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Killer TV

11/2/2018

25 Comments

 
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by David Hagenbuch, founder of Mindful Marketing & author of Honorable Influence

"In the future everybody will be world-famous for fifteen minutes."  Social media has made Andy Warhol’s words at a 1968 Stockholm art exhibit more prophetic than ever.  Notoriety for all seems nice, until we remember that despicable acts like mass murder also gain fame for those who do them.  Avoiding identification of killers may be impossible, but should television shows capitalize on their criminality? 
 
A week ago, America suffered yet another incident of mass murder.  This time the tragedy took place in Pittsburgh, where a gunman entered the Tree of Life Synagogue and took the lives of 11 people, while also wounding several others.
 
Just a day after the shooting, the killer’s name, which I won’t mention here, was already approaching 30 million hits in a Google search, and detailed background information about him filled articles including ones in the New York Times, CNN, and the Washington Post.  That’s already much media exposure for a murderer, but his ‘15 minutes of fame’ is just beginning.
 
In the days and weeks to come, many more details of the massacre will surface, and analysts will paint a clearer picture of who the gunman was and what caused him to act.  However, even those news accounts probably won’t end the perpetrator’s publicity.  It’s very likely that the killer will eventually become the focus of at least one made-for-television documentary.
 
Why does such programming seem so certain?  At least three networks now have television series dedicated to detailing the actions and lives of well-known murderers:
  • Netflix’s I am a Killer features death row inmates giving firsthand accounts of their crimes.
  • CNN’s How it Really Happened describes “some of the most notorious crimes, mysteries, trials, and celebrity tragedies of our time.”
  • Oxygen’s It Takes a Killer examines “the world's most notorious murders and takes you inside the minds of the killers.” 
 
In fact, Oxygen has much more than one TV show focused on killers.  Oxygen Media, which is part of NBC-Universal, describes itself as “a multiplatform crime destination brand for women” that is in over 77 million homes.  The network also airs a show called Method of a Serial Killer, and it has a webpage titled “Martinis and Murder.  In other words, whether on TV or online, Oxygen is all crime, all the time.
 
You may be thinking, “Television based on crime, even murder, isn’t anything new.”  That’s true; however, the newer genre of crime TV is different than past TV series.  For instance, writers scripted the crime in classic shows like Columbo, Matlock, and Murder She Wrote, i.e., the programs weren’t based on real murders.  Furthermore, the focus was on solving the crime not on the gruesome act itself or on the life-story of the person who did it.
 
On the other hand, shows like America’s Most Wanted and The Hunt with John Walsh did feature the crimes of real killers, but the reason was to gain the public’s help in finding the fugitives so they could be brought to justice.  These shows gave enough information about the murderers to facilitate their capture; they certainly didn’t glamorize the killers.
 
Of course, it’s unlikely that the creators of I am a Killer or any of the other new shows have an agenda to idolize murderers.  The producers probably just want to satisfy viewer desires, and unfortunately many people have an appetite for information about killers.
 
For instance, just two days after the recent tragedy in Pittsburgh, a Google search of “synagogue shooting” produced 19.9 million hits, while a similar search of “synagogue shooter” yielded 82.7 million—over four times more.
 
So, why not give people what they want?  If TV viewers are fascinated by murderers’ methods and bios, what’s wrong with letting them watch those things?  Actually, when it comes to murder, there are several reasons why it's best not to give consumers what they want, but rather to give society what it needs.
 
First, it’s important to recognize that unlike America’s Most Wanted, TV series like I am a Killer do little to improve anyone’s safety.  The serial killers the latter show highlights are already behind bars and no longer a threat, whereas those in the former were still on the lam and needed to be caught.
 
One might argue that I am a Killer could help others identify unbalanced individuals and perhaps prevent future slayings, but the program seems just as likely to motivate people on the cusp of violence to act out their hostilities, partly because of the recognition they will get.  Fame could very well be an extra incentive for them to kill.
 
Consistent with that thought, it’s notable that networks have long-since stopped broadcasting people who trespass on the field or court during sporting events.  Even though many TV viewers are probably curious and would like to see the spectacles, the live shows’ producers quickly select other camera shots, as announcers divert attention from the unseen disruption.  The reason:  Networks don’t want to give the interlopers the undeserved fame they seek or encourage others to follow suit.
 
