Reporting on funerals

Maricarrol Kueter, executive editor of the Argus Leader, has it exactly right when she says on her blog, "Photographers and reporters generally dislike being assigned to cover a funeral."

Wow would I feel awkward if I was ever given that assignment. If asked, I know I would do it, but that would be one of the hardest stories of my life. Sometimes it's hard enough to just approach random people in The Union on campus. Think how hard it would be to try to approach someone at a funeral.

Plus, there's always concerns about being sensitive towards the family. I would be terribly concerned that the family would consider me a media hound who was just trying to capitalize on their misfortune. Obviously that would not be my intention, but there would always be the nagging thought in the back of my mind that the family could be offended by my presence.

On the other hand, some families could be extremely flattered that their loved one was being honored by a paper. Not many funerals get covered, so to have a paper come to a funeral signals that whoever died was valuable and important to the community.

This probably is an extremely depressing blog post, but the thought of covering a funeral has been circling in my head ever since I saw the Argus's coverage of the recent funeral of the fallen Turner county deputy. I thought what they did was very tasteful, but as a young journalist, I kept thinking what I would do if I was asked to do a story like that. I have to say that would not be my favorite assignment.

Still, I do think there is a time and place for funeral coverage. Kueter provided the example of Gov. Mickelson's funeral, and I do think funerals for fallen soldiers and police officers can be covered tastefully, as well. Plus, stories like these can play a larger role. As Kueter says, "Photographs and stories help concerned residents understand and honor a person's public service. They also allow the community at large to pay respects and, in a small way, share the personal loss."