At such an emotional time, it is hard to talk about whether the arc of a person's life meets a particular news standard or makes a good news story. That can lead to some difficult conversations with readers who rightly cherish and respect what their loved ones accomplished. And in the end, our choices are admittedly subjective. We try to reach all layers of our community, not just what many consider the top one. They are not necessarily based on power or wealth there is no scorecard for the number of committees someone served on, however valuable those endeavors might be. They are intended to reflect the rich history of our area, the diverse character - and quirky characters - that make it special. Obituaries - not to be confused with the paid death notices that families take out when loved ones pass away - are a way to tell the story of a community, one person at a time. It's often one of the first things young journalists learn how to construct, and one of the few things readers still cut out or print out and save. Through all the changes in newspapers over the years, obituary writing has been a constant. Over the years, I've learned when Silvers says she's "got one," she is usually right. But more often, the fame is limited what engages Silvers is a compelling life story, someone who carved a singular path in life or touched an unusual number of people. Sometimes the person is well-known or has a significant place in history. In the shorthand of editor-reporter relationships, what Silvers is telling me is that she has an obituary she thinks is worthy of consideration for a section cover. She leans on the cabinet next to my desk, waits for me to stop what I'm doing, and then says simply, "I've got one." It has become a familiar routine: Out of the corner of my eye, I see Amy Rabideau Silvers approach.
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