WRITING OBITUARIES

 

Obituaries - also known as “obits” - are among the best-read items in any publication. They come is several forms:

 

·        Daily news story – usually reserved for person of note

·        Notice of public record (agate page)

·        Classified advertisement paid for by family or friends

·        As part of a breaking news story

·        Human interest death – usually a follow-up feature

 

Items to include:

 

ü     Name, age and occupation of deceased

ü     Date (day) of death

ü     Cause of death

ü     Location/site/place of death

ü     Birthplace of deceased

ü     Survivors (next of kin)

ü     Funeral arrangements (viewing)/burial plans (location)

ü     OPTIONAL: in lieu of notice (instead of flowers, donations can be sent to)

 

ADDITIONAL NOTES: Obits and funerals have one thing in common: They serve the living and not the departed. In that regard, obit writers concentrate on the highlights of the life of the deceased by gleaning information from a variety of sources. Those include library material (if available) and web site search engines. They also interview friends, business associates and close relatives of the subject. The latter is crucial in obtaining anecdotal material that helps provide a poignant glimpse of the departed.

 

 

 WHERE DOES OBITUARY INFORMATION COME FROM?

 

 Phone calls from readers

 Coroner’s Office

 Police beat or blotter

 Hospital/doctor*

 Public relations employees

 Family/friends

 Tipsters

 

*Recent federal regulations severely limit health workers from divulging information.