True crime: the name seems a bit self-explanatory. The genre itself tells stories about real crimes that have actually occurred at some point in time. As a nonfiction genre, it has the obligation to adhere to as much factual evidence as possible. In fact, most stories want to keep their narrative as close to the facts as possible, so the content is fairly graphic. Listeners, readers, and viewers of true crime content are often warned beforehand how intense the gritty details can be. However, avid lovers of true crime expect that level of detail when examining a particular case or multiple cases in some instances.

For something that contains so much sensitive and explicit information, why are so many people interested in the concept of true crime? This statement applies to both viewers and content creators because the relationship between those two groups is symbiotic. They are made to help each other grow in various ways. One way is bouncing ideas off of each other. Another is being able to hold each other accountable for their actions when interacting on different online platforms. In the first part of this series examining the impact of true crime media, the viewers are going to be our center focus. For this project, I was able to interview a few lovers of true crime media with a few questions to help explore the dynamics of viewer and content creator.

Most viewers of true crime don’t always intend to seek out this sort of material. Many are exposed to these sorts of stories through the news or even cable T.V. channels. One viewer, Jane T., stated that “I think my first exposure to true crime was probably my mom watching Dateline. …I would see that every once in a while, but then I started to find new stuff. I’ve gotten a lot of different perspectives since then.” In an age where the public has easy access to dozens of sites and sources for information, viewers of true crime are allowed to find the kinds of delivery that best suits them. In Jane T.’s case, she appreciated the content creators who had smaller platforms on Spotify podcasts rather than a larger production team that operated shows such as Dateline. Haley N. also said, “My first introduction to true crime…was my Nana. She would watch 60 Minutes or First 48…and I would always be there watching them with her.”

Viewers’ taste changes often. That isn’t always a bad thing. Viewers will often prioritize the creator’s ability to keep their attention so they are able to follow along throughout the whole story. “I liked going on Investigation Discovery because they had a lot of documentary type things, where it wasn’t boring to listen to…The way they tell those stories…the actual visualization and actors portrayed makes it easy to understand,” said Haley N. on why she preferred certain channels and platforms over others. Different platforms have different methods of discussing crime and its effect. “I get scared very easily. So there are times I have to be like, okay, I need to set this down and be away for a bit. Most of the time it’s fairly easy to consume content. Light and entertaining,” is what Jane T. claimed about the true crime podcasts she listened to.

Now, some might wonder how content covering real criminal activity could possibly be light and easy to consume? It depends on who is delivering and narrating the story. Fans of true crime do expect there to be facts from the case presented throughout the story. However, many true crime series, especially informally produced ones, integrate the bits of the creator’s personality and opinions. It’s a way to make connections with their audience. “It’s a casual conversation.” Haley N. said. When telling true crime stories that have content which could potentially upset your viewers, a good first step is to allow them to feel comfortable. In fact, several content creators tell their audience members before they dive into the narrative to get as comfy as possible, grab a snack, a drink, etc. “…It’s true crime so that’s usually sad, but having the liveliness to it helps with the subject matter.” Is how Jane T. reports feeling about true crime content that takes a less formal approach.

While some may run into true crime content as they go about their lives, fans and viewers have different preferences for digesting it in a way that is both informative and entertaining to them. It is the start to a much larger conversation on how the public reacts to crime and what can be done to deal with criminal acts. Stay tuned for next week as we continue our discussion of viewers of true crime next week!

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