THE APEX TIMES
Sam Roberts on the craft of obituaries: new book explores how writers handle endings and legacies
In a new PBS NewsHour podcast episode, longtime New York Times obituary writer Sam Roberts discusses his book “Are They Dead Yet?” and what he has learned from years spent documenting lives, deaths, and public record.
Sam Roberts, a longtime reporter and obituary writer for The New York Times, is the subject of a new PBS NewsHour podcast episode focused on the discipline and responsibility of writing about a person’s life when the public first learns the news of their death. In “Settle In,” Roberts speaks with host Geoff Bennett about his new book, “Are They Dead Yet?,” and the craft decisions that shape an obituary from first draft to final publication.
Roberts is described as having written 1,600 obituaries over a decadeslong career at The New York Times. The episode frames that body of work as more than a reporting assignment, treating the obituary as a distinct form of narrative nonfiction that must reconcile speed, accuracy, and the limits of what any writer can verify at the time of publication.
In the conversation, Bennett and Roberts examine how obituary writing depends on background reporting and careful sourcing, including the challenge of assembling a complete picture of a person’s life from public records, professional history, family accounts, and other documentation. The podcast also highlights the editorial and ethical constraints that come with writing about someone who can no longer correct the record or respond to errors.
Roberts’ book, “Are They Dead Yet?,” is positioned as an exploration of what happens when writers and editors confront both the factual and human dimensions of death writing. The title indicates a recurring practical question in newsroom routines, reflecting how quickly a publication must act when an obituary is requested, submitted, edited, and released, even as details may still be developing.
The episode’s focus is also on longevity and pattern recognition. By the time a reporter has produced thousands of obituaries, the work involves returning to common questions about significance and documentation, such as how to weigh a person’s public achievements against private life, and how to structure a narrative that readers can understand without turning it into speculation.
PBS NewsHour’s podcast “Settle In” presents the exchange as a behind-the-scenes look at journalistic craft, including the role of newsroom collaboration. In addition to the reporting decisions made by a single author, the episode points to the broader editorial process that determines what makes it into print and how a paper indicates confidence, nuance, and sourcing when dealing with life histories that may be contested or incomplete.
Why It Matters
- Obituary writing is a standard public record function, and the podcast highlights how journalists balance speed with verification when deaths are announced.
- Readers rely on obituaries to understand a person’s public life, making sourcing and accuracy central to family and community interpretation.
- The episode underscores how newsroom processes and editorial review shape the final narrative that will persist in archives.
- The release of “Are They Dead Yet?” adds to public understanding of how major newspapers document lives and deaths, informing how audiences view journalistic documentation.
Key Facts
- Sam Roberts is a longtime obituary writer for The New York Times.
- Roberts has written 1,600 obituaries over a decadeslong career, according to PBS NewsHour.
- Roberts discusses his new book, “Are They Dead Yet?,” in a PBS NewsHour podcast episode.
- The episode is part of “Settle In” and features host Geoff Bennett speaking with Roberts.
- The episode centers on the craft and responsibility of writing obituaries, including how writers approach factual and narrative challenges.