Journalist Sam Roberts discussed the craft of obituary writing and his new book, "Are They Dead Yet?", on the PBS NewsHour podcast "Settle In".
The conversation highlights the editorial process behind documenting public lives and the philosophical reflections that emerge from chronicling death. For many, the obituary serves as the final public record of a person's impact on society.
Roberts spoke with PBS NewsHour anchor Geoff Bennett about how The New York Times selects subjects for its obituaries. The selection process involves balancing a subject's historical significance with the narrative arc of their life. Roberts said the practice has provided him with unique insights into the nature of existence.
Throughout his career, Roberts has written approximately 1,600 obituaries [1]. This volume of work allows him to identify patterns in how people achieve success and how they are remembered after they die. He used these experiences to inform the themes of his new book.
Writing for a major publication requires a specific approach to verification and storytelling. Roberts said the goal is to capture the essence of a person while maintaining factual accuracy. This process often involves digging into archives, and interviewing those who knew the subject best.
The discussion on "Settle In" serves as a promotion for his literary work and an exploration of the journalistic discipline. By examining the lives of others, Roberts aims to provide readers with a perspective on their own lives. He said that the art of the obituary is as much about the living as it is about the dead.
“The art of the obituary is as much about the living as it is about the dead.”
The focus on obituary writing reflects a broader journalistic interest in legacy and the curation of historical memory. As digital archives expand, the role of the professional obituary writer shifts from simply reporting a death to synthesizing a life's work for a permanent public record.
