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{{Short description|Street newspaper that supports homeless people}}
{{Short description|Street newspaper that supports homeless people}}
{{about|the street newspaper|the French web documentary|The Big Issue (website)}}
{{Redirect|Big Issue|the South Korean television series|Big Issue (TV series){{!}}''Big Issue'' (TV series)}}
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{{Infobox magazine
{{Infobox magazine
|title = The Big Issue
| title = The Big Issue
|logo = Logo of The Big Issue.svg
| logo = Logo of The Big Issue.svg
|image_file = The Big Issue 30 January 2012.jpg
| image_file = The Big Issue 30 January 2012.jpg
|image_size =
| image_size =
|image_caption = ''The Big Issue'', January 2012
| image_caption = ''The Big Issue''
|editor = Paul McNamee<ref>{{cite web |title=Paul McNamee |url=https://www.bigissue.com/author/paul-mcnamee/ |website=bigissue.com |access-date=11 September 2018}}</ref>
| editor = Paul McNamee<ref>{{cite web |title=Paul McNamee |url=https://www.bigissue.com/author/paul-mcnamee/ |website=bigissue.com |access-date=11 September 2018}}</ref>
|editor_title = Editor-in-chief
| editor_title = Editor-in-chief
|previous_editor =
| previous_editor =
|staff_writer =
| staff_writer =
|frequency = Weekly
| frequency = weekly
|circulation = 83,073 (as of February 2018)<ref>{{cite news |title=The Big Issue - National (Group) |url=https://www.abc.org.uk/product/7395 |access-date=11 September 2018}}</ref>
| circulation = 57,059 (as of 2022)<ref>{{cite web |title=The Big Issue - National (Group) |url=https://www.abc.org.uk/product/7395 |publisher=[[Audit Bureau of Circulations (UK)|Audit Bureau of Circulations]] |date=21 February 2023 |access-date=15 July 2023}}</ref>
|category = Entertainment and Current Affairs
| category = Entertainment and Current Affairs
|company = The Big Issue<ref>{{cite web |title=Contact Us |url=https://www.bigissue.com/contact-us/ |website=bigissue.com |access-date=12 September 2018}}</ref>
| company = The Big Issue<ref>{{cite web |title=Contact Us |url=https://www.bigissue.com/contact-us/ |website=bigissue.com |access-date=12 September 2018}}</ref>
|firstdate = September 1991
| firstdate = September 1991
|country = United Kingdom<br />Australia<br />Ireland<br />Japan<br />South Africa<br />South Korea<br />Namibia<br />Kenya<br/>Taiwan<ref name="intro">{{cite news |url=http://www.bigissue.com/magazinesite/introduction.html |title=Introduction & History |newspaper=Big Issue |access-date=11 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080924193153/http://www.bigissue.com/magazinesite/introduction.html |archive-date=24 September 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref><br/>Malawi<ref name=Malawi>{{cite web | url=http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2009-03/2009-03-13-voa24.cfm?CFID=187725495&CFTOKEN=62612648&jsessionid=883030802a70d7ede3de70476207222c4274 | date=13 March 2009 | access-date=5 May 2009 | title=Malawi Magazine to Help Provide Financial Support to Poor | last=Masina | first=Lameck | publisher=[[Voice of America]] }}{{Dead link|date=June 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=no }}</ref>
| country = United Kingdom<br />Australia<br />Ireland<br />Japan<br />South Africa<br />South Korea<br />Namibia<br />Kenya<br/>Taiwan<ref name="intro">{{cite news |url=http://www.bigissue.com/magazinesite/introduction.html |title=Introduction & History |newspaper=Big Issue |access-date=11 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080924193153/http://www.bigissue.com/magazinesite/introduction.html |archive-date=24 September 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref><br/>Malawi<ref name=Malawi>{{cite web | url=http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2009-03/2009-03-13-voa24.cfm?CFID=187725495&CFTOKEN=62612648&jsessionid=883030802a70d7ede3de70476207222c4274 | date=13 March 2009 | access-date=5 May 2009 | title=Malawi Magazine to Help Provide Financial Support to Poor | last=Masina | first=Lameck | publisher=[[Voice of America]] }}{{Dead link|date=June 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=no }}</ref>
|based = London and Glasgow, United Kingdom<ref>{{cite web |title=Contact Us |url=https://www.bigissue.com/contact-us/ |website=bigissue.com |access-date=11 September 2018}}</ref>
| based = London, United Kingdom<ref>{{cite web |title=Contact Us |url=https://www.bigissue.com/contact-us/ |website=bigissue.com |access-date=11 September 2018}}</ref>
|language = English (UK Edition)
| language = English (UK Edition)
|website = [http://www.bigissue.com/ bigissue.com]
| website = [http://www.bigissue.com/ bigissue.com]
|issn =
| issn =
}}
}}
'''''The Big Issue''''' is a [[street newspaper]] founded by [[John Bird, Baron Bird|John Bird]] and [[Gordon Roddick]] in September 1991 and published in four continents. ''The Big Issue'' is one of the UK's leading [[social business]]es and exists to offer homeless people, or individuals at risk of homelessness, the opportunity to earn a legitimate [[income]], thereby helping them to reintegrate into mainstream society. It is the world's most widely circulated street newspaper.<ref name=Heinz>{{cite encyclopedia | encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Homelessness | editor=David Levinson | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q-PgHH8TJi8C&pg=RA1-PA538&dq=%22street+newspaper%22#PRA1-PA535,M1 | page=538 | last=Heinz | first=Teresa L. | isbn=0-7619-2751-4 | year=2004 | publisher=[[SAGE Publications]] | title=Street Newspapers}}</ref><ref name=review>{{cite web|url=http://www.rrj.ca/issue/2002/summer/373/ |year=2002 |access-date=12 February 2009 |last=Brown |first=Ann M. |title=Small Papers, Big Issues |work=[[Ryerson Review of Journalism]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070911030448/http://www.rrj.ca/issue/2002/summer/373/ |archive-date=11 September 2007 }}</ref>
'''''The Big Issue''''' is a [[United Kingdom]]-based [[street newspaper]] founded by [[John Bird, Baron Bird|John Bird]] and [[Gordon Roddick]] in September 1991 and published in four continents. ''The Big Issue'' is one of the UK's leading [[social business]]es and exists to offer homeless people, or individuals at risk of homelessness, the opportunity to earn a legitimate income, thereby helping them to reintegrate into mainstream society. It is the world's most widely circulated street newspaper.<ref name=Heinz>{{cite encyclopedia | encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Homelessness | editor=David Levinson | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q-PgHH8TJi8C&dq=%22street+newspaper%22&pg=RA1-PA538 | page=538 | last=Heinz | first=Teresa L. | isbn=0-7619-2751-4 | year=2004 | publisher=[[SAGE Publications]] | title=Street Newspapers}}</ref><ref name=review>{{cite web|url=http://www.rrj.ca/issue/2002/summer/373/ |year=2002 |access-date=12 February 2009 |last=Brown |first=Ann M. |title=Small Papers, Big Issues |work=[[Ryerson Review of Journalism]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070911030448/http://www.rrj.ca/issue/2002/summer/373/ |archive-date=11 September 2007 }}</ref>


