This is a long-standing dynamic in the case of controversial and disputed crimes--notably the cottage industry of independent JFK assassination researchers who spent years and decades refuting the Warren Commission Report by writing their own books and producing documentary films. For the uninitiated reader who've never heard of this case (like myself) it might have been worthwhile to provide more details about the case and what exactly is in dispute.
Good point about JFK, although there was no internet back then so I assume it was more difficult for independent researchers to get their information out quickly and to "beat" the publishing industry in terms of shaping the public narrative. I take your point about going into some details of the case, especially those that are under dispute, but this one is so complex, and there is so much under dispute, that I didn't want to derail the piece into being about the case (which is not particularly library related) rather than this new dynamic between YouTube (and TikTok, although I don't spend time there) creators and authors.
There's a lot more YouTube creators covering the subject that I didn't list, and they all have hours and hours (and in some cases years) worth of videos touching on different aspects. There are four victims, four sets of parents and some stepparents and siblings (and some drug involvement with some of them), two roommates who are still living, the alleged perpetrator (and his story), endless numbers of fraternity and sorority members and other friends affiliated with the students (many of whom were with them that weekend), a prior death related to a fraternity party the four victims attended, lax response from local law enforcement, a separate investigation by the FBI, various cam footage from surrounding houses that contradict the official narrative, etc.
I probably should have stuck that paragraph in! Or this summary: four roommates were brutally murdered in the early morning hours of November 13, 2022, with two roommates in the house mysteriously surviving and not hearing or seeing much.
Another aspect I noticed about this case is that stuff like cell phone messages, social media posts, the recording of movement by smart watches, house cam footage, body cam footage from police, door dash orders, possible OnlyFans accounsts-- all that digital detritus plays heavily into true crime now. But that's another topic.
This is a long-standing dynamic in the case of controversial and disputed crimes--notably the cottage industry of independent JFK assassination researchers who spent years and decades refuting the Warren Commission Report by writing their own books and producing documentary films. For the uninitiated reader who've never heard of this case (like myself) it might have been worthwhile to provide more details about the case and what exactly is in dispute.
Good point about JFK, although there was no internet back then so I assume it was more difficult for independent researchers to get their information out quickly and to "beat" the publishing industry in terms of shaping the public narrative. I take your point about going into some details of the case, especially those that are under dispute, but this one is so complex, and there is so much under dispute, that I didn't want to derail the piece into being about the case (which is not particularly library related) rather than this new dynamic between YouTube (and TikTok, although I don't spend time there) creators and authors.
There's a lot more YouTube creators covering the subject that I didn't list, and they all have hours and hours (and in some cases years) worth of videos touching on different aspects. There are four victims, four sets of parents and some stepparents and siblings (and some drug involvement with some of them), two roommates who are still living, the alleged perpetrator (and his story), endless numbers of fraternity and sorority members and other friends affiliated with the students (many of whom were with them that weekend), a prior death related to a fraternity party the four victims attended, lax response from local law enforcement, a separate investigation by the FBI, various cam footage from surrounding houses that contradict the official narrative, etc.
I probably should have stuck that paragraph in! Or this summary: four roommates were brutally murdered in the early morning hours of November 13, 2022, with two roommates in the house mysteriously surviving and not hearing or seeing much.
Another aspect I noticed about this case is that stuff like cell phone messages, social media posts, the recording of movement by smart watches, house cam footage, body cam footage from police, door dash orders, possible OnlyFans accounsts-- all that digital detritus plays heavily into true crime now. But that's another topic.
Thanks for the explanation, it does sound very complex. And yes, "digital detritus" and crime journalism would make for an interesting article!