What were medieval times journalist-types called?

[Nyaricus]

Interestingly enough, another system I've seen in use, was the public billboard.

Indeed, it was also fairly common (at least during the Renaissance to the Reformation era in Europe) to post articles on church doors, since many people would be walking through these doors each day (or at least once a week, as is the theory ). Martin Luther made quite a few postings on his churches doors, supposedly; some of which got him into troucble, IIRC.

In any case, as a result, in my FR games, temples of Helm, God of Guardians always have postings such as "Druegar Broadbuckle's Trading Co. looking for a half dozen stout men and woman to accompany caravan through the Bloodstone Pass. 3 squares a day and decent pay. Inquire in Warehouse District." I like to draw RL stuff into my games to make things more realistic.

cheers,
--N

 

[Clueless]

You're in FR? Then don't worry about it - FR has a fairly wide cultural range as it is (her sort of work would likely be common in Amn's capital for example - both as a tool of political intrigue/propaganda and 'charity for the people'). Don't worry about the real world analog - your setting is far enough skewed from that that you ca do what you want.

 

[Voadam]

I remember reading that Erik Mona's character in Monte Cook's Ptolus campaign put out his own little tabloids.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Frankly, even "modern day" journalists show their bias in most cases (both left and right).

Yeah, because that's relevant to the thread and doesn't violate the no politics rule or anything. (And, incidentally, comically misinformed, although go, go radio infotainers for keeping that storyline going for a decade or more.)

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Discworld has newspapers -- "The Truth" is a fun recentish Discworld novel -- and honestly, I think most D&D worlds would be hard-pressed to not have invented a printing press of some sort, especially with the aid of magic. (An unseen typesetter spell would be easy to come up with and would pretty quickly make broadsheets common.)

Monte Cook's Ptolus also has broadsheets, as was mentioned. It's also got the Bellringer's Guild, which essentially distribute the news of the state and anyone willing to pay. They were more successful back when the empire was less literate. But with the Tarsisian Empire sliding into a dark age, it's on the rise again. I'd think pretty much any campaign could manage a bellringer/town crier sort of outfit. Even if they were state controlled, having a rich patron who had an investigator dig up news to disseminate (for the patron's own ends, naturally) wouldn't be terribly implausible. Instead of being a "journalist," the character would be a member of some lord's household.

 

[Umbran]

My problem is I do know newspapers existed in 18th century, and I think they did beyond (obviously not a large production, because there was no printing press). Possibly. I'm no history buff. I believe the main way people received their news was from travling minstrels and bards, and official news came from the town criers.

Well, let's start with one basic note: the 18th century is not "medieval".

In Europe, the Middle Ages (medieval period) runs from about the 5th century until roughly the 16th century. The Renaissance is the tail end of this, roughly the 14th through 16th centuries. The printing press was invented in 1447 - just before the Renaissance got into swing.

The 18th century is the 1700s. The American Revolution did not take place in medieval times. And, of course, journalism as we know it was well under way by 1776.

 

[Particle_Man]

A lot of people are saying "bard". Some of the "spy" stuff screams "rogue" or "shadow dancer". And the character right now is an urban druid.

I see a Fochlucan Lyricist in this character's future!

 

[KnidVermicious]

Raymond Feist's Daughter/Servant/Mistress of the Empire series had rumormongers in big cities. Mara's spymaster would (when he couldn't get information from his actual spies) seek one out to purchase information. The impression I got was that they were people who collected information and sold it just like a merchant sells pies.

 

[sniffles]

This thread has given me inspiration. I was trying to come up with a rogue-ish or bard-ish character for an Eberron game and wondering just why this character would join an adventuring party. Now I know: to chronicle their exploits! I can make her Perform skill Oratory, her Profession Author, and her Craft Writing. She can do public readings of her material.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

This thread has given me inspiration. I was trying to come up with a rogue-ish or bard-ish character for an Eberron game and wondering just why this character would join an adventuring party. Now I know: to chronicle their exploits! I can make her Perform skill Oratory, her Profession Author, and her Craft Writing. She can do public readings of her material.

Honestly, I'm surprised more groups don't have more bards doing this.