KUDOS TO THE BJ FOR ITS BETTER OBITUARY PRESENTATIONS

I applaud the BJ for compartmentalizing its obituaries. Words and photo are encased within a rectangular frame. No more running the obituary over from one column to the next or even one page to the next.

I don’t know how much the BJ is charging for obituaries in the new format but it is far more convenient for family members to clip the obituary and place it in the family Bible under the new, improved format.

Newspapers charge about $50 for an obituary, depending on length and whether a photo is used.  The New York Times get $236 for the FIRST FOUR LINES and $50 per line after that. I have no idea what a BJ obit cost because, as a retiree, My Mona Lisa’s obituary in 2004 was free. Or how much the new, compartmentalized version cost compared to the old way with the same number of words and a photo. Regardless, it’s a GREAT improvement.

Maybe this will provide a clue:

Poulsbo’s Kitsap Daily News (Kitsap County in the state of Washington) charges $164.25 for a 2 col. by 6” compartmentalized version. $245.25 for 2 col. By 9”. $69.75 for a dinky 2 col. by 2.5”.

Nationally, newspaper obituaries cost $200 to $500 for the grieving family. The income to newspapers in America is about $500 million of their $25 billion in advertising and obituaries combined. Smaller markets get about $300 an obit, larger newspapers about $500 per obit.

The BJ charges $1 for a copy of an obituary in its archives.

Again, my plaudits to the BJ for the improvement even if it improves its finances.