==History==
==History==
Inspired by ''[[Street News]]'', a newspaper sold by homeless people in [[New York City|New York]], ''The Big Issue'' was founded in 1991 by [[John Bird, Baron Bird|John Bird]] and Gordon Roddick as a response to the increasing numbers of homeless people in [[London]];<ref>The Big Issue - [http://www.bigissue.com/Introduction_2.php Introduction] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090301153536/http://www.bigissue.com/Introduction_2.php |date=1 March 2009 }} and [http://www.bigissue.com/History_34.php History] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090301141303/http://www.bigissue.com/History_34.php |date=1 March 2009 }}</ref> they have been friends since 1967.<ref name="HOW WE MET">{{cite web | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/how-we-met-john-bird-and-gordon-roddick-1598309.html | title=HOW WE MET; JOHN BIRD AND GORDON RODDICK | work=The Independent | date=27 August 1995 | access-date=June 10, 2016 | author=Greenstreet, Rosanna}}</ref> [[The Body Shop]] provided start-up capital to the equivalent value of $50,000.<ref name="UNESCO">{{cite web|last=Boukhari |first=Sophie |title=The press takes to the street |url=http://www.unesco.org/courier/1999_02/uk/connex/txt1.htm |publisher=[[UNESCO]] |work=[[The UNESCO Courier]] |date=15 May 2001 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080220220110/http://www.unesco.org/courier/1999_02/uk/connex/txt1.htm |archive-date=20 February 2008 }}</ref> the magazine was initially published monthly but, in June 1993, ''The Big Issue'' went weekly. The venture continued to expand with national editions being established in Scotland and Wales, as well as regional editions for [[Northern England]] and England's [[South West England|South West Region]]. Further editions are also produced in [[The Big Issue#Overseas projects|seven locations overseas]].
Inspired by ''[[Street News]]'', a newspaper sold by homeless people in New York City, ''The Big Issue'' was founded in 1991 by [[John Bird, Baron Bird|John Bird]] and Gordon Roddick (husband of [[The Body Shop]] entrepreneur [[Anita Roddick]]) as a response to the increasing numbers of homeless people in London.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bigissue.com/Introduction_2.php |title=Introduction |work=The Big Issue |access-date=11 February 2009 |archive-date=1 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090301153536/http://www.bigissue.com/Introduction_2.php |url-status=dead }} and {{cite web |url=http://www.bigissue.com/History_34.php |title=History |work=The Big Issue |access-date=11 February 2009 |archive-date=1 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090301141303/http://www.bigissue.com/History_34.php |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="HOW WE MET">{{cite web | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/how-we-met-john-bird-and-gordon-roddick-1598309.html | title=HOW WE MET; JOHN BIRD AND GORDON RODDICK | work=The Independent | date=27 August 1995 | access-date=June 10, 2016 | author=Greenstreet, Rosanna}}</ref> [[The Body Shop]] provided the equivalent of $50,000 in start-up capital.<ref name="UNESCO">{{cite web|last=Boukhari |first=Sophie |title=The press takes to the street |url=http://www.unesco.org/courier/1999_02/uk/connex/txt1.htm |publisher=[[UNESCO]] |work=[[The UNESCO Courier]] |date=15 May 2001 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080220220110/http://www.unesco.org/courier/1999_02/uk/connex/txt1.htm |archive-date=20 February 2008 }}</ref> The magazine was initially published monthly but in June 1993 ''The Big Issue'' went weekly. The venture continued to expand with national editions being established in Scotland and Wales, as well as regional editions for [[Northern England]] and [[South West England]]. Further editions are also produced in [[The Big Issue#Overseas projects|seven locations overseas]].


