The 'Making a Murderer' Effect 

To uncover more about what compelled fans to start supporting Steven Avery and Brendan Dassey I conducted several interviews with audience members. I asked participants a series of questions and found that the show was the main reason that they began to support them. 

 

In an interview with the 'Dutch Steven Avery and Brendan Dassey support' group I asked what prompted them to create the page and they responded" as anyone else initially the documentary 'Making a Murderer' promoted me and afterwards reading the documents and case files etc." 

 

Another interviewee responded saying that "I believe that many people are influenced by the editing". She also notes the danger that the effect of the show can have as if they are in fact guilty "it is sad that the murderers are being looked at as poor wrongfully accused victims and that the family is gaining fame from this brutal murder". 

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A participant also added that "when I watched the documentary I was horrified with what I was seeing, and the injustice that was taking place. I started to research more into the case and ever since I have been a huge supporter in trying to get both Steve and Brendan exonerated". 

 

Through conducting interviews with audience members of the series I found that the show was the reason that they began to support the men and that for some of them that they were aware of the role that the editing was playing in promoting this opinion.