NPR editor Rose Friedman dies at 38 after final edit to her own obituary

Rose Friedman, a longtime NPR journalist and co-creator of the "Books We Love" reading guide, died of cancer at her New York City home on Sept. 17 at age 38, after a 15-year career at the network. Before her death, Friedman made one final edit to her own obituary, asking that it prominently mention her work as a SAG-AFTRA shop steward and describe her "proudest achievement" as helping win expanded paid parental leave at NPR. She started at NPR Books in 2010 and later edited for the Society & Culture desk. Friedman also led NPR's coverage of the Harvey Weinstein trial in 2020 and worked on the America 250 project. She studied labor history at Macalester College, and is survived by her partner, two children, parents, and two sisters.