Understanding the True Crime Podcast Scene: A Descriptive and Exploratory Analysis

• In Event: Crime, Media, and Entertainment

Abstract

Since the release of the Serial podcast in 2014, podcasting on true crime has exploded. Currently on the Apple Podcast app, there are over 200 true crime podcasts. There are podcasts that try to correct a wrong focusing on those who are potentially wrongfully convicted while others bring to light stories that may be long forgotten. There are international, national, and local stories that have not received the attention some feel they should.
The first phase of the project is to understand the true crime podcast field, determine which podcasts are most influential through listenership and social media presence, and begin to assess the influence of Crime Con on the true crime podcast community. Additionally, pursuing avenues to talk with true crime podcasters with diverse backgrounds, from lawyers and journalists to ordinary people. Exploring the vast nature of podcasts, their intended audience, the additional media outlets such as social media groups or other ways fans can interact with each other and the host(s), and overall reception of the podcasts. Providing an overview of true crime podcasts from a criminological perspective is important to understanding how society and certain segments within society understand crime and its impacts on reforms.

Author

• Candace E. Griffith, Augusta University