⚫
In 1995, The Big Issue Foundation was founded to offer additional support and advice to vendors around issues such as housing, health, personal finance and addiction. Between 2007 and 2011, the circulation of ''The Big Issue'' declined from 167,000 to less than 125,000. It has since plummeted. Competition between vendors also increased at this time. From July 2011, the regional editions were merged into a single UK-wide magazine.<ref name="Press Gazette">{{cite web |url= https://www.pressgazette.co.uk/big-issue-launches-first-uk-wide-edition/ |title=Big issue launches first UK-wide edition |work=Press Gazette |date=8 June 2011 |access-date=26 September 2021}}</ref> In January 2012, the magazine was relaunched, with an increased focus on campaigning and political journalism. New columnists were added, including the [[FA Premier League|Premier League]] footballer [[Joey Barton]], [[Rachel Johnson]], [[Mike Shinoda]] of [[Linkin Park]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Mike Shindoa and Music For Relief: 'Let's power the world' |url=http://www.bigissue.com/features/1424/mike-shinoda-and-music-relief-lets-power-world |newspaper=The Big Issue |date=18 September 2012 |last=Shinoda |first=Mike |access-date=23 September 2012 |archive-date=3 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160103000535/http://www.bigissue.com/features/1424/mike-shinoda-and-music-relief-lets-power-world |url-status=dead }}</ref> and [[Samira Ahmed]]. The cover price was also increased.<ref name="The Economist">{{cite news |date=7 January 2012 |title=The Big Issue Magazine: Help the Homeless |newspaper=[[The Economist]] |url=http://www.economist.com/node/21542406 |access-date=30 January 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Revamped Big Issue hits the streets |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-16574823 |work=BBC News |date=16 January 2012 |access-date=30 January 2012}}</ref>
In 1995, '''The Big Issue Foundation''' was founded to offer additional support and advice to vendors around issues such as housing, health, personal finance and addiction.


⚫
In 2016, ''The Big Issue'' celebrated surpassing 200 million magazine sales.<ref>{{cite news |work=BBC News |title=Big Issue celebrates 200 million sales |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-35977471 |access-date=11 September 2018 |date=7 April 2016}}</ref> In September 2021, the magazine celebrated its 30th birthday. <ref name="All Media Scotland">{{cite web |url= http://www.allmediascotland.com/media-releases/145692/media-release-the-big-issue-marks-30th-birthday-with-a-special-birthday-edition-and-brand-new-digital-editorial-strategy/ |title= The Big Issue marks 30th birthday with a special birthday edition and brand new digital editorial strategy |work=AllMediaScotland |date=20 September 2021 |access-date=26 September 2021}}</ref>
⚫
In 2001, the magazine sold nearly 300,000 copies per week.<ref name="UNESCO"/> Between 2007 and 2011, the circulation of ''The Big Issue'' declined from 167,000 to less than 125,000. Competition between vendors also increased at this time. From July 2011, the different regional editions were merged into a single UK-wide magazine.<ref name="Press Gazette">{{cite web |url= https://www.pressgazette.co.uk/big-issue-launches-first-uk-wide-edition/ |title=Big issue launches first UK-wide edition |work=Press Gazette |date=8 June 2011 |access-date=26 September 2021}}</ref> January 2012, the magazine was relaunched, with an increased focus on campaigning and political journalism. New columnists were added, including the [[FA Premier League|Premier League]] footballer [[Joey Barton]], [[Rachel Johnson]], [[Mike Shinoda]] of [[Linkin Park]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Mike Shindoa and Music For Relief: 'Let's power the world' |url=http://www.bigissue.com/features/1424/mike-shinoda-and-music-relief-lets-power-world |newspaper=The Big Issue |date=18 September 2012 |last=Shinoda |first=Mike |access-date=23 September 2012}}</ref> and [[Samira Ahmed]]. The cover price was increased.<ref name="The Economist"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Revamped Big Issue hits the streets |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-16574823 |work=BBC News |date=16 January 2012 |access-date=30 January 2012}}</ref>

