Censoring Death Notices, The Chicago Tribune
Published September 8th, 2008A friend’s brother passed away last week, Ken Swanborn. While at the wake yesterday, the deceased’s sister told me how they wrote this line in the obituary:
“In lieu of flowers, vote Democratic.”
Somebody at the Chicago Tribune called and said they couldn’t print that. Since Ken Swanborn was a canvasser for Obama and a stand-up comic, his wife thought this would be the perfect one-liner to honor her husband.
I’d be interested to know if others think what the Tribune did was correct or outrageous. I’m not sure what the standards are for death notices, but I’d love to hear others’ thoughts.
Stephen Nagler on September 8, 2008
I don’t need to tell you, a native of the muscular city, that the people who run the Tribune are about as right of center as it gets. Zell and his zealots represent everything that is wrong with America and they are getting what they deserve as more and more people shun their rags (Chicago Trib and L.A Times specifically) and head for the higher ground of blogs like yours. Whether or not they pass the test…..send a similar obit in with a McCain pop…..or not they are still dispicable vermon not worthy of the same air fertile minded people like us beath. It is just sad that someone of the talent and pananche as you would never work for a place like the Tribune. That tells you everything you need to know. Let Zell and his buddies Rush Linbaugh and Dick Cheney hang out and golf together while they laugh at the erosion of the middle class. Did someone say sociatel acrimony is here to stay? By the way, Longhorns rule in football returning to a topic we can all agree on!!
Nomi on September 9, 2008
I’m having a Loooong day and don’t feel coherent, but I posted a link to your site and this particular post on my facebook page, and would have put it on my blog, but will save that for another day…
In Rhode Island it has become prohibitively expensive for families to publish obituaries, and once they were virtually free (3 paragraph or so death notices…).
Stephanie on September 9, 2008
I didn’t know that people submitted obits — I always thought some poor schlub at the paper wrote them, which shows you what I know. If it is indeed common practice that the paper is not responsible for the content of obits, and folks pay to run them, then you should be allowed to say what you like, provided it’s not obscene or libelous (sp?). That’s my take on it.
Molly on September 9, 2008
I don’t really see anything wrong with that. I believe that the family should be able to control the obituary space.
The other related example is when people give donations to charity or campaigns as a wedding favor — that seems more complicated because you are implicating other people in your decision. But in the obituary example, people still get to choose what they will do with that information.
Phil on September 9, 2008
Richard Roeper, a childhood friend of Mr. Swanborn’s, was
sure to include the one-liner in his column this morning, and said he pulled it straight from the obit that ran in the Sun-Times.
So the Sun-Times apparently found nothing wrong with the notion of a political plug in an obit. Interesting.
Read it at:
http://www.suntimes.com/news/roeper/1152135,CST-NWS-roep09.article
Len Joy on September 9, 2008
I am assuming that you are referring to the death notices, not the actual obituaries that are, I believe written by journalists, not family members.
I’m not sure where the right and left are anymore, but if I were going to place myself, I’d fall somewhere on the right-side of the equation. But I don’t think this is an issue of right or leftness - it seems more like an issue of political correctness. And pc inanity seems to be an equal opportunity trait.
Gene Winters on September 9, 2008
I see nothing wrong at all with including a request to vote a certain way. Since when is casting a vote something evil? Will an obit on Mayor Daley include any mention of politics? Funny, the Sun-Times had no problem printing it…
Martin Perdoux on September 9, 2008
It should come as no surprise that a May 16, 2008 story by Tribune writer Charles Storch announced the $1.2 billion Robert R. McCormick Tribune Foundation was “dropping ‘Tribune’ from its name, underscoring its independence from the media company in which it used to be a major stockholder.” The foundation’s generous grants program supports mainly projects dealing with first amendment issues and freedom of the Press, obviously not something the Chicago Tribune values very highly.
Storch quoted Foundation President David Grange: “We think it’s a good time to re-establish that this is a separate entity,” said Grange. “We own no Tribune stock, zero.”
Do you? (own Tribune stock, that is).
