Written by: Gretchen Sims
Recently, there has been a discussion circulating online regarding the ethics of true crime podcasts.
The genre of true crime is one of the most popular among recent generations, but regardless, fascinates people of all ages, genders and walks of life. However, due to the lack of regard many podcasts show toward the victims of these horrific crimes and their families, the genre as a whole has come under fire.
Who doesn’t love a gruesome crime? However, many creators ramp up the dramatics and fail to pay proper respects to the victim — leaving loved ones and victims of horrific events feeling as if their perpetrator is being glorified at their expense.
It has gotten to the point where many are shamed for their engagement with the true crime community, which has forced many people to consider it a guilty pleasure — something that one should feel ashamed of consuming.
However, not all true crime content creators deserve the frequent backlash from the community. In fact, many creators do a good job when it comes to paying proper homage to the victims they discuss.
Here are a few of the best victim-orientated content creators.
True Crime with Kendall Rae — This content creator is well-known for her series that involves interviews with victims’ family members and friends who are seeking justice for the loved one they lost. Tune in on Spotify, Youtube, Apple Podcasts, iHeart, Google Podcasts, PlayerFM or Audioboom.
Voice of the Victim — This podcast focuses on raising awareness of the abuse of victims and takes a unique spin on storytelling by focusing on the victims perspective. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict, Youtube or Spotify.
Behind You by Hailey Elizabeth — This podcast dedicates a majority of the story to the victims and their lives before their victimization, while still including detailed harrowing murders, disappearances, unsolved mysteries and unexpected tales. Tune in on Apple Podcast, Google Podcasts, Youtube or Spotify.
Crime Junkie — This podcast covers everything from murder to conspiracy theories, yet still makes time to acknowledge the victims as the people they were. Listen on crimejunkiepodcast.com, Apple Podcasts, iHeart, Google Podcasts, Stitcher or Spotify.
Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu
