InfoSub - Newspaper Notices

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InfoSheet SubPage - Newspaper Notices

Ocean Grove Memorial Home
118 Main Avenue, Ocean Grove, New Jersey 07756

Thomas J. Saragusa, Manager
N. J. License No. 4036

VOICE 732-775-0434 - - OGMHognj@aol.com

Newspaper Notices

As a part of our basic service, we commonly receive obituary information, compile the data to the format preferred by most newspapers and electronically release that information to all newspapers that the family determines.

The Free Obituary

Most newspapers will print “news” about a recent death...i.e., an OBITUARY. All newspapers have and strongly attempt to follow a certain “style” when they rewrite the information that is given to them...and ALL newspapers do (re)write the news!

Being “news” most newspapers don’t charge to publish a true obituary...but by not charging, they assume more right to edit the information that is given to them. We cannot control what newspapers choose to print or choose not to print in their news items (obituaries).

The newspapers reserve the right to print or not-print any obituary sent to them. The primary criteria by which they make that decision is the connection which the decedent had with the area served by the newspaper. If the decedent was an “unimportant” local resident, his obituary will usually take precedence over an “important” dignitary from away...but not always.

The newspapers also reserve the right to delete or add any factual information, whether or not it is released to them by the family, by the funeral director or is available from another source. The obituary, being news, is subject to the newspaper’s reporting and editorial policies.

Many rural or small newspapers are glad to be given newsworthy information about a decedent and often will print all that is offered. The more metropolitan the area and the larger the readership, the stronger are the newspaper’s restrictions regarding the amount of information actually printed.

Obituaries are often listed randomly (not alphabetized). Sometimes, for whatever the reason, an obituary may be “bumped” to the next day’s edition or to another page.

An obituary usually contains information to identify the decedent such as his age and when and where he was born, lived and died, some of the clubs and organizations that the decedent was a member of, special honors received, accomplishments and a list of immediate survivors.

In some newspapers, the obituary will contain information about the place and time of the funeral ceremony although that information and the details about calling hours and final disposition are often published in a classified death notice which is an advertisement and for which a charge is made.

The Classified Death Notice – A Paid Advertisement

Many readers are not aware of the existence of the classified death notice. Death notices are usually grouped together on part of the obituary page. In newspapers that publish both, be sure to look for the paid death notice in addition to the free obituary (especially if the time and place of the ceremony doesn’t appear in the obituary).

The Death Notice is a paid advertisement, usually of when and where funeral ceremonies are to be held and is usually kept brief because the charges are based on the length of the notice. We do not usually include the names of survivors in a paid death notice if we believe that they will be published in a free obituary unless you specifically ask us to include those names.

Each advertisement is usually listed alphabetically by last name and the format of all the notices is often similar. Because it is being paid for, special information may be published in the paid notice that the editorial policy doesn’t allow in the free obituary. Such information may include but is not limited to:

The names of survivors, distant survivors or non-relatives such as grandchildren, in-laws, nieces and nephews, etc.

The time and place of calling hours (viewing)

An announcement of future ceremonies or that future ceremonies will be published at a later date

A notice requesting donations “in lieu of flowers”

Almost anything else that you might want the newspaper to print that they refuse to include in the free obituary

FUNERAL NOTICES — Paid Obituaries

A “daily” newspaper will always publish a paid death notice whether or not the newspaper chooses to publish a free obituary, whether or not the decedent is “important” and whether or not the decedent was from the local area, i.e., we can advertise almost any information about any death in any daily newspaper if you are willing to pay the newspaper’s charges. Most newspapers charge for advertisements by the line, others by the word or by the inch. (An average Newark Star Ledger death notice may cost $120.00 to $250.00; the same words printed in the New York Times might cost $400.00 to $600.00...usually, the larger the readership, the higher the cost.)

Since May of 1998, the Asbury Park Press has combined all “obituary information” with the “service data” in one Funeral Notice...in fact, a paid obituary. Almost any fact or statement offered by the family will be accepted for publication in the new format. A picture of the decedent is welcomed but will increase the line count by six to seven lines...the newspaper will also print certain emblems in the combined notice which will also increase the line count an additional 6-7 lines. As of July, 2005, the first fifteen (15) lines of text are FREE...the next ten (10) lines costs a flat $55.00. After those first 25 lines, each additional line costs $5.50 with no limit. Regardless of the format we use in our release, the Asbury Park Press editors adhere to strict “style” rules and will usually insist on publishing the Funeral Notice according to those self-imposed rules. The only control of cost we have is to withhold certain information...the newspaper will not “edit the release to fit” any specific price limitation we (or you) determine. We feel that their rates are very high compared to other newspapers that use this combined Funeral Notice format.

Weekly Newspapers

Most long-established weekly newspapers will print all information released to them and they usually make no charge...but the publication often is not timely. The Ocean Grove Times (Times of the Jersey Shore) will publish almost all information and is available on Wednesday or Thursday. Many weekly papers publish more limited obituary information. The Asbury Park Coaster publishes very little free information.

We recognize that newspaper notices are extremely important to you and we will do our utmost to see that the newspaper notices you authorize are placed both timely and accurately.

Because we are committed to accuracy, when time permits, we take the time to produce a printed news release and send it either by fax or more preferably by e-mail to each newspaper we are asked to contact. We prefer to receive your approval for the document that is to be sent prior to submission and to that end will e-mail our draft to you if time permits.

The newspaper reporters, however, are not as committed to accuracy and the publication of what you feel is important as we are. Because we are in daily contact with local and statewide newspapers, it is easy for them to refuse special requests that come from the funeral home. Therefore, if you know someone who works at the newspaper, we recommend that you personally solicit their help to give it personal care and consideration.

If it is especially important to publish certain information in an obituary, YOU must be specific with the funeral director and make clear to him the importance that you place on the accuracy of that information. We will do everything we can to get it published, even if it must be included in a paid death notice or a display advertisement.

The Asbury Park Press uses the Funeral Notice format and will still place a Paid Death Notice if requested.

The Newark Star Ledger uses the Free Obituary and Paid Death Notice format but they do not guarantee the publication date of the free obituary.

The Bergen Record uses the Paid Death Notice format along with a very limited Free Obituary.

The Morristown Daily News and the Atlantic City Press both use the Funeral Notice format.

The New York Times offers the availability of a Paid Death Notice and will only print a free obituary after they determine its news value.

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