Alana Baranick is the winner of the 2005 ASNE (American Society of News Editors) Award for Distinguished Writing in the obituary category, founder of ObitsOhio.com, chief author of “Life on the Death Beat: A Handbook for Obituary Writers” and director of the Society of Professional Obituary Writers.

She wrote obits for the Cleveland Plain Dealer from May 1992 until December 2008. She now writes obituary features on a freelance basis for newspapers, including The Chronicle-Telegram in Elyria, Ohio, and Medina County Gazette.

ObitsOhio.com publishes news and stories about the lives of Ohioans and former Ohioans who have died, as well as essays and reports - written by journalists, academics and other informed individuals - that are related to life and death in the state of Ohio.