Journalism Patterns: The obituary photo

Publishing is teaching. Top news agencies teach you how well you need to write in order to work for them. This blog shows you how to identify patterns within journalism. Knowing patterns and then using them—or breaking them intelligently—will sharpen your writing and better keep the attention of readers. This blog offers tips on everything from writing and interviewing to how to get an internship or a job in journalism. (tip: start from the beginning at August, 2011, and work your way back)

February 17, 2012

The obituary photo

Show a picture of the person in their prime. That’s who they were and what their life represented.

Don’t show a picture of the person as they appeared a few days before their death. That’s not who they were.

It's fine when a family sends you a headshot picture of their loved one, but be sure to ask for some pictures of them in their prime doing what they loved and were known for. Ask for several, then you'll have more to choose from.

Remember, an obituary focuses on their life, not their death.

Great examples:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/nationals/gary-carter-hall-of-fame-baseball-catcher-dies-at-57/2012/01/25/gIQAJFpTIR_story.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/betty-skelton-fastest-woman-on-earth-dies-at-85/2011/09/03/gIQAyv83zJ_story.html

http://news.adventist.org/en/archive/articles/2012/02/14/remembrance-persuasive-bookseller-ramirez-93-was-first-hispanic-gc-director

For more on the subject of obits, see my three postings from September.