NATIONAL NEWSPAPER CARRIER DAY

NATIONAL NEWSPAPER CARRIER DAY 

National Newspaper Carrier Day on September 4th recognizes the dedicated newspaper carriers who deliver the news in the wee hours of the morning.  

#NewspaperCarrierDay

A lot has changed since the first newspaper carrier. Not only have the routines changed, but their methods and the age of the people delivering has changed, too. However, the newspaper carrier still exists in some form. Each and every newspaper carrier owe their start to an enterprising young immigrant in New York City over 180 years ago. As the tradition gradually fades, their history becomes no less fascinating.  

According to a captioned photo released by the Museum of the City of New York, The Sun's publisher Benjamin Day hired the first paperboy on September 4, 1833. A 10-year-old Barney Flaherty answered the advertisement that September day. And although the ad specified for "steady men" to apply, Flaherty so impressed the editor that Day was so impressed by the boy's sincerity; he gave him the job.

Down on the corner, passersby soon heard Flaherty hawking his sales pitch. Eventually, the universal chorus of boys (and sometimes girls) calling, "Paper! Get your paper, here!" could be heard on the streets selling papers.

A number of steady men can find employment by vending this paper.  A liberal discount is allowed to those who buy to sell again. ~ Benjamin Day's 1833 Advertisement in The Sun

In 1960, The Newspaper Carrier Hall of Fame was created. It acknowledges some famous newspaper carriers in our nation's history, too. Included in the Newspaper Carrier Hall of Fame are Martin Luther King Jr., Warren Buffett, and John Wayne. 

HOW TO OBSERVE NEWSPAPER CARRIER DAY

Show your newspaper carrier a little extra appreciation. A box of chocolates, a card, or a simple "thank you" would make their day a little brighter. Enjoy the ease that we have in being able to wake up, get our coffee, and have a paper to read before getting out of our pajamas!  

If you were a newspaper carrier, take the day to reminisce a bit. Share stories from your delivery routes and the people you knew then. 

Use #NewspaperCarrierDay to post on social media.

NATIONAL NEWSPAPER CARRIER DAY HISTORY

We were unable to identify the founder of National Newspaper Carrier Day. However, the day does commemorate the day Flaherty landed the job and made it a success.

Newspapers FAQ

Q. Where can I search old newspapers for free?
A. The Library of Congress has a large archive of newspapers available to read online. You can also visit your local libraries and some newspapers offer their archives for free online.

Q. Do children still deliver newspapers?
A. Due to the decline in subscriptions and online payment options, the routes have become less profitable and too large for most children to manage. There was a time when paper delivery occurred after school, making it an ideal after school job. Today, almost all newspapers are delivered in the morning or even by a postal carrier.