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True crime stories have become very popular in modern media, appearing in television shows, podcasts, and documentaries. This popularity has made true crime a big money-maker for media companies, attracting millions of viewers and listeners and earning large amounts of money through advertising and subscriptions. But this success also raises important ethical questions: what is fair and respectful to the victims and their families when their stories are shared?

Because of this demand, many companies now create more true crime content to draw in audiences, making it a key part of their business, but not everyone in the entertainment industry is proud of it. The director of Woman of the Hour, Anna Kendrick, decided to donate the profits from her film to charity. She wanted to ensure that her film – which talked about a real-life serial killer – kept its focus on the victims and their families. Kendrick didn’t think that it was right to benefit from the tragic events described in the film.

The increasing popularity of true crime has created concerns about how victims and their families are treated. Many media companies don’t inform the victims and their families about the show that is going to be produced about them. This kind of behaviour can cause pain and emotional harm. However, even when media companies are allowed to share people’s tragic stories, these shows might reveal very personal and upsetting details that those affected do not want to share.

Some critics also say that the way crimes are presented in these shows might have an unexpected effect on viewers and listeners. When shows make events more dramatic, add exciting music, or use special effects, it can make the crime feel like just a story or an action scene instead of something real and tragic. If the criminal is (or is played by) a good-looking or charming person, it can make the offender seem interesting or even likeable, turning the criminal into an idol to admire and praise.

Studies show that women are often more interested in true crime stories than men, and researchers have suggested a few reasons why. One reason is that women might use these stories to learn how to protect themselves, teaching viewers ways to stay safe. Another reason is that many women want to understand the minds of people who commit serious crimes. Finally, women often feel a deep connection to the victims, who are often female. This common trait leads them to engage with these stories and think about the challenges victims face, being something they might have experienced themselves.

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Instructions: Read the text and choose the best answer: A, B, C, or D.

1. Why has true crime become an important part of the media business?

A. It is cheaper to produce than other types of programmes.
B. It attracts large audiences and generates significant income.
C. It is mainly used to educate people about the law.
D. It is more popular with actors than other genres.

2. What did Anna Kendrick decide to do with the profits from Woman of the Hour?

A. Give them to the victims' families directly.
B. Use them to produce another true crime film.
C. Donate them to charity.
D. Give them to the people who worked on the film.

3. Why did Kendrick make this decision?

A. She wanted to avoid paying taxes on the film.
B. She didn't believe that people should make money from tragic events.
C. The film was not commercially successful.
D. The victims' families asked her to donate the money.

4. What problem can occur when media companies don't inform victims' families about a production?

A. The production may become too expensive.
B. The families may try to produce their own programme.
C. The families may experience additional emotional pain.
D. The programme may attract fewer viewers.

5. How can dramatic techniques affect the presentation of a crime?

A. They can make the crime seem less real and more like entertainment.
B. They always make viewers feel sympathy for the victims.
C. They make the programme more historically accurate.
D. They prevent viewers from becoming interested in the criminal.

6. What can happen when a criminal is presented as attractive or charming?

A. Viewers may become less interested in the story.
B. The victim may become the main character.
C. The criminal may be seen as interesting or admirable.
D. The criminal's identity may become impossible to discover.

7. According to researchers, why might some women watch true crime?

A. To learn how to protect themselves.
B. To learn how to become investigators.
C. Because they generally prefer documentaries to fictional films.
D. Because true crime programmes are usually aimed at women.

8. What does the text suggest about the relationship between female viewers and victims?

A. Female viewers rarely identify with victims.
B. Female viewers may feel a connection because many victims are women.
C. Female viewers usually know the victims personally.
D. Female viewers are more interested in the criminals than the victims.

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Instructions: Read the text carefully. Decide whether each statement is:

True (T) – the statement agrees with the text.

False (F) – the statement contradicts the text.

Not Given (NG) – the text does not provide enough information.

