Today, a look at the world of obituaries. They’re a staple in almost any newspaper – large or small, and probably a little more popular the older you get. But who writes these “life summaries” and what does it take to create a good one.
The essentials of an obituary usually include the most basic facts – full name of the deceased, the date died, he or she’s birthdate, the names of the parents, and the whereabouts of the survivors. But sometimes there’s obituaries that have that “je ne sais quois” – that something that turns a life into a story – that puts a little zest in what not might usually seem so zest-ful.
Or actually creates a brilliant and moving account of the life of someone that you never knew and wished you did…Obituaries have changed throughout time – what was listed in them before isn’t always listed in them now, and what’s listed in them now in areas of the country may surprise you.
(Hosted by Christopher Lydon)
Guests:
Janice Hume, Assistant Professor in Journalism at Kansas State University
Sam Harvey, of the Advertiser Gleam in Guntersville, Alabama
and Michael Kaufman, who was a reporter and senior obituary writer for the New York Times. Chuck Strum, Current Obituary editor at the New York Times.