Eileen Favorite on September 9, 2008
I emailed Alison True at the Chicago Reader about this, and Michael Miner was all over the story like lipstick on a pitbull. Here’s the link:
http://blogs.chicagoreader.com/news-bites/
Sarah on September 9, 2008
I think some of the comments are hilarious and that your brother’s had just the right note. Curious that the the Sun Times had no problem printing it, but I agree with the writer who went on about Zell that they’re all facists at the top of the Trib, and it’s always been the paper that leans to the right.
Aly Pierce on September 9, 2008
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with it. The Tribune censoring the family’s wishes is beyond belief.
Janet Swanborn on September 10, 2008
I am Ken’s widow. My personality is a tad unorthodox. The line was my idea. We cleared it with his parents. I wish to make one minor correction. I did not use the word “please.”
Dennis Meegan on September 10, 2008
Censoring an obituary is not only an insult to the deceased, but to the living…and it’s a sad reflection of the Bush-Cheney post 9/11 times.
The Chicago Tribune and any media organizations that add censorship into their job description can kiss my white a**!
God Bless Ken Swann and may his legacy of laughter and political activism live on in eternity.
Nomi on September 10, 2008
Belatedly: My condolences to the family and friends …
Around the end of November of 2007, I read a death notice in the New York Times ( and I think also in a Connecticut paper) about a man whose name, alas, I cannot recall, but he was a scientist, left many relatives, had some history with The Nation (magazine)…at the very end of the notice, it said, “In memory of {X} it is asked that contributions be made to any organization working against the Bush Administration.”
I cut out the notice, but have misplaced it. If any friend or relative reads this, please share his name and the notice with us. He sounded like a wonderful person.
Wasn’t it Mother Jones who said: “Don’t waste any time in mourning, Organize!” !?
Eileen on September 10, 2008
Leave it to the NYTimes to get it right on free speech. Thanks to all who weighed in on this matter. Condolences to the family of Ken Swanborn.
Stephen Nagler on September 10, 2008
Eileen, thanks for sharing this with us and I guess in regards to sensativity and pc inanity I should have started my post with condolances to the family. May Ken rest in peace. On another note I guess out of respect for my “Favorite” family, I should have also added go Cubs and Sox in addition to my beloved Longhorns!
Nomi on September 11, 2008
The man who died on November 21, 2007 was: Alfred Knobler.
I will type out the notice on one of the blogs I write for eventually. ( hopefully before I lose the scrap of paper again).
Here’s the last line:
“Donations in his name may be given to the Center for Constitutional Rights and/or organizations opposing Bush Administration policies.”
And to Peter and Joanna, and ALL who knew and loved Alfred Knobler, I send my condolences and my gratitude for his life and his work. My compliments to the writer(s) of the death notice ~~ very compelling ~~ I feel as if I’d met him…
Carol O'Neill on September 11, 2008
Mike Miner added another blog telling the story of how all of our community activism actually brought about a change. And pretty darn quickly! Swannee would be so proud of all of us, and the many strangers from across the country speaking out to right a wrong!
Peace
http://blogs.chicagoreader.com/news-bites/
Eileen on September 11, 2008
Long live the speedy dissemination of info on the web!
Stephen Nagler on September 11, 2008
There you go! Everyone’s “Favorite” helping to change the world for the better! Isn’t that what the definatition of life is really about? You go girl!
S
Carol Decker Swannee's sis on September 12, 2008
Thanks to all from my whole family. Again, Ken’s friends overwhelm me and I am pleased to have met and to know all of you and of course, keep in touch. Let’s keep it up and make sure Obama wins. Vote Democratic!!! Peace, Carol
Mark Lesniewski on September 12, 2008
Ken and I were on the same wavelength on a number of topics throughout our many years of friendship. I believe his work for the Democratic Party came out of his passion for peace and justice. Not that the Democrats are free from scandal, greed, and corruption, but that, overall, Republican policies tend to rely more on military might, and favor the mighty over the marginalized. Ken might not have said it in the midst of a heated political debate, but it was about justice and peace, not political party.
Thanks for generating this Eileen. Say “hi” to Oscar.
Eileen on September 12, 2008
I’m so glad to give this important issue its due notice. Say hi to Laura and Linda!