A New Media Frontier, or More of the Same? A Descriptive Analysis of the “Missing White Woman Syndrome” in Top True Crime Podcasts

Abstract

True crime podcasts are a newer addition to the media and true crime landscape, and listenership is steadily growing. While other forms of true crime have been shown to overrepresent harm against White women and children, no study to date has examined whether White missing women/girls are overrepresented in true crime podcasts compared to women/girls of color. In this study, the researchers examined data from four of the top listened-to podcasts in the United States with two goals in mind: (1) to determine whether White women and girls are overrepresented in true crime podcasts about missing women/girls and (2) to report on the overarching themes, if any, found in podcast episode titles and descriptions for episodes that feature missing women/girls. Based on data gleaned from podcast titles and descriptions, descriptive results show that White women and girls were overrepresented in episodes about missing women/girls compared to missing women and girls of color. Further, an inductive qualitative content analysis of episode descriptions revealed that some were written in casual/friendly tones, which signified an affable relationship between the hosts and the listeners. Areas of further inquiry are discussed, as is the need to uplift podcasts that feature stories about people of color.