Re: Obit files

[John and Donna Hutchinson <jdhutch@mindspring.com>]

Scott and Mike wrote:
>When I was at WLIS-Old Saybrook, CT, we had one pre-done obit, complete
>with sound,
>that the news director used to maintain.  It was for the town's most famous
>resident, Katharine Hepburn.  Since she is still alive, I guess it's just
>sitting in
>a filing cabinet somewhere.
>
>Mike Thomas
>WXLO & Mediabase 24/7
>
>Scott Saloway wrote:
>
>>         How many of you work at/have worked at stations that keep a file
>> of obituaries of notable people just in case they should die suddenly?
>>
>>         I know it's a common practice in the newspaper industry. What do
>> you think of it and, if you keep one, what's the procedure? (how often is
>> it updated, who writes them, who do you write them for, etc)

	When I was back in the UK in the mid-nineties I worked for Heart FM
in Birmingham, owned by Chrysalis PLC. There was, in a tape rack gathering
dust, a pre-recorded DAT complete with National Anthem and obituary for the
Queen Mother, who, as we all know, is still going strong and well into her
nineties. To my knowledge, the DAT is still there in the studio in
Birmingham, England and an exact copy exists at the Heart FM studio in
London......morbidly ready and waiting. The instructions were that as soon
as the Reuters news service confirmed the Queen Mothers demise, interupt
all regular programming and throw in the DAT. There was never any guideline
as to what to play AFTER the obituary DAT........and for the poor
unfortunate who is going to be on the air at that time, multiple
opportunities to be totally tasteless for an immediate notoriety and
national recognition in the British tabloids. Such is the price of fame in
British Broadcasting.........
With respect,
Hutch. (John Hutchinson)