Writing profiles and obituaries

Every person has a story to tell. This week, we’ll get some practice in telling people’s stories, as we learn about writing profiles and obituaries.

Our text, Writing and Reporting News, offers some writing tips for both.

For profiles:

1. Observe details about the person and use them in your story when appropriate.
2. Show the person in action.
3. Conduct background research before the interview so you can frame unusual questions your subject may enjoy discussing.
4. Find a unifying theme you can weave throughout your story.
5. Figure out a way to organize your story: by topics or time frames or something else that makes sense to you.
6. For a different experienced perspective on writing profiles, read an article by Susan Ager, lifestyle columnist for the Detroit Free Press: “Hearts and Guts: Writing the Personality Profile.”

Check out links to profile stories in recent issues of the Akron Beacon Journal:

Barberton barber defies time

Bobby Nash, star in local sports, has died

Life’s lessons on, off court

For obituaries:

1. First, ask yourself what made this person memorable? Find the answers to that question and include them in the obituary story.
2. Make sure all names are spelled correctly and all information is accurate.

Beacon Journal obituary:

Photographer Arthur Rosenthal

Read AP obituaries of notable individuals:

Lead: Joseph Solman, an artist who painted vivid images of New York street scenes and along with Mark Rothko helped found an influential arts group in the 1930s, has died at age 99. Full story.

Lead: Danny Federici, the longtime keyboard player for Bruce Springsteen whose stylish work helped define the E Street Band’s sound on hits from “Hungry Heart” through “The Rising,” died Thursday. He was 58. Full story.