A newsie was a young person, often a boy, who sold newspapers on city streets in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Before home delivery became common, newsies would stand on busy corners shouting headlines to catch people's attention: “Extra! Extra! Read all about it!” They bought stacks of papers from publishers early each morning and kept whatever money they made from selling them.

Many newsies were poor kids trying to help support their families or themselves. They worked long hours in all kinds of weather, competing with each other for the best corners and loudest voices. The job required quick thinking and salesmanship: a good newsie knew which headlines would make people stop and buy.

Newsies became famous in 1899 when thousands of them went on strike in New York City after newspaper publishers raised prices. These kids, some as young as seven or eight, organized themselves and refused to sell papers until publishers treated them fairly. They won, proving that even young people working together could stand up for themselves.

Today, newsies are mostly remembered through history books, photographs, and the Broadway musical Newsies, which tells the story of their famous strike.