Extra! Extra! Read All About It - Newsboys' Strike of 1899

EXTRA! EXTRA! Read all about it! While the sun rises upon a peaceful day in July 1899, something’s a-brewing in the foggy streets of New York City. On a typical day, only one sound would be heard amongst the noisy pedestrian footsteps of Brooklyn: Click. Clack. Click. Clack. However, it seems this noise may soon be drowned out by New Yorkers' cries of protest. Access to information becomes scarcer as prices rise for America’s top-selling newspapers, causing not only sellers across the nation to suffer but also the public to be misinformed. While writing a paper is only the first step, distribution of these articles is key, and this role has been passed on to the youth of New York. For many working-class families, the youngest members; The Newsies, brought in the necessary income to feed every mouth at the table. And while there ain’t no crime to being poor, without these extra pennies, these families face risk to their well-being and survival, especially considering the rise in tuberculosis cases throughout the city. The primary treatment for this disease, often called ‘consumption’, requires well-rounded nutrition and bed rest, but this remains a privilege that only the richest can afford. Armed with courage and a bustling stack of papers, these young workers must consider their families' health while challenging the status quo and reinventing the narrative of workers’ rights amid a changing world. Though inflation remains at a steady rate, America’s economy is bustling, and the largest corporations are desperate to fight for the largest profit. Two of the largest newspapers, The New York Evening Journal and The Evening World, face ongoing tensions as they vie for sales leadership. How can the American public, the Newsies, and the struggling employees of the newspaper companies all remedy the situation before it reaches a tipping point? Will a strike start meaningful change, or be forgotten by history? Whatever happens, it rests in the hands of Newsies, reporters, media representatives, and officials to rewrite the past (or not). In this committee, delegates will debate workers’ rights, explore access to information, and negotiate with newspaper tycoons. Above it all, one question remains: Who will carry the banner?