‘Making a Murderer’ and the Ethics of a Private Investigative Project

“Making a Murderer” has triggered much discussion about the criminal justice system.  However, it has also raised questions about the ethics of investigative reporting. The recent New Yorker article below makes the point that “a private investigative project, bound by no rules of procedure, is answerable only to ratings and the ethics of its makers.”

Dead Certainty, How ‘Making a Murderer’ Goes Wrong, The New Yorker (1/25/16) Read

Also on this point:

  • ‘Making a Murderer Blurs Line Between Justice and Entertainment, Christian Science Monitor (1/4/16) Read
  • ‘Making a Murderer’ Prosecutor Emails Us 9 Reasons Steven Avery Is Guilty, The Wrap (1/4/16) Read
  • A Murder in the Park Movie Review, RogerEbert.com (6/26/15) Read

For a different perspective, see commentary by the Wisconsin Innocence Project:

  • ‘Making a Murderer’ shows that our justice system needs a healthy dose of humility, The Washington Post (1/15/16) Read
  • The presumption of innocence exists in theory not reality, The Washington Post (1/19/16) Read