Vocabulary in Context
This occurs when a journalist presents information that favors one perspective.
What is bias?
When true crime consumers seek only information that supports what they already believe.
What is confirmation bias?
According to Mara Santilli, our fascination with true crime comes from curiosity about this.
What is human psychology and a desire to feel in control of fear?
The way information is structured or presented to shape audience understanding.
What is framing?
The essential question of the unit asks why we are fascinated by this genre.
What is true crime?
This type of reporting exaggerates or dramatizes details to attract attention.
What is sensationalism?
True crime storytelling that centers and respects victims demonstrates this.
What is victim advocacy?
“Entertainment disguised as empathy” criticizes how true crime can fake this emotion.
What is compassion or empathy?
The People article on the Idaho murders is structured this way.
What is chronologically?
According to the overall unit texts, true crime stories fascinate us because they explore these two ideas.
What are justice and morality?
When a journalist leaves out key facts that could change interpretation, this bias is shown.
What is omission bias?
This type of bias may occur when shocking details are prioritized over verified facts.
What is sensational bias or lack of credibility?
Both Santilli and Gray agree audiences should reflect on this moral issue.
What is the ethical impact of their interest in true crime?
The tone of Gibson’s article is best described as this.
What is objective and factual?
Across all sources, storytellers are encouraged to balance these three values.
What are empathy, ethics, and truth?
This term describes how believable, reliable, and trustworthy a source is.
What is credibility?
A journalist builds this rhetorical appeal by using credible sources and an honest tone.
What is ethos?
The Crime Junkie “Hannah Graham” episode appeals mainly through this rhetorical appeal.
What is pathos?
When a journalist focuses on verified facts and avoids personal bias, they demonstrate this.
What is objectivity?
When a story focuses only on shocking, emotional details, it lacks this.
What is logos or credibility?
These are principles that guide journalists toward fairness, accuracy, and empathy.
What are media ethics?
This article warns that our interest in true crime might exploit tragedy rather than honor it.
What is “Is Our True-Crime Obsession Doing More Harm Than Good?” by Phoebe Lett?
This author critiques creators who commercialize tragedy and overlook victims’ humanity.
Who is Gillian Gray?
The main purpose of Lett’s article is to ask whether true crime stories are this or this.
What are informative or exploitative?
This final statement best answers the essential question: “We are fascinated by stories about justice and morality, but storytellers must balance empathy, ethics, and truth.”
What is the best synthesis statement of the unit?