Author ORCID Identifier:
Date of Graduation
5-2026
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Journalism (MA)
Degree Level
Graduate
Department
Journalism
Advisor/Mentor
Schulte, Bret
Committee Member
Foster, Bobbie
Second Committee Member
Wells, Rob
Third Committee Member
Jensen, Toni
Keywords
Ethics; True Crime
Abstract
Critics charge that true crime reporting, which appears in print media, network and cable television, film, podcasts and social media, can exploit and retraumatize victims and survivors. This thesis proposes a new way forward: the creation of a standard of ethics in true crime. Such a standard would provide a narrative that serves the public interest while also respecting victims by humanizing them rather than focusing on shocking details. Journalists following ethical guidelines can bring attention to unexplored areas of reported crimes and shine a light on the effects of a crime and its investigation I propose to write a true crime book that will correct some misperceptions about significant crimes in western Arkansas. In this project, I will look at the rapes and murders that Charles Ray Vines committed between 1993 and 2000 that would compose a chapter of the book. Because police originally arrested the wrong person in a 1993 murder, Vines remained free to commit more crimes in an area where he was considered a helpful neighbor and good friend. A true crime book usually concerns a murder or other serious crime, an investigation and a trial. Victims and perpetrators are developed with psychological insight, and the story is complex and compelling. Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood published in 1966 is an example of modern true crime writing, but the genre can be traced back to the 16th century. Although the Vines’ western Arkansas rapes and murders have been the subject of five broadcast reports since his conviction; those reports sensationalized the crimes, focusing on details without explaining their importance to the events that unfolded. My report will demonstrate how thoughtful, accurate, and ethical writing brings the crime into sharp focus to demonstrate how a botched investigation can tragically lead to other crimes.
Citation
Sherrill, A. L. (2026). True Crime: A Monster Among Us. Graduate Theses and Dissertations Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd/6145
