Study: Newspaper obits face online competition (Dinosaur Media DeathWatch™)

Chcago Tribune ^ | December 9, 2009 | Staff

[abb]

The Internet's already drawn plenty of business away from newspapers.

But a new study says social networks and online memorials are now putting pressure on the institution of the newspaper obituary.

The Northwestern University study says newspapers are still the most popular way to communicate news of a death.

But study co-author Ian Monroe warns obituaries could move onto the Web as classified ads have done.

The study notes that Baby Boomers are at a stage where they take a greater interest in obituaries.

And so the study recommends that newspaper publishers avoid reducing space or staff devoted to obituaries. It also says newspapers should get in the habit of linking obituaries that appear on their own sites to social networks.

[abb]

Folks are dying to get out of newspapers...

[abb]

ping

[highlander_UW]

It seems a bad idea to put information on deceased loved ones on the internet where it’d be easier for identity thieves to access them.

[KarlInOhio]

I'm past the age where I read the police report section to see what my friends did over the weekend, but not up to the age where I read the obituaries for that reason. At what age does someone start reading obituaries regularly?

[abb]

http://www.northwestern.edu/newscenter/stories/2009/12/obits.html
Report Warns Newspapers to Protect Obituary Franchise

http://newsosaur.blogspot.com/2009/12/daunting-reality-facing-newspapers.html
The daunting reality facing newspapers

http://www.minnpost.com/braublog/2009/12/09/14146/update_star_tribune_will_drop_some_associated_press_content_reopen_east_metro_bureau
Update: Star Tribune will drop some Associated Press content, reopen east metro bureau

http://sustainablejournalism.org/weblog/post/1608/
Rosen: News elites endangered as information sources expand

http://www.statebillnews.com/2009/12/gazette-following-others-lead-to-drop-capitol-presence-in-2010/
Gazette, Following Others’ Lead, To Drop Capitol Presence In 2010

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20091208/FREE/912089989#
Detroit News and Detroit Free Press plan furlough week to avoid layoffs

[abb]

I’m almost 60 and I check them out regularly.

[martin_fierro]

Those obit hacks at my hometown paper badly botched my mother’s obit.

I’ll never forgive them for that.

[abb]

http://www.adweek.com/aw/content_display/news/media/e3ic0baa5eecf1bc5954346b8b8b1c8e973
Forecast: 5% Broadcast Ad Gain in 2010

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/439340-Syndication_Ratings_Oprah_Leads_Talkers_Through_Sweeps_But_Down_4_From_08.php
Syndication Ratings: ‘Oprah’ Leads Talkers Through Sweeps But Down 4% From ‘08

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/439337-McSlarrow_Network_Neutrality_Rules_Could_Threaten_Openness_Content_Applications.php
McSlarrow: Network Neutrality Rules Could Threaten Openness, Content & Applications
Wants FCC to think about whether net neutrality rules can be justified under First Amendment

http://www.buzzmachine.com/
Is journalism storytelling?

http://www.observer.com/2009/media/once-comcast-owns-nbc-whos-boss-whom
Once Comcast Owns NBC, Who’s the Boss of Whom?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/dec/09/women-tv-industry-cutbacks
Women hardest hit by TV industry cutbacks, study suggests

http://www.editorsweblog.org/newspaper/2009/12/two_american_editors-in-chief_step_down.php
Two American editors step down

[N. Theknow]

Those obit hacks at my hometown paper badly botched my mother’s obit.

Sorry to hear about that.

When my wife's parents and my Father died, we had to write their obits and pay for it to go into the paper.

[N. Theknow]

At what age does someone start reading obituaries regularly?

When half the names you ask about at your high school reunion are answered with, "Oh, they passed away."

[abb]

http://www.deadline.com/hollywood/
Variety Begins Paid-Content-Only Rollout

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1004052392
Guild Unit Chair Among ‘New York Times’ Buyout Takers

http://news.cnet.com/8301-31001_3-10412081-261.html
Why Google’s glad to dance to Vevo’s tune

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704825504574583761606822186.html
Media Companies See Slower Ad Declines

http://www.medialifemagazine.com/artman2/publish/Media_economy_57/Ad_economy_Recovery_is_still_a_way_off.asp
Ad economy: Recovery is still a ways off

http://www.magazinedeathpool.com/
Washington Spaces: RIP December 2009

[Random Access]

I am 65 and I have figured out the vital statistics version of life. First you check the marriage announcements to find out which of your friends are getting married. After a while you start checking the birth announcements to see which of your friends have had a baby. A little farther along you start checking the legal notices to see which of your friends are getting a divorce. Finally you start reading the obituaries to see which of your friends you have outlived.

[abb]

I wrote my Dad’s obit, too. Used to, newspapers ran them for free. It’s fitting that the loss of the business is helping kill newspapers.

When our local Gannetoid rag folds, I’ll write their obit, too.

[Buckeye McFrog]

Death.com?

[Tribune7]

Obits were the best read thing in most newspapers. Then newspapers started charging for them. A lot of obits got left out -- not the household names of course, but the old guy who lived down the street on whose death of which you could once depend upon the newspaper to inform you.

The one good thing about this, abb, is that the newspapers can depend on you to run their obituary :-)

[abb]

I think Legacy.com is one of the larger sites.

http://www.legacy.com/NS/

[abb]

[Landru]

"When our local Gannetoid rag folds, I’ll write their obit, too."

LOL
GMTA

At this stage the rags need to concern themselves with just one obituary: Their own. LOL

[Chode]

[Chode]

you and me too... i've got one to the south of me and one to the east of me, so i've got about 50/50 chance of writing at least one of them in the future.