Second and closely related to the first point, unstable individuals might see a show like I am a Killer as a kind of ‘how-to guide’ for committing murder.  True-crime programs often recount killers’ tactics in considerable detail.  Most people watch these
exposés with unsettled interest—like a roadside car accident from which we cannot avert our gaze.  Potential killers, however, might pick up tips and envision how they could use them on specific people.  Needless to say, educating for mass murder is not a desirable thing.
 
Third, and perhaps most important, shows like I am a Killer demonstrate a lack of sensitivity to murder victims’ loved ones.  A few years ago, I was scrolling through TV channels, when a documentary about the Unabomber caught my attention.   I watched for 30 minutes or so with uneasy interest.  Now I ask myself, “How would I feel about that show if the terrorist's bombs had killed one of my family members or friends?”
 
I probably wouldn’t want to see his image anywhere, let alone watch him receive hours of network television exposure.  For many people, the Unabomber is an unseemly fascination, but for those impacted by his violent acts, his likeness is likely a painful reminder of how their loved ones were lost.
 
It’s bitter irony that the perpetrators of mass murder tend to receive inordinate media attention while their victims are often barely acknowledged as individuals; rather, their identities are lumped together in the massacre’s death toll, e.g. “11 Killed.”  TV series that focus on real killers perpetuate that injustice, perhaps even incentivizing and encouraging more murder.  Such true-crime shows are guilty of “Single-Minded Marketing.”


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25 Comments
Wendy Walker
11/4/2018 07:08:43 pm

I was surprised to see the statistic that there were overwhelmingly more hits on the search for "synagogue shooter" than there were for "synagogue shooting". It seems that our society has more concern for the details about who would perform such a heinous act than for the victims of such a tragedy. I agree with the point that the exposure of the perpetrator and the attention given probably makes it difficult for the victims' family and friends to work through their grief. When more attention is paid to the criminal than to the lives lost, it has a way of showing what society values. It is too bad that the criminal receives more media attention than the details of the contribution that the victims made to society.

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Hunter Greene
11/4/2018 08:37:02 pm

I do find it appalling to see a shooter's name and face plastered all over television and websites. To me, a murderer should not be shown unless they are still at large and need to be captured. It only makes their murders seem more like a high score when they compare statistics of mass shootings, and I don't think we need those statistics shown on television essentially showing a competition. I do not blame TV shows or movies such as Netflix's shows on murder for the mass shootings.

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Shelly Kono
11/4/2018 10:07:36 pm

This blog post really shifted my thinking in the same direction. It's scary to think that potential murderers can view fame as being an incentive for them even though they will most likely suffer for their whole lives. I also agree that these shows are providing unintentional tips and tricks on how to go around the system and possibly the next murderer will do more unspeakable things. I think there are some shows that can educate well on these types on situations but I believe there should be a limit to what they show and to also take in consideration of those families who were affected.

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Alex
11/4/2018 10:28:25 pm

It's pretty surprising seeing how many shows there are that glorify this type of murder. But, in retrospect, it's really no surprise that they are like this. People love to take in that content, so the people who are creating the shows benefit greatly. It's really sad seeing how people can glorify such content in a way that desensitizes them to the whole issue at hand. Serial killers are glorified because of how well they can evade capture and little is done to prevent that. I also had never thought about it from the perspective of the people who have lost someone due to mass shootings or similar. I cannot imagine how hard it must be to see such people glorified.

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Zachary Summach
11/4/2018 11:18:32 pm

Having spent the alst five years working with members of the Law Enforcement community I have had the opportunity to discuss the ills that coverage of real-life crime perpetuates with the actual professionals who respond to these types of things. Their belief, as is mine, is reflected in the warnings of this blog post. We firmly velieve that plastering the name of the offender(s) across mainstream media is exactly the wrong kind of attention to be bringing to events such as these. Following tradgedies like the Pittsburg synagogue killings, Las Vegas massacre, etc., we see a disproportionate amount of coverage for the perpetrator(s) and not the victims or even those who worked to save lives in response to the event. While it is important to educate the masses as part of preparing and protecting for the future, there is a delicate balance between glorification/desensitization of events, and education. I do not believe that much of what we see on the news of TV even checks the eduational box.

