Telecasters, Tattlers, and Talkers

From time to time in ancient Egypt, circa 3000 BCE, the Pharaoh would dictate information related to the current grain supply or other business important to his kingdom to a scribe, and the information would be passed along to those the ruler felt had the need to see it. Much later in history, as shown in the HBO series Rome, actor Ian McNeice’s character called Newsreader is based on a job whose Latin title loosely translates as “heralds.” These men stood in the public square making government-approved pronouncements to the people passing through on their daily rounds. Closer to home and closer to current history, there is the Town Crier, a familiar character we often see in historical films set in 18th century England or Colonial America. In distinctive dress and ringing a bell the Town Crier walked the streets announcing the day’s news, government proclamations, and even advertisements for local merchants.

The scribe, the heralds, and the Town Criers were early reporters of the news of the day, despite their subservience to those who had the money to pay for their services. More informally, of course, many of us have had to live with local “tabloid” news reporters such as that busybody down the street or the one in the apartment upstairs who serves as the eyes and ears of the neighborhood. The local gossips always work for free, of course, and answer to no one but their consciences.