The True Crime Awards has been developed as an industry forum to place ethical storytelling, accuracy and the real‑world impact of work at the centre of how true crime is recognised and rewarded in the United Kingdom.
Born from CrimeCon UK
The awards, organised by The Assembly Events as a separate business‑to‑business initiative, grew out of the launch of CrimeCon UK in 2021. Organisers say they identified a gap in how true crime content was acknowledged across different sectors of the media—podcasting, television and publishing—because existing prizes tended to sit within single industries.
Nancy Baughen of The Assembly Events, which organises the awards for CrimeCon UK, told organisers had seen the audience for CrimeCon increasingly include professionals rather than only consumers. Producers, commissioners, publishers and writers were attending to better understand the content being made and to explore complex cases in greater depth. That observation prompted the creation of the True Crime Awards as an event designed specifically for those working within the genre.
“It takes a particular skill set, a lot of work and expertise to research and retell a true story both accurately and entertainingly, and in the case of true crime, sensitively,”
Ms Baughen said that while established prize bodies such as BAFTA, the Royal Television Society and podcasting awards already recognised true crime within their own categories, they did not necessarily focus on the specific ethical and practical challenges posed by producing factual true crime work.
Consolidating standards across formats
The awards aim to bring together different parts of the industry so that work in one medium can be assessed against work in another on shared criteria. Organisers emphasise three interlinked priorities:
- Accuracy: rigorous research and fact‑checking in reporting real events and people;
- Ethics: handling victims, families and subjects with sensitivity and care;
- Impact: attention to the real‑world consequences of projects, including effects on those involved and on public understanding.
Speakers and attendees at the awards and associated events come from across podcasting, television, publishing and journalism, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of the sector. Organisers say the awards provide a space for commissioners, producers and creators to discuss editorial best practice and to recognise the particular demands of true crime work.
Context and consequences for the industry
True crime has grown significantly in recent years, a shift that accelerated during the pandemic, according to organisers. That expansion has brought heightened public interest but also greater scrutiny of how stories are researched and told.
By creating an awards programme focused on the genre rather than a single medium, organisers intend to encourage common standards across formats. For creators, that could mean clearer expectations around verification, consent and the management of harm when reconstructing or dramatizing events. For commissioners and publishers, the awards may act as a forum to share learning on legal and ethical safeguards.
While awards cannot themselves legislate practice, organisers hope the initiative will foster conversations that influence commissioning decisions and editorial policies, and contribute to a culture in which sensitive subject matter is treated with appropriate care.
| Milestone | Detail |
|---|---|
| 2021 | Launch of CrimeCon UK |
| Post‑2021 | Creation of the True Crime Awards as a business‑to‑business event |
| Ongoing | Focus on accuracy, ethics and real‑world impact across podcasting, TV and publishing |
Organisers also say the awards offer opportunities for professional development, networking and the sharing of expertise among those accountable for how true stories are presented to audiences. That cross‑sector approach may be particularly pertinent where legal risks, editorial judgement and the need to minimise harm intersect.
As the genre continues to evolve, the True Crime Awards frames itself as a mechanism to recognise technical skill and editorial responsibility alike, aiming to place the moral and factual obligations of true crime practitioners on the same footing as creative achievement.
