Sam Roberts is a longtime New York urban affairs journalist and an obituary writer for The New York Times. His new book, "Are They Dead Yet? The Art of the Obit" chronicles the craft of writing obituaries and the stories behind them.
Roberts joined NY1's Errol Louis to discuss the differences between obituary writing and long-form biography, the taboo against speaking ill of the dead, the use of euphemisms, and the challenge of crafting accurate, compelling leads under deadline. He also explained how advance obituaries are prepared and how editors select just a few notable lives from the many candidates who die each day.
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NY1’s Errol Louis has been interviewing powerful politicians and cultural icons for years, but it’s when the TV cameras are turned off that things really get interesting. From career highlights, to personal moments, to stories that have never been told, join Errol each week for intimate conversations with the people who are shaping the future of New York and beyond. Listen to "You Decide with Errol Louis" every Wednesday, wherever you listen to podcasts.
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