The Ethics Of True Crime (article)

True crime is a genre that has existed long before digital computers, adapting to the changing times and literary trends. In the digital age of today where almost everything is one click away, immersing ourselves in different forms of media has never been easier. Sharing our thoughts and opinions is as easy as breathing if you have access to a phone and good wifi. The pandemic brought about unprecedented ways of how people consume and engage in media, what with being stuck at home for months. But even long before the pandemic hit, the true crime genre was in demand. 

Indeed, the true crime genre continues to soar with regular content being pumped out through streaming networks, podcasts, books, etc. Delving into the moral and ethical side of the genre is therefore more than important than ever. After all, by identifying a story as potential true crime content, the author or creator bears duties to the audience by writing about the facts, truth, and nothing but. This is something I have been thinking about a lot after a recent interaction online, the details of which will remain confidential. 

I have always known that telling these true crime stories is not a simple endeavour. True crime content creators have a responsibility to not cause further pain and trauma to the victims and/or their families. There are ethics to be upheld, so that one's storytelling will not become a true-crime-TMZ-type of entertainment. In my opinion, there is no place for sleaze in true crime. Now, bear in mind that the true crime genre also has a huge influence over public opinion by the way the creators present their content. The lingering question therefore for a content creator is what is the purpose of your work? Is it to relay news and depict actual representation or to sensationalise and glamorise a crime for clicks and clout?

Herb Strentz, a journalism professor who seems to be influenced by the British philosopher Isaiah Berlin, discussed four universal standards as starting points in journalism: 

*use restraint, 

*know thyself, 

*respect others,and 

*be accountable.

Admittedly, the true crime genre varies in its approach, some will invoke a feeling of personal involvement for the audience, some might go for a reporting or journalistic approach. True crime may be viewed as a way to gain insight into the law system or learn about the criminal justice field, others may watch simply for entertainment value. And this is where Strentz's four points need to be remembered the most. How are you delivering your content? An additional question that one could ask oneself would be: is it right to view real life horrors as entertainment? Furthermore, where do your personal and moral beliefs lie? Where do you draw the line? Questions one can only answer for themselves and should take some real reflection in.

Now let us look at how the true crime genre can encourage a snowball of disaster for individuals who are just living their lives. When cases and investigations are opened to the public, it can go a number of ways because everybody now plays a vital role. Law enforcement, the media, and the public are now working apart but also working together to bring justice.  We saw this prominently in the Elisa Lam case. In that case, Pablo Vergara, also known as Morbid, a Mexican musician was wrongfully accused by self-proclaimed internet sleuths as Elisa's killer.  Vergara had to suffer the malicious attacks from and death threats at the hands of hundreds of people online for a crime he did not commit. Although he was proven innocent in the end, the damage to his career and mental health was done. 

In the quest of pursuing justice, if we are not careful, we can do more harm than good. The same goes for when we create content involving the lives of real people. Even if the intentions are pure, the execution could go horribly wrong.  However, in Morbid's case, the true crime genre also brought about a somewhat retribution for the musician. In a documentary by Netflix titled Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel, Vergara opened up about how the accusations affected his career and most of all, his mental health. The initial response of the people to him before was vile and cruel. Now, many took to social media to express their empathy for the musician and reminded people to show compassion and respect first and foremost. In a way, it is through true crime content that Morbid got his last laugh and vindication.

Just to conclude this little blog article, in an article written by Melissa Chan for TIME Magazine, some bereaved families of victims’ whose lives were turned into “fodder for people’s fascination”, expressed their grievances over production company giants for making real people re-traumatized. Despite these families’ plead to abandon these docuseries projects, companies still push through. All at the expense of the grieving families. 

There is no legal obligation in the United States of America and Australia, for example, to get a family’s permission before producing a true crime film, book, podcast, series, etc. which adds to their distress and feeling of helplessness to quietly mourn their loved ones. This genre, in a lot of places, is self-regulatory and that is always a slippery slope.

Ultimately, the good and the bad are two different sides of the same coin. One cannot simply exist without the other. Everybody has a responsibility to themselves and those around them to think before they act for the reason that every word and action have their own consequences. What this means for me as a true crime podcaster is to continue my pursuit in making sure that the victims are highlighted in my content as they get easily forgotten in the media coverage for perhaps the more seductive allure of an eccentric murder suspect. 

My advocacy is for the victims and in no way do I intend to disparage them and their stories/experiences. However, I always welcome people who hold me to account. I learn from these experiences and I hope to never stop learning. Thank you for reading this and feel free to comment or message if there is something you need to get off your chest about this topic!