J. Dana Stuster, writing for Foreign Policy:
This is what data from a world in turmoil looks like. The Global Database of Events, Language, and Tone (GDELT) tracks news reports and codes them for 58 fields, from where an incident took place to what sort of event it was (these maps look at protests, violence, and changes in military and police posture) to ethnic and religious affiliations, among other categories. The dataset has recorded nearly 250 million events since 1979, according to its website, and is updated daily.
John Beieler, a doctoral candidate at Penn State, has adapted these data into striking maps, like the one above of every protest recorded in GDELT – a breathtaking visual history lesson.
Stuster goes on to discuss the limits of the animation. For instance, the nature of each protest is not conveyed in a meaningful way. Still, it is a very interesting project.
(note: click on the little “x” in the upper-right of the web page if it prompts you about a membership)