SPJ panel plans to feature top obituary writers in Washington area

Members of the National Press Club can sign up and attend a Nov. 19 Society of Professional Journalists program on obituary writing at the special reduced member rate.

The event is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 19, from 6 to 8 p.m., at The Washington Post, 1150 Fifteenth St. NW. The door prize will be a bottle of champagne, so the winner can toast the memories of those who have gone before us. Reservations are requested to provide an accurate count for light refreshments.

Admission is $6 for SPJ and Press Club members and $8 for non-members. Students with a college ID are free (but please RSVP since we need your names on the list for the security desk of The Washington Post.) Click here for reservations.

“The Last Word” will feature a trio of the top obit writers who tell the stories of the rich and the famous, the poor and forgotten, the unusual and the unique, who are passing on. The ultimate in the journalistic 5W's, obits can have a bit of humor along with compelling writing, an eye for detail, a sense of perspective and a chance to honor someone’s passing. Obituaries are not an afterthought at the back of the paper, but a record of people and their achievements, or misdeeds or mistakes.

Speakers are: Adam Bernstein, The Washington Post; Adam Clymer, The New York Times and Larry Arnold, Bloomberg News.

For Questions: [email protected] 703-824-1799.