The dark and menacing alleys of London's East End divulge a truly gruesome story of women "torn like [pigs] in a market" (Grose). The area, once littered with the torn remains of brutally murdered prostitutes, looms over the city as a symbol of the history of one of the most infamous serial killers: Jack the Ripper. The case fascinates and captivates people's minds even today, over 100 years later (BBC). This raises the question of how serial killers became part of history, an answer found in widespread media coverage. Time Magazine describes the phenomenon left by Jack the Ripper as a “rich legacy” and a “multi-million dollar industry,” eerily analogous to today's coverage of serial murders (Grose). The Jack the Ripper case provides a prime example of the problems that arose with the advent of the serial killer, problems that still exist. The press has a unique role to play in serial killer investigations, but the line between helping and harming society is often blurred. While the press has a responsibility to inform society of such serial killings to keep it informed and safe, publishing press releases about killings crosses ethical lines regarding investigations and society. Journalism has a particularly interesting influence on crime and the justice system, which first began in the first half of the 1800s (Feldstein). Urbanization had a great impact on the development of journalism, as it allowed for widespread distribution of newspapers. However, the penny press essentially created the ethical issues surrounding serial killers and media contact (Feldstein). The penny press first began in 1833 with Day's launch of the New York Sun. Since the paper cost a penny instead of six, it appealed to an entirely different audience... half the paper... Colin and Sewell Chan. “Remembering a City in Fear During the Year of 'Son of Sam'.” The New York Times. The New York Times, August 7, 2007. Web. November 20, 2013. “The Penny Press, Walt Whitman and War.” PBS. PBS and Web. November 12, 2013. "Serial Murder." FBI. FBI and Web. November 6, 2013. "Tabloid". Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford UP, nd Web. 12 November 2013. .Williams, Norman D and Kenneth Landwehr. “Bind, Torture, Kill: The BTK Killer.” The police chief. IACP and Web. 10 November. 2013. .