Death and The Wall Street Journal

Matthew Flamm of Crain’s New York Business writes about how The Wall Street Journal is attempting to boost online readers — and revenue — by adding an obituary section to its Web site.

Flamm writes, “In a deal announced Monday, Web startup Tributes.com has become the new classified obituaries section of WSJ.com. Users will also be offered the opportunity to add a print component that will appear in the Remembrances section of the Saturday Journal.

“‘Obits and memorials have been a small part of [the newspaper’s classified] business, but we’re expecting it to grow with this relationship with Tributes,’ said Patricia Rodeawald, director of digital classifieds for WSJ.com.

“Consumers can choose from a range of packages to commemorate loved ones, paying an annual fee of $79.99, for instance, to post unlimited text online, along with 25 photos and a song.

“For obits in the Saturday Journal, pricing starts at $250 for the basic listing. Additional tributes run $500 an inch for the national edition, and half that or less for regional editions.”

Read more here.