The reporter and author Sam Roberts discusses his work as a reporter on the obituaries desk at the New York Times, and his new book Are They Dead Yet? The Art of the Obit (Bloomsbury, 2026), with Joseph Planta.

Are They Dead Yet? The Art of the Obit by Sam Roberts (Bloomsbury, 2026). Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Are They Dead Yet?

Text of the introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca.  

One of my favourite books of the year is Are They Dead Yet? The Art of the Obit. Sam Roberts, its author, joins me now. He’s a longtime reporter at the New York Times, who has spent the last decade one of the reporters on the obituaries desk. He’s written some 1,500 obituaries through his career, and this unique reporting assignment has provided much insight into the art of the obituary, and how the process works at the newspaper of record. I’ll ask Mr. Roberts about how obituaries are assigned, and who gets them. The aspect of obituaries written in advance, usually for notable newsmakers or high office holders is an interesting one, sometimes involving the reporter interviewing the obituary’s subject ahead of their death. And naturally, getting an obit in the Times is a status symbol, so I was curious as to what is said by either the subject, or better yet by family members, loved ones or associates, in those moments after the subject’s death. There is a real art to how the Times reports on a figure’s death. And they’re often works to behold when a succinct account of one’s life is produced literally, at deadline. The book is often funny, and particularly insightful as to how we view life and death, as we look for meaning in the lives we’re reading about. Sam Roberts is a fifty-year veteran of New York journalism, who works at the obituaries desk at the Times, where for many years he was its urban affairs correspondent. He has hosted the television show The New York Times Close Up, and the podcast Only in New York. He is the author of The New Yorkers, A History of New York in 27 Buildings, A History of New York in 101 Objects, and one of my favourites, The Brother, a book on David Greenglass, the brother of Ethel Rosenberg. That book was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. And Sam was very kind to indulge me in questions on Greenglass and his reporting on his death. Before joining the Times in 1983, he was the youngest city editor of the New York Daily News. This new book is published by Bloomsbury. We spoke one week ago, with Sam Roberts joining me from New York City. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Sam Roberts; Mr. Roberts, good morning.

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