Review Questions

1		What is the philosophy of most newspapers concerning the publication of obituaries?
2		Some newspapers strive to expand their obituaries beyond basic information, such as age, memberships, survivors and service details. What are some of the strategies and approaches that reporters use to write obituaries that provide more than just basic facts?
3		Discuss general newspaper obit policies on: Names, nicknames and courtesy titles Ages Addresses Causes of death Suicide Handling sensitive information, such as a criminal record Flowers and memorials
4		List some basic sources for obituary information.
5		Accuracy, of course, is the building block of good journalism; it is particularly important when writing obituaries. What steps can reporters take to ensure that information in obits is correct?
6		A fear at every newspaper is to publish or air an obituary that is a hoax. How can reporters guard against this?
7		Discuss the difference between same-day and second-day obits.