town criers
Public news shouters
Town criers were public officials who announced news, proclamations, and royal decrees in streets and marketplaces before widespread literacy and mass media.
They rang bells and called "Oyez!" (hear ye) to gather crowds.
The role is now largely ceremonial, preserved in some British and Commonwealth towns for civic events and tourist appeal.
- bellmanHotel luggage attendant
- hear yeFormal call for attention
- proclamationFormal public announcement
- royal decreeOfficial order from sovereign
- public announcementOfficial communication to all
livery · oyez · loud voice · court leet · scroll · tricorn · market cross · street corner · parchment · announce · breaking news · broadsides · handbills · oral tradition · herald · cry · call · watchmen
- town eventsvillage fetes, community events, street fairs, block parties, parades
- vanishing thingsblacksmiths, cobblers, lamplighters, switchboard operators, telegraphers
- origins of journalismnewspapers, gazettes, broadsheets, pamphlets, printing press
- soundmarkschurch bells, temple bells, clock towers, foghorns, ship horns
- celebrationsgraduation, festival, party, wedding, fireworks
- civic lifevoting, civic engagement, civic responsibility, civic education, civic leader
town criersscribes
Professional document copiers
pamphleteers · columnists · bloggers · journalists · editors
town criersbroadcast journalists
Media professionals delivering news
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