Associated Press working on Britney Spears' obituary.

[edbermac]

Usmagazine.com is reporting that The Associated Press has begun preparing Britney Spears’ obituary.

“We are not wishing it, but if Britney passed away, it’s easily one of the biggest stories in a long time,” AP entertainment editor Jesse Washington tells the magazine.

“I think one would agree that Britney seems at risk right now,” Washington says. “Of course, we would never wish any type of misfortune on anybody and hope that we would never have to use it until 50 years from now ... but if something were to happen, we would have to be prepared.”

Washington also tells Us that the AP has a “pretty extensive obituary operation,” and that staffers are “constantly adding people.”

It’s not uncommon for news organizations to have obituaries prepared for celebrities and other high-profile individuals, but they are generally much older than the 26-year-old Spears.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22727961/

Our mainstream media, hard at work. :eyes:

[Blue_In_AK]

1. I'm no Britney fan

but this is just ghoulish.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

3. On another topic...

what day was it that you wanted your money on in the pool?

[Blue_In_AK]

12. I thought of that movie when I read this. Sick, sick, sick. n/t

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

15. Yes, it's disgusting.

[Richard Steele]

14. No, it's just standard procedure to keep such files on hand, ready to go when needed.

All the major news sources have such files on everyone
whose death would be important enough to warrant a story.

And the file has more uses than just an eventual obituary-
think of it as a regularly-updated miniature biography.

Now, response #11 below- THAT'S fucking ghoulish.

[MiniMe]

17. Actually, its very common to do

It sounds ghoulish, but it is efficient for many news organizations.

[TwilightGardener]

2. I really don't much care about this woman, and I don't know why anyone else does--

there's a thousand washed-up, damaged, pathetic celebrities out there. They deserve no more than a passing glance and a "that's a shame".

[MrCoffee]

4. they pre-write obits all the time

so what?

[edbermac]

13. They already prepared one for Suri Cruise?

Shit, they don't waste time, do they? :7

[NNN0LHI]

24. For 26 year olds?

Reminds me of sticking pins in VooDoo dolls.

Gives me the willies.

Don

[MADem]

5. Every public figure has an OBIT file, but it's crass to mention it. NT

[Hardrada]

6. Speaking of obits and the trashy press, maybe it would be a

good idea for people to start writing their own and update it when necessary. Not to be morbid about this but you could end up with a trivial dismissive one or a sarcastic one like that London Times guy wrote for people. Only for celebs of course. For me I would just want a few historical facts and no commentary.

[lapfog_1]

7. Actually, SOP for all media not so long ago

Back when newspapers actually had money and staff, they would have an obit editor who would write obits for all kinds of people, celebrities, politicians, etc. After all, anyone can die suddenly by accident or sudden illness, it's not that uncommon for even 25 year olds to drop over from heart attacks or strokes. Newspapers were all about beating the competition, having your research done ahead of time was just good business practice.

I don't think this means anything at all.

[spanone]

8. how about the AP's obit

it's all tabloidal news these days AP included

[cboy4]

9. It wouldn't surprise me if they have obits in the can for most

high profile celebrities, including Paris Hilton, etc.

I'm sure they have obits ready to go for Clinton, Gore and other politicians.

It's just a lot easier having all of the information formatted out in a story ahead of time, rather than having to scramble at the last minute.

[Giant Robot]

19. They do for all celebrities basically

It's not a rating system for who is going to bite it first, it's just a practice in some journalism circles from what I understand. I've been told this before by people in the field, so I just assume that it is the case here.

[lynnertic]

10. It's a very slow Britney Spears news day, apparently.

[RB TexLa]

11. I put a $100 in a pool on it yesterday.

[AndyA]

16. Reminds me of the episode on The Mary Tyler Moore Show

where Mary Richards had to update the obit files, and she and Rhoda started goofing around putting crazy stuff in them. Then, one of the people they worked on died, and Ted Baxter read all the goofy stuff on the air.

Oops.

I never really thought that the media actually has people sitting around writing stuff about the death of people who aren't dead yet.

Kind of a ghoulish job.

[Berry Cool]

20. Absolutely they do.

They don't want to get caught unprepared.

In fact, in 2003, the CNN Web site got egg on its face when some test banners it had created in anticipation of the eventual deaths of some public figures were posted to a development area that was not password protected.

And one of the people who had not yet died at the time but who was profiled there was, as it so happens...Ronald Reagan.

[TahitiNut]

26. "Chuckles Bites The Dust"

... killed by an elephant ... while dressed as a peanut :rofl:

TED (ON THE AIR): "Ladies and gentlemen--sad news... one of our most beloved entertainers and a close personal friend of mine is dead. Chuckles the Clown died today of -- ...um, died today a broken man! Chuckles... um, leaves a wife. At least I assume he was married... he didn't seem like the other kind... I don't know his age, but I'd say he was probably in his early sixties... of course, it's hard to judge by a guy's face--especially when he's wearing big lips and a lightbulb for a nose... Anyhow, he had his whole life in front of him--except the sixty years he's already lived... I remember... Chuckles had a motto he used to recite at the end of his shows. It was called "The Credo of a Clown." I'd like to offer it now, in his memory...
(religiously)
"A little song--A little dance--A
little seltzer down your pants."
That's what it's all about, folks... that's what he stood for--that's what gave his life meaning... Chuckles liked to make people laugh. And you know what I'd like to think? I'd like to think that somewhere up there tonight -- behind those pearly gates... in the Great Beyond, where some day all must go... somewhere up there tonight, in honor of Chuckles, a celestial choir of angels... ...is sitting on whoopie cushions. Ted Baxter, good night and good news!"

"It could have been worse. He could have gone as Billy Banana and had a gorilla peel him to death!"

"It's lucky more people weren't hurt!"

"Chuckles the Clown is dead. It was a freak accident. He went to the parade dressed as Peter Peanut... and a rogue elephant tried to shell him."

http://www.twiztv.com/scripts/attic/marytylermooreshow-607.txt

[IDemo]

18. Well, they've already written John Edward's obit, why not? n/t

[JackRiddler]

21. Why are we hearing about this? Because they desire it so badly, they

are preempting it.

The Britney Spears phenomenon shows a civilization's obsession with stupid trivialities, yes. It also indicates a deep desire to fall in the muck, to see youth brought low, to have humanity and the individual be rendered worthless, gross and trashy.

[Karenina]

25. Spot on, JR!

It's all quite grotesque and tragic.

[Generic Brad]

22. They could run the obituary on her career right now

That's something that will never be successfully revived (IMHO).

[TankLV]

23. Oh for chrissake - they do this for EVERY celebrity...

I've already done mine for bunkerboy: WAR CRIMINAL AND WORST PRESIDENT EVER TO BE APPOINTED TO THE POSITION FINALLY DIES - WORLD REJOICES! THE WORLD IS A MUCH BETTER PLACE NOW - FINALLY!

end of obit...

[Endangered Specie]

27. I've heard of vultures before...

but this is ridiculous