Lessons From “We Solve Murders”– Separating Fact from Fiction

In This Episode

In this episode, Elizabeth Sutherland, President and CEO of Sutherland Weston, explores the blurred lines between fiction and real-world media access, sparked by a plot twist in Richard Osman’s We Solve Murders, part of the Thursday Murder Club series.

Using the fictional scene as a springboard, Elizabeth and Ric Tyler offer a behind-the-scenes look at television media protocols, typically involving multiple layers of approval from producers to anchors before a story sees airtime. The idea that someone could simply walk into a studio and share a narrative unchecked is, for most people, pure fiction—unless they carry significant fame, and even then, it’s not that simple.

Elizabeth shares a rare Maine-based exception involving Senator George Mitchell, adding depth to the conversation and highlighting how influence and integrity can sometimes bend the usual rules.

What you’ll learn:

• Media Vetting Processes: What it actually takes to get airtime on a professional broadcast.
• Celebrity Influence: How fame can shift access to platforms, but not eliminate gatekeeping entirely.
• Real-Life Media Exceptions: A rare case of unscripted airtime featuring a well-respected public figure.