In our paper, even in our extraordinarily community-minded mountain/rural culture, only "public figures" get free obits, and a front-page mention in either the news or the features section usually accompanies that because it is considered "news."

So I agree that it's rotten to have to pay for an obit in a paper, but I don't think it's ALL about profit off people's grief. I don't think it's a good time for newspapers in general, with competition from "free" internet news and "cheap" cable TV news. And look at the demographics-- the papers have a lot more obits to run these days. They ARE in biz to make, not lose, money. Somebody has to do the work of composing and posting the copy, and someone has to pay for that space. The paper has to pay the printer for the press run, and someone has to pay the salaries of the people who run THAT. Logically, it sh/could all be paid for by ads from funeral homes and other related businesses, but it doesn't turn out that way.

~Susan