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Kylie Benzing
11/4/2018 11:49:55 pm

It is so sad to me that society cares more about the person who commits the crime than the people who were affected by it. Our society seems to care more about the details of the crime than caring about how they can help the victims who were physically and mentally affected. It is a disappointment that media gives the killer more attention. It was surprising to me reading about all of the different shows that glorified murder. As mentioned in the article, it may be possible that people watch these shows to be more cautious of certain behaviors found in criminals; however, these shows can also be viewed to gain knowledge of how to successfully commit certain crimes.

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Hannah Reagan
11/5/2018 01:22:37 am

I found this article super interesting to read, and I agree that TV shows that focus on specific murderers in detail are single-mindedly marketed—while there is a market where these shows could be successful, it seems wrong on multiple different levels. Some people are crazy, and would do something as insane as commit murder, in order to be recognized. Others would definitely use these shows to help inspire their own psychotic plans. These shows are not very sensitive to the atrocities that occur, and therefore aren’t totally mindful of their impact on society.

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Grace L
11/5/2018 02:23:22 am

There is no doubt that the glorification of and focus on the perpetrator in the wake of violent crime is in nobody's best interest. It's a terrible habit that it does feel the media has been trying to correct (albeit slowly). I do wonder if there is any way information could be presented through media to people in a more clinical way. I recently took a self defense class for women and we were given insight on tactics that attackers usually employ. I felt better and more equipped to avoid dangerous situations because of it. Not everyone has the time or opportunity to take time to attend a self defense class, but news articles and segments are readily available. I would also be curious to hear folks' opinions on fictional violence that takes place in media in light of this article as well.

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Emmett Lee
11/5/2018 06:57:01 am

Reading this post, I am reminded of how much fear plays a role in our motives. Fear at in many ways points to our lack of faith that there is a God that will provide for us and take care of us. Fears helps us survive, but also seeds in us judgment. Instead of teaching us how to focus on the good of the world and the mending, we focus on the broken, sinful acts that people are committing with rapt attention.

For the longest time scare tactics have been an effective marketing tool when people cannot be sure of the future, and I agree that it is very single-minded to use it as a means for profit and entertainment.

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Brenden Conrad
11/5/2018 04:29:58 pm

Reading this article in depth, it is a very tough situation to deal with head on and talk about with sensitivity and factual information. There is a lot to be said on why and why not tv programs involving murder should or should not be on the air. After reading the article, my perspective has shifted and I do understand why they can be harmful and unsafe for viewers. As much education should be a priority for these shows, it simply is about pleasing viewers. Consequently, many lives are put at risk because of the "how to" guide approach to the shows and what they are teaching individuals on the brink of committing a serious act of violence.

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Elle Verbarg
11/5/2018 06:24:00 pm

After reading this article, I found it interesting that murders can view fame as an incentive for themselves which is pretty scary to think about. Although I agree that television shows about murderers are useful for your own knowledge and educational purposes, it is portraying murderers as celebrities in a sense because it is allowing them to give their side of the story which the bottom line is that they committed a serious act that should not be taken lightly.

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Jane Juarez
11/5/2018 07:00:13 pm

It's interesting to see how much television has evolved throughout the years and see how the purpose behind the shows have also changed. Its's mentioned how older murder involving shows use to be aired for the sole purpose of having audience members be aware of the criminals and be able to turn them in if they ever encountered them. Opposed to current crime shows which focus more on the single killers and their mindset behind committing the hateful acts. The majority of people are very much inclined to getting the story out of an event similar to what recently happened at the Synagogue, focusing on whose at fault. However at times there's less attention given to the aftermath of the event and its victims. There's much more attention given to the actual story than towards the actions one can take in order to prevent these acts from happening again.

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Thomas Elms
11/5/2018 11:01:31 pm

It is very refreshing to see that a blog is taking on such a problem in today's society as this one. It is something that is sadly not talked about much, but this post has brought to life a serious issue in today's news and social media outlets. I definitely agree with this problem and I think that you noted a great solution using the streaker analogy. People that streak are doing these things for fairly similar reasons as murderers are in the present day. A lot of them are looking for attention, and because they have seen it on TV, they believe that it is okay. Now, TV stations do not streakers to be viewed on their stations because they do not want these people to get the attention that they desire. If we did this with murderers, and only gave information to the public that they need to here, I would be confident in saying that less murders would be attempted.

