 of Cuba's 45 stories about harm, carried by 46 outlets. Reports of people killed ran at about twice the usual rate (17 stories). Anger in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.
115 of its 268 stories (43%) were about people being harmed, usually 25%. Reports of people killed ran at about three times the usual rate (60 stories). Hunger was named in 28 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual. Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.
57 of its 73 stories (78%) were about people being harmed, usually 58%. 12 of Abyei's 13 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of people injured ran at about three times the usual rate (34 stories). Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's. Anger in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.
106 of its 440 stories (24%) were about people being harmed, usually 15%. 17 of Madrid's 27 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of people injured ran at about three times the usual rate (10 stories). Flooding was named in 25 of its stories about harm, about 4 times usual.
37 of its 73 stories (51%) were about people being harmed, usually 33%. Reports of people injured ran at about 6 times the usual rate (18 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.
Riyadh accounted for 109 of Saudi Arabia's 171 stories about harm, carried by 275 outlets. Reports of arrests ran at about three times the usual rate (10 stories). Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.
24 of its 29 stories (83%) were about people being harmed, usually 37%. Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's. Anger in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.
Also named far more than usual: hunger in Kenya (28 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); flooding in Spain (25 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); ebola in Nigeria (41 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); hunger in Palestine (10 of its stories, about 7 times its usual); outbreaks in South Africa (17 of its stories, about 5 times its usual).
Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 20 Oct. 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 12,879 stories about harm among 69,800 counted on 20 Oct.
For the fourth day running, the news turned to France. Stories about people being harmed made up 18 in every 100 of the day's 69,800 stories, as usual. On 20 October 2025, a year earlier, the share was 17 in every 100, against 18 today. In France, 33% of the news was about people being harmed, where 25% is usual.
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?
Unlock a year of trends, free. Follow up to 5 countries, with a bell when their news changes, and 👍 vote for Pro — ten years of the archive, any period, daily alerts.
Create a free accountSign in · a username, an email and a password.