Kate Beal: "ATCP promotes high ethical standards within the true crime genre"

This year, leading True Crime specialist indies Avalon, First Look TV, ITN Productions, Monster Films, Peninsula Television, Phoenix Television, Rare TV, Revelation Films, Title Role and Woodcut Media, have joined forces to launch the Association of True Crime Producers (ATCP) in the UK and Ireland and establish best practice guidelines for the genre. Señal News talked with Kate Beal, Chair of the Association of True Crime Producers (And Founder/CEO of Woodcut Media) about this innovative initiative for the genre.

How did the idea to create the Association of True Crime Producers come about?
"The ATCP organically formed over a number of months. Individual producers were discussing with each other different scenarios that were occurring on productions and with the increasing popularity of the genre it became clear that we needed to join together to take positive action. Through a series of meetings, it was decided to create an association that would promote high ethical standards within the true crime genre and give producers a safe space to share best practice with each other."

What empty gap did you observe in the True Crime genre?
"Over the past 15 years the true crime genre has been maturing and along with it the producers have developed individual best practice. In recent times, there has been a real boom in the genre. It’s enabled us to tell stories in alternative shapes and forms, from feature docs, to formatted shows, to ongoing adjudicated series. All networks and platforms are in their own way featuring true crime content. As new to the genre indies start producing these shows it’s vital that we maintain a high level of duty of care within each project, especially with the families of the victims and the care of the production teams. Education around this area in terms of approach and sensitivity is more important than ever with the high number of true crime hours currently being commissioned. Hence the creation of ATCP."

You have established new practice guidelines for the genre. Could you give me more details about it?
"Firstly, we need to say that as mostly UK indies we will be adhering to the OFCOM codes of conduct, and this is the fundamental basis of our programme making. However, our guidelines go further in terms of best practice and duty of care. We have written 13 simple principles which cover all aspects of a project from pre-production to once it’s been on air. A lot of it is common sense and much of it has been developed by the founding producers over the years. The guidelines focus on everyone connected to the featured crime. This could include the family of the victims, the family of the perpetrator, the investigators and other members of the public involved with the case. The guidelines also discuss duty of care towards production teams which as we know is crucial when dealing with distressing content. We ask members to adhere where practicably possible to the guidelines and work with their broadcasters to ensure the ethical principles are maintained."

You have mentioned that the creation of the ATCP "is the first step", what's next?
"The first ten founding indies worked hard to create the guidelines and get the association moving. Now we’re heading into the next stage of development with new producers joining every week. It’s an exciting time for the ATCP as the future isn’t simply about a set of guidelines. It’s about ongoing education and discourse within the field of true crime programme making."