2025 Edition of “Creating Survivor-Centered Media” Sets a New Standard for True Crime Storytelling

The National Center for Victims of Crime has released the 2025 edition of Creating Survivor-Centered Media ("guide"), a groundbreaking resource for journalists and true crime content creators. This guide, updated from the 2000 edition, provides practical tools and ethical guidelines to craft stories that are not only powerful but also trauma-informed and respectful of victims and their loved ones.

Developed with the collaboration of esteemed professionals, including Julie Murray, Brian Entin, Kim Goldman, Nela Kalpic, Norma Peterson, Bill Thomas, Sarah Delia, Paula Woodward, and many others, the National Center for Victims of Crime's updated edition reflects years of collective expertise, knowledge and advocacy. Their contributions emphasize the importance of balancing compelling storytelling with dignity, empathy, and accuracy, ensuring that victims are not revictimized in the process.

The guide addresses key principles, such as respecting boundaries, presenting facts, developing trust and avoiding sensationalism that can overshadow victims’ experiences. It also offers practical strategies and advice for navigating interviews with survivors, recognizing trauma responses, and creating content that honors victims’ stories while fostering public awareness and understanding.

By following the recommendations in Creating Survivor-Centered Media, journalists and creators can move beyond exploitative narratives and contribute to a more conscientious and empowering true crime genre. With such influential voices shaping this resource, it is an essential tool for anyone committed to ethical storytelling in the modern era.

To access the Guide, please visit the following: victimsofcrime.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/NCVC-MEDIA-GUIDE_GUIDE-FOR-CONTENT-PRODUCERS-1-1.pdf