Can journalism rescue justice?

For decades, the general public had confidence in the United States justice system, until a recent movement of journalism revealing faults in past arrests or convictions. The journalistic investigation of the justice served in cases from popular media, like the Serial podcasts or the series Making A Murderer, has created doubt in the minds of some people. Integrity-driven journalists can easily poke holes in the prosecution’s cases, and find missed leads, forcing readers to wonder why investigators so often miss the mark.

On March 8, Executive Producers Julie Snyder and Sarah Koenig, who also narrates the podcast, visited Sonoma State University to host a talk about the ‘binge-worthy’ story. Snyder and Koenig talked about some of the struggles that they faced, and the exceptional response they received from creating Serial.

"We had no idea this was going to happen. Nothing that we had ever worked on for This American Life had anything close to this kind of reaction," Koenig said.

"It [Serial] was becoming a topic that was out in the world, and something that people were sharing, discussing and bonding over. They were developing kind of a shorthand language for the show, and that is pop culture,” Snyder said.

Snyder’s point about pop culture is exactly one of the issues behind the first season of Serial. Season one focused on the 1999 Baltimore murder of a young girl named Hae Min Lee, and her convicted ex-boyfriend Adnan Syed. One of the main issues in the case is that many people, including Syed, can’t remember what happened or where they were on the day in question. But that’s only part of the problem. As Koenig digs deeper she begins to find leads that weren’t pursued and, after a little probing, the story seems to change. Some students who attended the lecture had their own ideas on the podcast.

“At times, it felt as though the story was becoming more about freeing Adnan than it was about finding the truth or justice. I think it would be tough to talk on the phone with someone on a regular basis and not hope that they were innocent or build a relationship with them,” sophomore Jacquan Brown said.

As listeners of Serial learned, at the age of 18, Syed was tried and convicted for the killing of his ex-girlfriend and received a life sentence for the crime. Now, at 34 years old, his case is in the spotlight again but this time for different reasons. Koenig frequently calls Syed in prison to talk about what he remembers regarding the day of Lee’s death, and it’s clear that they develop a bond through the process.

“Obviously they aren't on a team,” Brown said. “However there is a lot of collaboration between the Serial team and the convicted.”

The relationship between the Koenig and Syed began to grow with every detail they share, and at times it felt difficult to hear her concede that maybe he was guilty. Koenig, like any journalist, was eager to follow leads that could exonerate Syed. But was that a passion for the truth, or a drive to free a prisoner?

“Part of me really wants Adnan to be innocent. But other parts of me still think: what if he did do it?” Koenig said.

Koenig’s research wasn't all for nothing. In fact a hearing to determine whether he will get a retrial is in the workings for Syed, although his memory of the day of the incident has not improved. Still, many listeners feel that a re-examination of this case could release a guilty man.

“It's just hard to think about all the facts and believe that an innocent man has been serving time all these years,” Nate Shapiro, a student that attended the speaking, stated.

But even if Syed is innocent, this wouldn't be the first time the American justice system has failed. In a 1967 Florida murder case, James Richardson served 21 years of his sentence before he was finally exonerated. Convicted of poisoning his own children to collect insurance, Richardson wasn't deemed innocent until the guilty babysitter admitted to the crime. Either way, the truth needs to be black and white--or as the court system words it, ‘beyond a reasonable doubt.’

Today's evolving methods of journalism are shining lights in places where they never have before. It's important that these mistakes are highlighted so that the public can try to keep the government accountable. The effect of the Serial podcast is still sinking in for many people, but for now, the spotlight on the justice system has intensified.