Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story: A Comparative Analysis of the Representations of American Serial Killers in News and True Crime Media

Author

Jenelle Walters

Date of Award

5-2025

Degree Type

Honors College Thesis

Academic Program

Forensics BS

Department

Criminal Justice

First Advisor

Lindsey Maxwell, Ph.D.

Advisor Department

Communication Studies

Abstract

Serial killers are a subject that have fascinated individuals for centuries in both news and entertainment media. Although research has been done on the representations of serial killers in news media, little research has attempted to connect the representations seen in the news media to those seen in true crime entertainment media. Through the use of four case studies, a comparative analysis was done to compare the framing seen in the original news articles, both local and national, to the framing seen in the later true crime films, documentaries, and series. Although the framing originally seen in the news media is often conveyed in the true crime media, factors such as race, victim choice, culture, and perceived attractiveness play a role in how the serial killer is framed. Of these factors, the prevailing culture played the largest role, indicating that a serial killer’s framing reflects the American public’s fears and ideals at the time. It was also found that true crime films and series often prioritize entertainment over facts leading to unrealistic, and in some aspects completely fictional, representations.

Copyright

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Recommended Citation

Walters, Jenelle, "Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story: A Comparative Analysis of the Representations of American Serial Killers in News and True Crime Media" (2025). Honors Theses. 1037.
https://aquila.usm.edu/honors_theses/1037