Written Sources

Four written sources on both sides of the argument.

Source 1

The article starts by discussing the concerns of "the perfect victim" brought about by true crime media. Many times the victims in the media are white women, making it seem that there is only one "perfect victim"; only one type of story matters. Stories of marginalized victims are rarely aired in popular media because they aren't the 'right' victim. They also bring up the "idea of commoditizing true crime". The idea, that by making catchphrases and merch based on true crime content, we reduce victims' stories to marketable content. This article would help in an argument for true crime media being unethical.

Grey, Jillain. "The True Crime Genre Is Popular, but Is It Ethical?" The True Crime Genre Is Popular, but Is It Ethical? | Journalism and Communication, 28 Aug. 2023, journalism.uoregon.edu/news/true-crime-genre-ethics. Accessed 13 Feb. 2024.

Source 2

The article starts by bringing up the Dahmer Documentary. Evan Peters got awards for his portrayal of Jeffrey Dahmer while the families of the victims were left to see the worst moments of their lives over and over as entertainment. Our fascination with true crime isn't new. It is an art form, it allows us to imagine horrific violence and immortality from our own homes. True crime is a way for us to "process collective fear; collective horror". Although true crime helps with our own processing, it also plays into pre-existing racial divides. It also is the stories of real-life victims, with real-life families. True crime creators have a responsibility to the families of victims.

Earp, Joseph. "Where Are the Victims? The Ethics of True Crime." THE ETHICS CENTRE, ethics.org.au/where-are-the-victims-the-ethics-of-true-crime/. Accessed 13 Feb. 2024.

Source 3

Women are the overwhelming majority of the true crime audience. There have been many surveys and polls to figure out why. It was found that many women use it as a "form of self-defense and education" as women are typically the victims of these stories. This type of media can be used as a way to recognize warning signs. True crime podcasts are often regarded as a type of media journalism. Many times these podcasts raise the question "Why has this case not yet been solved?" which helps to draw attention to injustice. True crime podcasts have many different stylistic tendencies which can consist of "observation of minor details, such as overarching structure, use of humor, and opening topics." While many of these podcasts deliver information with empathy and caution, they fail to tell stories that devolve from the young, white woman victim. True crime media has already heavily affected the criminal justice system, bringing information to light and advocating for less talked about cases.

Noe, Ezri. "True Crime Podcasts: Analyzing Ethical Principles, Advocacy, and Sensationalism." NU Archives Home, Northwest University, 1 May 2022, archives.northwestu.edu/handle/nu/58753. Accessed 13 Feb. 2024.

Source 4

True crime media comes in many forms, but the most popular is podcasts. Many of the podcasts come in two different formats. Reinvestigation podcasts and Closed-case podcasts. Many reinvestigation podcasts are used to highlight flaws in the criminal justice system. They, in turn, attempt to remedy these misdeeds. Many believe that these types of podcasts are needed to publicly "review of the power wielded by the police, district attorneys, juries, and judges in the United States." The other form of true crime podcast is closed-case. They are often used to "demonstrate the effectiveness of law enforcement." These podcasts are also often used as a platform for the wrongly accused.