As to the first question, I think that papers have been looking for areas to monetize for some time now. And as they lose income, they’ll need to get even more aggressive about creating income wherever possible. I also think there’s probably some bandwagon joining going on. Papers that didn’t charge for death notices may be more likely to do it if they know others are. Finally, I think you’re dead on that the continued monetization of every aspect of the death industry would also encourage newspapers to go after their share, too.(It’s like a hospital, where you pay for every possible aspect of care. Come to think of it, that may not be that coincidental. At some cemeteries, for instance, you pay to open the ground, you pay to close it, you pay for the people who do the work, you pay for the equipment they need, you pay for any but the basic maintenance, and maybe even that, etc.)

I know blogging is not for everyone and it takes time to build a following but I can see an online business here. Low cost online obituaries. Yeah it is not the same as the papers and the grieving families would have to find you but with fewer people reading the paper if this was done in the right way it could work. Just think every one of the obituaries would live on indefinitely.