This week one of our assignments was to pick a beat for our Reporting and Feature Writing class. I looked at our options and the one that really stood out to me the most was technology. In all honesty, I picked technology because I thought it would be really easy to find news articles about advances in technology because it seems like new things are popping up every day. Well, I was right, it was easy to find a bunch of articles on technology, and I found quite a few that I found really interesting and even unbelievable.
What I am blogging about this week is one of the articles I found. The article is entitled Web grief: Funeral webcasts gain in popularity. http://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2009/01/20/web_grief_funeral_webcasts_gain_in_popularity/This title caught my eye right away. My first thought was “creepy.” I immediately envisioned thousands of funerals being videotaped and posted on the internet for millions of people to see. As I read on, my opinion changed.
The article discussed the increasing number of funeral homes that have started to embrace the internet. Funeral directors say better technology and cheaper equipment have prompted more funeral homes to offer private webcasting and videotaping services nationwide. According to this article, “ some webcasting companies are also jumping in, offering packages to funeral homes that include tripods, cameras with microphones, and cables and cords, either for lease or purchase outright. Some ceremonies can even be webcast to iPods.” Pretty crazy huh?
Many predict this to become more popular in the future, but it is already catching on rather quickly. The reason? This trend has become popular in the military. Any of us who have loved ones enlisted know how many hoops those guys have to jump through in order to get home; whatever the reason may be. This service is making it possible for those serving overseas to “attend” a funeral for a friend or family member. On the flip side, if a soldier is killed and returned back to the United States for his or her funeral, there is no way all of his or her buddies who are still overseas can return home to attend the funeral. This is a way for them to still pay their respects and continue to do their job. I don’t think anything can replace actually being present at the funeral, but it is a pretty cool alternative.
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I've never heard of this before, but it sounds like a rising trend. It seems crazy at first, but it does offer people who weren't at the funeral to still pay their respects like you said.
ReplyDeleteAt the end of the article it states that families may or may not use these services. I don't know how I would feel about it, but at the same time it is nice for those who couldn't attend funerals. It will be interesting to see if they do become as popular as predicted.
I am glad that picking your beat came so easily to you. I think I made the process way harder than it had to be. I thought carefully about every choice and then I just ended up picking the one I originally liked in the first place. What a waste of my time! When you mentioned funeral webcasts I immediately thought that it just sounded wrong. As I read on I realized that it is just an alternative way to pay your respects. Those in the military and even the elderly who cannot attend a service in person can still pay their respects and say goodbye to their friends and family members. What an innovative idea!
ReplyDeleteThat is a really cool idea. I knew that Funeral Homes were jumping into the 21st century, with online guest books and movies that show pictures of the deceased, but this idea seems like it would be a very easy way to allow all people to pay their respects. In the long run, I believe that everything will come down to being online. Weddings will be broadcasted, batisms, graduation, and other ceremonies. For this reason, your beat seems like it would be very easy and fun to write for. I look forward to reading what else you come up with.
ReplyDeleteI have actually heard of this trend. Right now I know of several funeral homes that have on-line pages for each funeral where friends, family, associates can post messages. The homes also have a web-cam for the viewing so that people can feel as though they participating.
ReplyDeleteMy understanding is that this helps with closure those who can not make it to the funeral. It gives a person the opportunity to say good-bye.
Another way funeral homes are using their internet is for selling services. Seniors want to be involved in planning of their funeral and many can not drive / visit these places in person. Funeral homes offer video tours of the establishment, sample selections of flower and allow people to plan their service from the songs that are played to the selection of a casket.
This trend sounds rather creepy to me, but then again I am almost terrified of funerals. It is crazy how technology keeps on growing and it is scary to think what they will keep coming out with next. There are some good alternatives to this device it sounds like though. Like you said the soldiers in Iraq or elsewhere could be able to pay the respect to “attend” the funeral of a loved one by watching it.
ReplyDeleteSami,
ReplyDeleteI am glad you chose technology as your beat. When it comes to technology I am always the last one to know. Like blogging for example, I had no idea how huge blogging was until I was in Media Writing. Anyway, you know, you’re right, at first the idea of webcast funerals sounds creepy but I can see how important it can be to some people; not only for people in the military but people who travel a lot or perhaps agoraphobics.