The Covid pandemic suddenly took away two classic pictures associated with traditional diarism: it took the ‘canillitas’ or street criers off the streets and took away from the front pages their quality of being news screens.
The ‘canillitas’ were, for a long time, the announcers of the news, based on the headlines of the newspapers or magazines that sold the proclamation.
With the forced confinements or quarantines, under which the circulation of people or vehicles was very limited, at the beginning of the pandemic, the ‘canillitas’ evaporated.
By not circulating regularly the copies of the street, but those of the subscribers, the dynamics of competing for the best covers was also lost.
Flashy headlines used to be the mode of engagement with readers. Loudly, the ‘canillitas’ proclaimed the news to give them more echo.
It was usual for newspaper vendors to be on street corners or at vehicle windows promoting the sale of the product.
And being aware of the preferences of the citizens, they knew how to choose the covers that most connected with their interests.
Now it is different. Digital technology, which makes it possible to view the covers and pageable pages of a newspaper from a mobile phone or any other platform, has singled out two emblematic components of traditional journalism.
- Translated from Spanish by Randy Rodriguez.
Director's Thoughts 