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Jackson Collins
11/6/2018 12:27:14 am

What is interesting to me is how media sources attempt to capitalize and exploit the fame of a violent criminal, where in contrast, the victims hardly get acknowledged. While I do agree that it is important to bring to light the name and motives of a violent criminal at first, I do not think at all that they deserve any bit of fame, even if it is infamy.

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Bella Burchett
11/6/2018 12:41:03 am

I agree that society has put too much focus on killers in order to grab the attention of the audience. Various mass shootings have taken place in recent years causing the shooters to become famous on the news. This could be dangerous for the minds of some people who may want kill and become famous for it. Society should be focusing on the problem and outcome and less on who did it. The issue is that innocent lives got taken, news outlets should key on the lives of the victims and less on the lives of a murderer. No matter how many views they get it is never worth more innocent lives being taken.

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Ethan Steele
11/6/2018 01:00:55 am

I agree with the majority of the points presented in this article, but I completely agree with the fact that our society puts way too much emphasis on the killer, or criminal, was opposed to focusing on the victim's and their families. Another incredibly unfortunate and insensitive result of these horrific acts is the politicalization of these tragedies, from both sides.

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Samantha Lee
11/6/2018 01:19:26 am

I found it interesting that the focus of TV crime shows have changed perspective from a point of solving the crime of the made up murderer to bringing the attention of the public to look out for the real life killer. This blog really changed my thinking in that it is scary to see the murderer in TV shows or documentaries. I can see how the murderer would want to have “15 minutes of fame” as if they are getting recognition for their wrong doings because they may see it as an incentive to continue their killings or mass shootings. I also found it appalling that a potential, upcoming murderer watching these documentaries would pick up the small details in how to murder someone. It is scary to think that there may be someone planning an attack, but I do not blame Netflix or other movie programs for showing such gruesome detailed documentaries that are supposed to inform the public about the murderers.

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Kenneth Carrillo
11/6/2018 01:37:40 am

In this blog, Dr. David Hagenbuch talks about a controversial topic that has been brought up recently that has posed questions. He talks about, when it comes to killers and mass murderers, why is it that we televise them and give them “fifteen” minutes of fame, especially when the same is not done for the victims. Giving these killers more fame doesn’t do anything for them during the time being, but it has a lot to do for future killers. In other words, the killers won’t be able to see all of the documentaries and shows about them, but future killers can see it and it can have an influence on them.
Whether or not it’s the main reason behind committing murders, or it’s just something little that pushes them over the edge, the way the media almost indirectly glorifies these killers can bring some type of satisfaction to them. Obviously, glorify does not mean that the producers look up to these criminals, but they give these people so much air time, their main focus is to get their story out. Producers don’t do this because they want to glorify killers, but unfortunately a lot of us are so interested in these types of stories that we get caught up on the perpetrator rather than the effect the crime had to society and those close to the victims.
It’s a guilty pleasure for a lot of us to look at investigations of these extraordinarily eerie cases. We get caught up in the motive and the killer’s motivation, we forget these things happened in real life and that there are victims whose lives were taken away and love ones who were affected. There is no easy solution, but like Hagenbuch says, “when it comes to murder, there are several reasons why it's best not to give consumers what they want, but rather to give society what it needs.” (par. 11). We need to slowly take away these from the public and overall stop giving fame to people who did bad and are in jail. If people need a replacement, there are different shows, such as The First 48 or America’s Most Wanted, which are educational and overall are actually beneficial to society in different ways. In the end, giving killers 15 seconds of fame can be extremely harmful and dangerous, influencing future killers to follow in those footsteps.

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Micah Tarr
11/6/2018 01:51:58 am

It is quite strange that our society puts such a major emphasis on violent criminals. I think part of the reason for putting their faces and names everywhere is to warn people and to actually attempt to deter crime. However, shows such as 'I Am A Killer' do quite the opposite of that. The point of these shows seems to want to give the audience an inside look at the life of a criminal. Since the majority of people would not commit an act such as murder I think these shows are intriguing to people as they want to see into something they never have or will do. If the purpose is simply informative than I don't think there is anything wrong with these kinds of shows, but as soon as they become more than that something needs to be done.

