By M. Kotch

For many of us, reading a death notice or obituary in the local paper used to be just another part of someone’s passing. But the past decade has ushered in many changes to the newspaper industry and print-media sources in general. That combined with the growing shifts in funeral and memorial trends has led to new ways of approaching burials, services and death notices. The modern funeral is evolving into a more personal affair that can simultaneously embrace tradition and convenience. Before you decide on a printed death notice versus an online one, here are the top reasons not list an obituary in the newspaper:
• Declines in Circulation Add Up to a Smaller Audience
A growing number of local and large newspapers are folding for good. The truth is fewer eyes are reading print publications these days and advertising is on the wane. Media is not slowing down or disappearing, however, it’s simply changing form (before television there was radio, before email many depended on the fax machine). How are readers getting their news and receiving information? Through Web sources: online news outlets, email newsletters, social networking sites and niche sources that provide specialized content for specific topics. An online obituary (such as one of the many listed at Otrib.com) provides an easy and convenient alternative, as well as a chance for an infinite number of people to read the listing from any location.
• It’s More Expensive
Advertising dollars are down at newspapers, and many publications charge a fee for running an obituary or even listing a death notice as a way to increase revenue. If you have ever planned a funeral you know that whether you choose a conventional, green or non-traditional service, it can still cost a few thousand dollars. Make it easier on loved ones – and spare your estate – by skipping a newspaper listing altogether.
• Limit Your Carbon Footprint
It seems that everywhere you look these days, green is the new black—and with good reason. The more science tells us about the state of our environment, the more we realize what kind of carbon-footprint and impact all aspects of a funeral can have. It is no coincidence that there has been a shift toward environmentally-conscious burials, and with it a search for new ways to save trees, conserve energy and limit the disruption of natural ecosystems. And while printing out an obituary or death notice that’s been listed online still uses paper, the distribution of thousands (or just hundreds) of newspapers is a much greater exhaustion of natural resources.
• It May Not Say All You Want it to
A staff writer is typically assigned the task of writing an obituary by gathering information from the deceased’s family and friends, or other news sources (this is typically the case with a famous or prominent figure). Listing an obituary in a newspaper confines the writer to a certain number of words and particular tone that meets with a paper’s style and standards. Another element that frequently goes missing in a newspaper obituary? A picture. Words can only describe someone’s smile or beautiful eyes. They cannot put a face to the name of someone who has just passed.

This entry was posted on Friday, May 22nd, 2009 at 7:35 am and is filed under Family & Friends. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.