Why do we not have people on street corners anymore calling out the news and handing out papers?

[Skyros]

The pic is from a video game.

[SeekerOfTruth007]

Because poor people today get free income and free food given to them.

in centuries past, you had to actually work for a living, even if you only earned a penny a day.

Also, we have the Internet, so selling newspapers is obsolete.

[Friendlybro79]

What are you talking about? Lol. People don't do this because newspapers don't pay people to do this and they don't want to pay people to do this. Also, people, aren't buying physical papers because of this thing called cable news and the Internet.

Most newspapers are seeing physical subscriptions drop dramatically and only some are making it up in digital subscriptions.

I'm not sure why you're conflating people handing out papers with poor people. This was a first job for many people meant for kids. They were typically aged 10-15. You're making a huge leap that doesn't connect here.

[Massageman]

Maybe because there are so few physical newspapers that are actually printed. Relatives of mine used to work in the newspaper industry, and even owned a local paper for decades. I used to create artwork for the paper, too, by laying on halftones over line art starting when I was about 10!!! (ref Zip-a-Tone). My cousin who was left with the paper made the most of the inevitable and sold the rights to the name and content.

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

Because the news game is all about speed and the printed newspaper is now better for long-form journalism than quick bits of important news around the world. The digital news is a much faster read.

[Skyros]

That’s true, it’s always been about how fast we can get stuff. Sometimes I wonder if that’s for better or worse.

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

It depends on what you want to see, and with private news stations that heavily rely on consistent viewership, in between real-world events they usually have to make up conspiracies.

[Screenwriter]

Unless you're in a very small place, that kind of news dissemination doesn't go very far!

[Static_In_The_Attic]

Probably the same reason why you don’t see pay phones & phone booths everywhere. News papers are yesterday’s news & news papers are obsolete. In a technology filled world why would you want to read old news when you can pick up your phone & read news as it’s happening & up to date as well.

[AviatorTom]

Almost every newspaper has gone online, with a very small number of paper subscribers.

Newsboys and girls hawking papers by shouting the headlines used to be the major (and sometimes only) way people got news. Now, there are hundreds of ways that people get news, some of it as it happens.

[DryGermanGuy]

They have been replaced by mobile communication poles which provide the technical infrastructure for downloading your news apps and reading the news on your phone.

[FunkyMonkee]

Have you ever heard of these little electronic devices everyone carries around with them these days? They're called, cell phones! People get nearly all their news and info from those and have easy access to them 24/7!

[Skyros]

I know that, it’s just fun imagining those times and wondering what it would be like if they came back.

[FunkyMonkee]

I don't know if he's still there, it's been a decade or so since I've been there but, there used to be a town crier Downtown, here, even dressed up in colonial gear with a hand bell that he would ring and he'd stand on the corner yelling the news to everyone walking by. Maybe you can do likewise. I wouldn't think he was paid for it, he just did it because he wanted to. I'd imagine he would just do it for an hour or two at lunch time.

[purplepoppy]

Same reason the cockleman doesn't visit pubs anymore or the popman do deliveries or the yeast lady come a knocking. Times change when a service is no longer needed it goes.

[Chazmatazz269]

Print news is dead. It can’t occupy people’s minds 24/7 like the digital media can. It’s harder to control people when you only have access to them for an hour a day.

[OneViewpoint]

I'll go you one better. Why aren't we using stone tablets any more?

[DrPepper12]

Have you played the video game PAPERBOY? ALL you need to know

[Alex-Snow]

People are getting most of their news digitally now

[genericname85]

cause you got the news in your phone already. no need to buy a paper.

[Staximus]

Because we have radio, television, the internet, and dumbphones

[msc545]

What papers? Newspapers and print almost don't exist anymore.

[Anonymous]

Ah, the good old day, when there were no damn cell phones.

[slatyb]

Broadcast radio.

[DonaldDarko]

Someone would probably shoot them.

[loveslongnails]

Same reason you don't have typewriters.

[beefcakebradybatson]

Social media and other reasons.

[Hispanic-Cool-Guy]

Because he have phones with internet.

[Hispanic-Cool-Guy]

* we

[exitseven]

newspapers are dead.

[noohair]

social media