JRN 2201 Reporting

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JRN 2201Reporting

• Dr. Steven Padgett
• Hall School of Journalism and Communication
• Troy University
• Class Notes IV

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The topic this week is

• Writing obituaries.

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Is anyone reading obits?

• Yes!
• The obituary page is one of the best read pages
  in most newspapers.

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Rule One

• Before running an obituary, make sure the subject
  is really dead.
• This doesnt mean you cannot write an obit before
  the subject is dead.

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Four types of obits

• Standard
• Contains the basic elements of any news lede
• 5 Ws and H
• News story
• When a death occurs in conjunction with a news
  event
• Obit Feature
• More likely to find this in small community
  newspapers
• Advanced Obit
• Created for top government, community and
  business leaders

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Advanced Obits

• Many newspapers and broadcast stations create
  advanced obits for government leader and
  prominent citizens.
• The day President Obama was elected, the networks
  and news wire services started putting together
  his obit.
• You dont want to be caught empty-handed when a
  well known figure dies.

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Basic elements of an obit

• Date and place of death
• Date and place of birth
• Time and date of services
• Time and place of burial
• Time and place of visitation
• Survivors
• Occupation

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More basic elements

• Achievements
• Memberships
• Date and place of marriage (optional)
• Pallbearers
• Preceded in death
• Name of parents (optional)
• Memorials

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Information to double-check

• Confirm the spelling of names
• Check addresses.
• Check birth date and age. (Do the math!)
• Verify with the funeral home director any obit
  material faxed or called in to the newspaper.
• Check the newspaper library for stories.

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Language Choices

• Avoid euphemisms, such as loved ones, passed away
  or dearly beloved.
• Be careful when listing cause and circumstances
  of death
• One dies unexpectedly, not suddenly.
• One dies apparently of of a heart attack, not of
  an apparent heart attack
• One dies following an operation, not as a result
  of an operation.
• Injuries are suffered, not received.

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Word choices

• Learn the proper religious terms
• Catholics celebrate Mass
• Jews worship in synagogues or temples
• Episcopal priests are known as rectors
• Use your AP Stylebook
• Know your newspapers policy and style.

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Stylebook Tips

• Survived by wife, not widow
• Stepson, half-brother

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Newspaper Policy

• Survivors who gets listed?
• Pets
• Fiancés
• Partners
• Live-in companions
• Grandchildren (by name)
• Brothers, sisters (by name)

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Newspaper Policy

• In lieu of flowers
• Who decides what goes in?
• Reprints if mistakes?
• Calling families if mistake is made
• Charging
• Divorced spouses
• Addresses for security/safety
• Suicide

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Gathering Information

• Funeral home form
• Newspaper
• Other sources
• Newspaper library
• Interviews with family, friends

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From the funeral home

• Get pictures
• Resolve conflicting information
• Ask questions when funeral director calls in or
  when you confirm that an obit has been received
  from the funeral home.

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From your newspaper

• Check funeral notices for names in the news or
  for interesting tidbits that might make that
  persons story interesting to the readers.
• Check past clips that include the deceased.
• Some clips may include information or activities
  not on the obit form.
• Quotes might yield glimpse of persons
  personality.
• Find names of friends or co-workers

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From the family and friends

• Dont be afraid to make the call. Many times
  family members welcome talking about a loved one.
• Dont ask, How do you feel?
• Even with someone you know, good reporting can
  make a story better

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The Feature Obit

• Anyone is worth a well-reported, accurate obit
  feature.
• Some smaller community newspapers are well known
  for their obits.

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Purpose of a feature obit

• A profile
• Capture the essence of the person how did
  he/she live his/her life?
• Bringing the deceased to life one last time.

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Techniques to use for feature obit

• Feature telling techniques
• Details, senses
• Anecdotes
• Set scenes
• Quotes that show a window into the personality.
• Ask, How would he/she like to be remembered?

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Feature Obits Pubic Figures

• Include the cause of death even if it could be
  considered controversial.
• Decide the worth of embarrassing information. How
  long ago did it happen? What does it add to the
  story?
• Be aware of newspaper policy

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If not a public figure Feature Obit

• Run obit that leaves out embarrassing information
  and cause of death. If circumstances merit story,
  then run story separately from obit.
• Include embarrassing details and cause in obit.
• Include embarrassing details and cause only for a
  public figure.

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Other options

• Put a limit on how far back in a persons life to
  include derogatory information (convictions).
• Print everything newsworthy about public figures.
• Print everything newsworthy about anyone.

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Trends

• Online obituaries popular feature. Sometimes
  just print short record with names and service
  times.
• Why?

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Final Check

• Correct?
• Complete?
• Check sources?
• Style?
• Policy?

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Additional questions?

• Are there any questions?

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There will be more next time!
The End
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