A Former 48 Hours Producer Reveals the Psychology and Power Behind the Genre

By Robert Riggs

When the curtain drops on everyday life, true crime shows like this podcast and especially those on television expose the darkest side of humanity.

Television relentlessly chases the latest trending crimes on police blotters and court dockets.

Claire St. Amant pursued those stories in the cutthroat world of prime-time television as a producer for CBS 48 Hours. She also produced segments for 60 Minutes.

She’s written a memoir about her experiences, Killer Story: The Truth Behind True Crime Televison.

Television executives have known for decades that the audience is overwhelmingly female. 

We’re talking 70-80 percent, sometimes more. Mothers and daughters. Best friends. 

Women of all ages coming together for what amounts to a girls’ night out… centered on murder.

You may want to go back and listen to my episode with Journalist Mike Cox.

He wrote a satire, Getting Away With Murder, Learning From Dateline and Other True Crime Shows. 

So what’s going on here? Why are women so drawn to true crime?

Claire St Amant, now a fellow true crime podcaster, shares her insights.