Readings Four

I just got done reading the assignment fot this week. Only one- Chapter 10 in the textbook- but somehow, like always, it takes me all the way til the last day to get my readings completed. In any event, this chapter dealt with obituarty writing and the many aspects to create a good story of one's life.

The best piece of information I got out of the chapter was a quote, by Michael Best of The Detroit News. He said, "I don't write about death, I write about life." So many people may think that the cause of death is the most important part of an obituary, but as the book indicates this is not the case. Although some causes of death are worth their own story, the obituary should be an account on someone's life and the legacy or memories they leave behind.

This notion also brings the idea of good reporting to light. Just as you should make calls or do research on an event or other story, obituaries should be treated the same way. A normal report on the who, when, and funeral information is sometimes an acceptable minimum, but there is so much more to a person's life that their town, friends, and family deserve to have printed in the news for everyone to see.

Like any news story, there are some limitations on what can and cannot be said, and a few ethical judgments may need to be passed. Deciding what life stories can be used and if the cause of death is important are a few examples, but there are many others. In my opinion, the phrase "don't speak ill of the dead" comes to mind, and I say no matter who the person was, an objective yet respectful obituary is important for all people.