LINCOLN, Neb. — True crime media, while popular and often helpful in keeping criminal cases in the public eye, can also exacerbate the trauma experienced by victims’ families, according to new research by Kelli Boling of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and Danielle Slakoff of California State University, Sacramento. The study, published in “Mass Communication and Society” and “Crime Media Culture,” involved interviews with 20 co-victims who shared their experiences with true crime media.
“There’s a horrible intrusiveness that’s never going to go away and often, it’s going to be covered for the rest of their lives,” said Boling. However, she noted that media attention can sometimes aid in finding leads, especially in missing person cases. The research identified five main concerns: inaccuracies, sensationalism, loss of privacy, uncomfortable interactions with true crime consumers, and lack of control over story production.
Despite these issues, some co-victims acknowledged the benefits of true crime media, such as raising public awareness and pressuring officials to solve cases. Boling highlighted the surprising interactions co-victims have with the public, including harassment from amateur sleuths…