Historical Context

Many link true crime media back to the 16th century, with the creation and availability of newspapers and printing presses. The sensationalization of true crime media and crime reporting was not pinpointed back by criminologists until 1888, with the world wide case of Jack the Ripper. Newspaper companies needed to report on the case while also trying to make sales to meet demand. 

An early example of a more modern form of sensationalized true crime media was the rise and creation of “America's Most Wanted” released in 1988. This series, although specifically focused on unsolved criminal cases and criminals on the run, paved the way for more true crime media as the genre developed.

True crime media in recent years has led to increased awareness and involvement in cold cases. A prime example of this is the arrest of James DeAngelo in 2018 that was a direct result of a book written by Michelle McNamara about the Golden State Killer called “I’ll Be Gone in the Dark.” The book brought attention to this case, which originated in the 1970s. Unfortunately, in more cases than not, sensationalized true crime media does not end well.

The most recent example of this is the documentary on Netflix that detailed the case, trials, Jeffery Dahmer's life, and the lives of the victims and their families. Many of the victims' families, and Dahmer’s family, did not consent to the production of the documentary. Since the serial killer's case was made public on news outlets, there have been over 30 forms of media made to exploit the case and sensationalize it.