The Town Crier

This imaginary news site's name, The Town Crier, reflects a way that people got their news long ago. Before newspapers became common, villagers listened for the town crier, a person appointed to walk the streets announcing news and events. These "walking newspapers" were a fixture both in Europe and America in the 1600's, but they disappeared after newspapers became common in the 1700's. Today, some historic towns have revived the role for its entertainment value.