1. True crime programmes can generate money through advertising and subscriptions.

2. All people working in the entertainment industry support the production of true crime content.

3. Anna Kendrick donated the profits from Woman of the Hour to charity.

4. Kendrick's film was about a fictional serial killer.

5. Media companies always ask victims' families for permission before producing true crime programmes.

6. Sharing personal details about victims can cause emotional harm.

7. Special effects can make a real crime seem more like an action scene.

8. The text says that criminals are usually played by unattractive actors.

9. Researchers have suggested several possible explanations for women's interest in true crime.

10. Some women may watch true crime programmes because they want to learn how to stay safe.

11. The text says that women spend more money on true crime subscriptions than men.

12. Many of the victims discussed in true crime stories are female.

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Complete the sentences using the words from the box. Use each word once. You may need to change the form of a word.

Word bank:

crime • criminal • offender • victim • serial killer • investigate • commit • tragic • evidence • victim's family • suspect • murder

1. The police are trying to ______ the circumstances surrounding the crime.

2. A person who has been harmed or killed as a result of a crime is called a ______.

3. Someone who breaks the law is a ______ or ______.

4. The documentary tells the story of a ______ who was responsible for several murders.

5. The police arrested a ______, but they still needed more evidence before charging him.

6. The programme included disturbing details about the ______ of the victim.

7. It is illegal to ______ a serious crime.

8. The police collected physical ______ from the crime scene.

9. The director wanted to focus on the ______ rather than the person who committed the crime.

10. The family found the events extremely ______ and painful.

11. Making money from a person's death can raise serious questions about whether the media is exploiting a ______.

12. The documentary examines how the ______ affected the victim's relatives.

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Instructions: Answer the questions in pairs or small groups. Give reasons and examples to support your opinions.

1. Should people make money from true crime stories?

Why or why not?

2. Should victims or their families be informed before a film, series, or podcast about the crime is produced?

What should happen if they object?

3. Do you think true crime programmes sometimes make criminals too interesting or attractive?

What techniques might cause this?

4. Where should the line be drawn between informing the public and exploiting someone's tragedy?

5. Do you think donating profits to charity is enough to make a true crime production ethical?

What else could producers do?

6. Why do you think true crime has become so popular?

Do you personally find this genre interesting? Why / why not?

7. Could true crime programmes have positive effects?

For example, could they help people understand criminal behaviour or protect themselves?

8. Imagine that a serious crime happened in your town several years ago. A production company wants to make a series about it.

What rules would you introduce to protect the victims and their families?

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1. I think it’s okay only if people want to show us how terrible and inhumane these crimes can be, not just to make money. It’s about real stories, real tragedies and real victims.

2. Definitely, yes. I think all victims’ families and maybe friends or people who were important to the victim should be informed before a film, series or podcast about the crime is made. It can be really harmful, but when people know about it beforehand, it’s easier to understand and prepare for this terrifying story.

3. Yes, I think it’s kind of true, because true crime programmes sometimes make criminals too interesting and attractive for lots of people. But if it’s normal interest, okay. If it becomes something unhealthy and people can’t control themselves, it’s really scary.

4. I think not every story can be shown to everyone. If we’re talking about a really serious and harmful story, it shouldn’t be shown to everyone on TV or social media because it can be really disturbing.

5. I think no, because it’s not enough. If you’re making a true crime film, series or podcast, it would be more ethical if the producers talked to the victim’s family first and asked if they wanted their story and tragedy to be shown. I think that’s more important than donating profits to charity. Charity is good, but it’s a real tragedy and real people are involved.

6. I think people today want to know more about their safety and the risks around them. And it’s really useful that we know about lots of murderers and serial killers because we can understand how dangerous people can be. In the past, it was harder to know about these things, but now we can learn about lots of true crimes and terrifying stories. For me, this genre is really interesting, especially when the podcaster talks to the victim’s family and respects their wishes.

7. I think, true crime programmes can be useful to understand how many dangerous situations we can face every day. We can also learn more about crime and be more prepared for dangerous situations.

8. I think the first rule should be that the victim’s family should know everything about the programme. They should know what will be shown, who is making it, what details will be included and all the important parts of the story.