Obit.: The New York Times Obituary Writers

An in-depth look at an unusual profession

Obit is a documentary available on Kanopy that profiles the inner workings of the obituary department at the New York Times. As one of the writers indicated in the film, believe it or not, there is a substantial amount of pressure for the journalists who work in this unit, because unlike the other sections of the paper, all the subjects are deceased. So, to be successful, journalists must possess a unique array of investigative and research skills to complete a compelling and accurate piece in a short window of time to meet the daily deadline. Viewers who are interested in biographies, genealogy, and archival research will find this a fascinating film.