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I wish to discuss my brief review of the podcasts and the reporting of funerals on radio and tv. The latter is directly related to broadcasting.
The "Pineapple" podcast:
I have heard the two podcasts (4'57 and 21'00) on death. In the 21'00 podcast the topics discussed included when a person dies at home unexpectedly, the roles of the police and coroner. In respect of the coroner, not all deaths handled by the coroner require an autopsy. Autopsies are carried in rare circumstances and the cause of the death from the autopsy may give comfort to family members.
What was not covered in the area of autopsies are the reactions on the handling and returning of body parts to the body. This is especially important to cultural groups who are sensitive to the delay in burying the deceased as soon as possible and/or where a particular organ that has been removed from the body should be returned to the deceased's body after the examination. To illustrate, a few years ago, it was reported that a deceased person of Pacific Islander heritage had the brain removed and members of the deceased's family wanted the brain returned to the body. The deceased's family was in distress about this. The podcast's coverage of organ removal and return of the body parts should have been dealt with.
On the other hand, the topic of organ donation by those who pre-arranged that their organs be donated has not been dealt with.
Broadcasting funerals/farewells of people on radio and tv:
In relation to the reporting of funerals on radio and tv and to some extent the death notices in the "papers", there appears to be a non-reporting of what happens in after the funeral.
Years ago, a famous person's funeral was reported something like, "...today there was a farewell for celebrity/famous person/significant person was held at a particular venue/house of worship....the lesson was read by X, the eulogy was given by Y recounting the good and bad times. The celebrant/minister/priest gave a few words....." then at the conclusion of the service they would mention the final disposition of the deceased person to the cemetery or memorial park or a private committal service..."
Today's reporting of news of funerals on radio and tv seem to be like "...there was a final farewell at a particular venue/house of worship, celebrities were present...there were some funny stories about the deceased." A guard of honour was present, pigeons were released, a pipe band leads the hearse and the hearse going away to the never never. BUT they never say where the hearse went. Hearses don't go to the never never and fly away like Santa Claus and his reindeer.
The reporting of funerals on radio and tv hides the realities of the person's final resting place. The media don't even report that there was a final private committal service. The hearse goes to the never never. It could be said for a number of death notices in the paper. The person died, was loved by... and displays the undertaker's name. In many cases there was nothing about whether the service was private!
Security issues aside, it seems that news broadcasts are hiding the spiritual (if applicable) life of the deceased and corporal reality about the final disposition of the deceased. We don't need the details of the cemetery/memorial park, row number and section.
The reporting of the deceased seems to be absent of the spiritual and corporal realities.
Thank you,
Anthony of Belfield