COMtalks: True Crime Stories

The murder cases of Adnan Syed, explored in the popular podcast Serial, Karen Read, accused of hitting her boyfriend with her SUV and leaving him to die, and dozens of others captivate the public, inspire books and movies, and attract wall-to-wall news coverage. But why is it that we are so fascinated by true crime? What elements of a crime elevate it to pop culture status? What does it say about us as media consumers, citizens or simply human beings? These questions and more will be explored in a lively discussion with a researcher grappling with these questions and two journalists with deep experience reporting true crime stories. Panelists: Kathryn Coduto, Assistant Professor, Media Science, College of Communication, Boston University, and author of the recent study, “Compulsive use of social media in emerging crime news stories,” published in the journal, Psychology of Popular Media. Dick Lehr, Professor, Journalism, College of Communication, Boston University, and author of White Hot Hate: A True Story of Domestic Terrorism in America’s Heartland and Black Mass: Whitey Bulger, The FBI, and A Devil’s Deal, the basis for the movie Black Mass starring Johnny Depp and Benedict Cumberbatch. He is the host of the ABC podcast, Truth and Lies. Kate Winkler Dawson (COM'97), Professor of Practice, Moody College of Communication, University of Texas at Austin, and creator-host of the podcasts Wicked Words and Buried Bones. She is the author of Death in the Air, American Sherlock, All That Is Wicked, and, most recently, The Sinners All Bow.