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Michael
11/6/2018 03:54:55 am

Advertising Attacks Domestic Violence – 8/24/2018
After reading this ad, it made me understand about the importance of how we should bring up the problem of domestic violence to the public. It also an issue that we must not take lightly. Moreover, this blog post also discusses about how advertisers have the power to raise the public’s awareness without having to offend anyone. Although it’s hard to step up to domestic violence, I believe that by reassuring the public through mass media that stepping up is necessary, it will influence people to be braver.
Killer TV – 11/2/2018
I was personally shocked to realized that criminals do actually get famous and are featured in TV shows. This was something that I have never thought about. Moreover, I realized that most of the time I watch movies that uncovers how criminals actually did their crime, which is the topic that this blog is trying to discuss. It opened my eyes to see how bad people are able to become notorious because of our help, because people likes to know and watch about these “Killer TV”.
List of ads watched:
1. Paul Switched
2. Symbicort’s “Big Bad Wolf” Ad
3. Dixie: Be More Here – Focus on Family
4. Gorilla Clear Repair Tape Commercial
Paul switched – After viewing the ad, it tells me that I should change my mobile provider to Sprint. This advertisement compared Sprint with other competing mobile providers like T-Mobile and Verizon. I think that by comparing brands and telling viewers that Sprint is better and cheaper than its competitors is a great strategy to advertise the product. The reason is because it help customers to choose which mobile providers is the best since the comparison has been explained in the ad.
Gorilla Clear Repair Tape Commercial – This ad was fun to watch and it sends a clear and simple message that their repair tape is the best. I believe that by having an eye-catching and enjoyable advertisement, it would help people to easily remember the product. This would attract them to buy the product because every time they go to the store, they would already become familiar and aware about it. Moreover, by saying “For the toughest jobs on planet Earth”, it gives customers the assurance that their tape would last long with strengths of a gorilla.

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GOLESTU MOHEBIRAVESH
11/7/2018 03:27:50 pm

While I definitely do agree with the author regarding how shows like this almost normalize criminal killer activity in peoples’ minds, become a “how to” guide for potential future crime, and also could possibly disrespect the victims of these occurrences by making entertainment out of death and tragedy, I don’t think it necessarily entertains and pleases the criminals themselves. Firstly, I am not sure they are even aware that these shows are being made based off of their stories since they are in jail. While some jail cell inmates are permitted to have TV and headphone sets in their cells, most states allow it as a condition of “good behavior” and these regulations vary state to state. Regardless, if it has statistically been proven or polled to a certain extent that there are individuals that have fame be an active motivation to commit crime then I definitely could see the reason as to why these shows must be taken down and given zero publicity.

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Ridge Hagar
12/12/2018 08:49:38 pm

I am definitely glad I got the chance to read this article. While I don't agree that many of these high-profile murderers did the crime for the notoriety, I do think many of could gain potentially harmful information on previous crimes. The danger in advertising different high-profile cases is very much so distributing their methods all across different aspects, yet while the average person wouldn't think to gather certain information. people on the fringe of committing a gruesome crime may be able to construe certain details and facts into part of their crime. I agree that many of these segments discount the feelings and emotions of those close to victims, yet I don't think many close family members or friends in general would tune in to the program. Ultimately, I do think the idea is single-minded and certain shows should attempt to reevaluate the approach they have to displaying murder, either from an information way to solve the crime or detail ways that people can increase awareness opposed to glamorizing the murderer.

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Samuel Mahan
12/13/2018 11:44:26 am

Defniately important to stop the glorification of criminal acts. It's not moral to profit from a show that gives notoriety and attention to people who have harmed others.

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Carson Spangler
12/13/2018 12:00:43 pm

I find this a very interesting topic and something that has significantly grown within the past year. Although it is horrible for teenagers to be getting involved with things like these, it was intriguing to see them compared to high school kids smoking cigarettes back then. Clearly cigarettes are worse than e-cigs, but smoking continually seems to be something that won't go away. I'm unsure of how this could possibly be fixed but I think that over time it will die down and hopefully be abolished.

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Serlique Woodside
12/14/2018 12:50:52 am

This seems to be a constant trend that's happening. I believe it is more than just television exploiting something as serious as murder. I feel as if they are mainly supplying for a demand that might already be there. The reason these shows get so much views is because it is what interests people. It's like reading thrilling book, or the spine chilling realization that a horror movie was based on real events. It's the trend, sadly. In fact, there are numerous teenagers (and sometimes adults) that fawn over school shooters. There are fan pages dedicated to them. It's sad to see, especially on TV because these shows feed into whatever twisted fantasies viewers have at times, but it's what many want to see unfortunately.

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