The Rise of True Crime Television and the Pornography of Pain
Experts warn that sensationalist media coverage of criminal cases erodes ethical standards and public perception.
1Television as a Courtroom
Italian television has shifted its focus toward true crime and judicial cases, dominating both daytime and primetime slots. Traditional gossip programs have largely vanished, replaced by heated debates featuring self-proclaimed experts. This transition has turned television studios into permanent courtrooms, where media narratives often overshadow the actual legal proceedings occurring in courts.
2The Psychology of Fascination
Professor Carmelo Dambone notes that true crime functions as a serialized soap opera for viewers. This fascination stems from a perceived lack of trust in investigative bodies, leading the public to seek alternative narratives. By turning criminal events into fiction, media outlets satisfy a deep-seated psychological need for drama and emotional engagement.
3The Rise of Media Criminologists
A growing trend involves non-experts acting as criminologists in television salons to provide diagnoses on ongoing investigations. Dambone warns that these individuals lack the necessary access to case files and ethical training. Their presence blurs the line between legitimate information and media scavenging, often causing irreparable harm to the subjects involved.
4Constructing Media Monsters
The media often constructs a 'monster' persona around suspects, making future rehabilitation difficult. By using specific linguistic choices, such as highlighting nationality to amplify perceived danger, broadcasters manipulate public emotion. This practice, termed the pornography of pain, prioritizes sensationalism over the pedagogical responsibility that should define professional journalistic information standards.
5Judicial vs Media Truth
A dangerous gap exists between legal truth, established by evidence, and media truth, created for public consumption. Most sensationalism occurs during preliminary investigations, long before a trial concludes. This early focus often leads the public to form strong opinions based on incomplete information, effectively bypassing the formal judicial process entirely.
6Desensitization to Real Violence
Constant exposure to violent details at all hours risks desensitizing the audience to real-world harm. The human brain adapts to survive, but this adaptation leads to an habituation where violence becomes normalized. This effect is particularly concerning for minors and vulnerable individuals who may struggle to distinguish between entertainment and reality.
7The Impact on Vulnerability
The constant presence of crime reporting in afternoon programming significantly impacts vulnerable viewers. By framing events through a lens of fear, media outlets can distort the public's perception of actual crime rates. This creates a cycle of insecurity, even in regions where objective data does not support an increase in criminal activity.
8Call for Ethical Reform
Experts advocate for a return to educational, responsible journalism that respects the dignity of victims and families. Television authors should avoid gratuitous details that add no informative value. Humanizing the media requires prioritizing ethical standards over ratings, ensuring that information serves the public interest rather than exploiting human suffering for profit.
Original article: Today.it — The Rise of True Crime Television and the Pornography of Pain