Obituary (pending)

Platform: All platforms Type: Obituary

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Where this format overrides General Guidelines: The headline formula is locked to [Celebrity Name] Dead: [Descriptor] Was [Age]. The focus keyphrase structure departs from General Guidelines’ [Person/Topic] [Does/Is] [Thing] format. The tone is more specific than universal General Guidelines guidance. This format introduces requirements with no brand-level equivalent: a word count range (300–600 words; 500 for UsW), a required article structure, and outlet-specific distinctions—UsW treats cause of death as a separate story; WW frames obituaries as career/legacy retrospectives rather than breaking death news. Text in red throughout this page marks anything that overrides or goes beyond the General Guidelines.

Purpose

An Obituary marks the death of a public figure with accuracy and respect. It serves as a reliable source of record and gives readers an overview of the person’s life and legacy.

Outlet-specific framing:

Accuracy is paramount. Do not publish until the death has been confirmed by a reliable source—official statement, family representative, or verified wire service report. A premature or incorrect obituary is a serious editorial error.

Headline (H1)

(REQUIRED)

Required formula: [Celebrity Name] Dead: [Descriptor] Was [Age]

Publish fast, publish right. Obituaries are among the most time-sensitive articles in entertainment journalism. They must go live quickly—but never before the death is confirmed. Accuracy cannot be sacrificed for speed.

SEO Title

(REQUIRED)

Dek

(REQUIRED)

Meta Description

(REQUIRED)

Focus Keyphrase

(REQUIRED)

Type Format
Primary "[Celebrity Name] dead"
Secondary (if applicable) "[Celebrity Name] cause of death"

</span>

UsW: Cause of death is a separate story—do not use "[Celebrity Name] cause of death" as the secondary keyphrase for the obituary itself. Reserve it for the dedicated cause of death article when cause is confirmed.

Tone

(REQUIRED)

Respectful, somber, and informative. The reader may be a fan who is grieving. Never sensationalize the death. Never lead with speculation. The tone must honor the person’s life and work while delivering accurate information clearly.

Word Count

(REQUIRED)

Target: 300–600 words.
UsW: Target 500 words.

These articles are intentionally focused. Do not pad. A well-crafted, respectful 400-word obituary is better than an inflated 700-word one.

Article Structure

(REQUIRED)

The following structure is mandatory for this format. General Guidelines do not prescribe article structure.

UsW—Breaking News Obituary:

[AI DISCLAIMER—CUE sites only]
"This article was created by content specialists using various tools, including AI."

[LEDE / INTRO]
- Confirm the death: name, age, and cause of death if available and confirmed
- Do not speculate on cause of death—only report what is confirmed
- Identify the person and what they were known for

[CAREER AND LIFE OVERVIEW]
- Brief overview of the most significant moments in their career
- Key works, roles, achievements, or milestones
- Personal life context if relevant and known

[REACTIONS]
- Quotes and reactions from other celebrities, colleagues, or public figures
- Source reactions to verified social media posts, statements, or wire reports

[INTERNAL LINKS—embedded throughout]
- 3–5 contextual internal links

WW—Legacy and Career Retrospective:

[AI DISCLAIMER—CUE sites only]
"This article was created by content specialists using various tools, including AI."

[LEDE / INTRO]
- Acknowledge the loss and introduce the subject
- Frame around their legacy and impact rather than the mechanics of the death

[CAREER AND LEGACY OVERVIEW]
- Celebrate the most significant and beloved moments of their career
- What they left behind—the work, the influence, the cultural impact
- Personal life context where appropriate

[REACTIONS]
- Tributes, quotes, and reactions from others in the industry and public
- Source reactions to verified statements or social media posts

[INTERNAL LINKS—embedded throughout]

Formatting Rules

(REQUIRED)

(REQUIRED)

3–5 contextual internal links per article. See General Guidelines §1.4 for full anchor text rules.

Link to:

UsW: 3 minimum, 5 maximum. Do not confuse with Related Links—Related Links are used to break up inline copy and are counted separately.

Hero Image

(REQUIRED)

General Guidelines do not specify image requirements. The following specs are mandatory for this format.

Spec Requirement
Minimum width 1200px (1600px+ preferred)
Aspect ratio 16:9
Resolution 300K+ pixels
Subject A dignified, well-known photo of the subject
Tone The image must be appropriate to the somber nature of the article—no paparazzi shots, no unflattering candids
Logos NOT permitted
Text overlays NOT permitted
Generic stock NOT permitted

</span>

URL Structure

(REQUIRED)

General Guidelines do not prescribe URL patterns. The following is mandatory for this format.

Tags

(REQUIRED)

General Guidelines do not specify tags. The following are mandatory for this format.

What to Avoid

Prohibited Reason
Publishing before the death is confirmed Accuracy requirement—an unverified obituary is a serious editorial error
Speculating on cause of death Only confirmed causes of death may be reported; speculation causes harm and damages credibility
UsW: including cause of death in the obituary when not yet confirmed Cause of death is a separate story for UsW—do not conflate the two
Sensationalist tone in headline, dek, or body copy Format tone requirement—obituaries must be respectful throughout
Unflattering or inappropriate hero image Format image requirement—image must be dignified and appropriate to the somber nature of the piece
NSFW in any metadata field Suppresses article in feeds—see General Guidelines §1.3
Clickbait or sensationalist headlines Helpful Content algorithm penalty risk and editorial integrity violation—see General Guidelines §1.2
Affiliate links (unlabeled) Google penalty risk—see General Guidelines §1.4
“Click here” or “read more” as anchor text Poor UX and SEO signal—see General Guidelines §1.4
Publishing without human review Universal compliance rule—see General Guidelines §1.8

Pre-Publish Checklist