Understanding Obituaries Types, Purpose, and Journalism

An obituary (often shortened to obit) is a detailed article written about a person who has recently passed away. While commonly found in newspapers, obituaries serve as both a news report and a biographical record of a person's life and influence.

Types of Death Notices and Records

It is important to distinguish between a formal obituary and other types of death-related announcements. In local newspapers, obituaries are published for residents of the community, providing a biographical sketch of the deceased.

• Death Notice: A paid advertisement usually found in the Births, Marriages, and Deaths (BMD) section. It typically omits biographical details and may be a legal requirement in some jurisdictions.
• Memorial Advertisement: A paid notice written by friends or family, often with the help of a funeral home, usually appearing in the classifieds.
• Necrology: A register or list of deaths related to a specific organization, group, or field. These may contain very sparse details or small obituaries and are invaluable sources for historical research.

Beyond print media, the term "obituary" also refers to the program booklet provided to attendees at a funeral service, where the life story of the deceased is often detailed on the verso page.

Obituaries in Professional Media

Various publications have unique approaches to the obituary. For example, The Economist publishes a full-page weekly obituary reflecting on a subject's life and their impact on world history. Other publications, like The Times and the Daily Telegraph, create themed anthologies of obituaries, such as those focusing on sports, military, or eccentric lives.

Prewritten "Advance" Obituaries

To ensure rapid and authoritative publication upon the death of a notable figure, many news organizations maintain advance obituaries. These are prewritten articles that are updated periodically until the subject's death.

The New York Times and The Washington Post maintain vast reservoirs of these prewritten pieces. For instance, the New York Times had an estimated 1,850 advance obituaries on file as of 2021. This practice allows journalists to publish detailed accounts immediately, especially in the internet age where online readership is extremely high following the death of a public figure.

Generally, advance obituaries are written for individuals who have reached old age or have highly complex lives. However, they may also be prepared for younger people if they are known to have health issues or are living "chaotic lives," such as the case of singer Amy Winehouse.