⚫
In 2016, ''The Big Issue'' celebrated surpassing 200 million magazine sales.<ref>{{cite news |last1=BBC |title=Big Issue celebrates 200 million sales |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-35977471 |access-date=11 September 2018 |date=7 April 2016}}</ref> In September 2021, the magazine celebrated its 30th birthday. <ref name="All Media Scotland">{{cite web |url= http://www.allmediascotland.com/media-releases/145692/media-release-the-big-issue-marks-30th-birthday-with-a-special-birthday-edition-and-brand-new-digital-editorial-strategy/ |title= The Big Issue marks 30th birthday with a special birthday edition and brand new digital editorial strategy |work=AllMediaScotland |date=20 September 2021 |access-date=26 September 2021}}</ref>

== Vendors ==
To become a vendor, one must be homeless or almost homeless, vulnerably housed or [[marginalise]]d in some way. At the magazine's launch in 1991, around 90% of vendors were homeless; by 1997, the majority had temporary accommodation.<ref>{{cite news |title=Streetwise |work=[[The Independent Magazine]] |date=15 March 1997 |page=23}}</ref> ''The Big Issue'' recognises, however, that for many people, being housed is only the first stage in getting off the streets; therefore, The Big Issue Foundation exists to support vendors in gaining control of their lives by tackling the various issues that lead to homelessness.

There are five localised editions of the magazine sold throughout the United Kingdom, and vendors buy ''The Big Issue'' for £1.50 and sell it for £3.<ref>{{Cite web|title=About Us|url=https://www.bigissue.com/about/|access-date=10 October 2020|website=The Big Issue|language=en}}</ref> The magazine is also produced and sold in Australia, Ireland, Japan, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, South Korea, and Taiwan. All vendors receive [[training]], sign a [[code of conduct]]<ref name="Code of Conduct">{{Cite web |url=http://www.bigissue.com/downloads/user/code_of_conduct.pdf |title=The Big Issue - Code of Conduct |access-date=11 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100705093459/http://www.bigissue.com/downloads/user/code_of_conduct.pdf |archive-date=5 July 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and can be identified by [[badge]]s that include their photo and vendor number.

''Big Issue'' features prominently in the story of London busker [[James Bowen (author)|James Bowen]]'s struggles with homelessness and heroin addiction, told in his best-selling book, later turned into the feature film of the same name, ''[[A Street Cat Named Bob (film)|A Street Cat Named Bob]]''. After busking on the streets becomes a problem, Bowen becomes a ''Big Issue'' vendor, with partner Bob the cat helping attract sales. Bob was featured on the cover in mid-November 2018, with Bowen's article ''In Bob We Trust: Life lessons from Britain’s favourite streetwise street cat''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://bigissue.com/magazines/in-bob-we-trust-life-lessons-from-britains-favourite-streetwise-street-cat/|title=In Bob We Trust: Life lessons from Britain's favourite streetwise street cat|work=The Big Issue|access-date=12 November 2018|language=en-GB}}</ref>

=== Migration ===
The accession of several [[Central Europe|Central]] and [[Eastern Europe]]an countries to the European Union in 2004 led to the increased [[Immigration to the United Kingdom since 1922|migration to the UK]] of residents of those countries. When Romania and Bulgaria joined the EU in 2007, the right of their residents (termed "A2 nationals") to work in Britain was limited to the self-employed, highly skilled migrants, and food and agricultural workers.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6076410.stm Reid outlines new EU work curbs], [[BBC News]], 24 October 2006. Retrieved 24 October 2006.</ref> ''The Big Issue'', whose vendors are classed as self-employed, offers an opportunity for [[Member state of the European Union#Acronyms|A2 migrants]] to work in the UK. By 2011, around half of ''Big Issue'' sellers in the north of England were of [[Romani people|Romani]] origin, many of whom having migrated from Romania and Bulgaria.<ref>{{cite news |title=Efforts to integrate Roma people are under threat from cuts |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2011/apr/27/roma-manchester-tensions-big-issue |first=Ciara|last=Leeming|newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=27 April 2011 |access-date=30 January 2012}}</ref> In London, 30% of rough sleepers are Eastern European.<ref name="The Economist">{{cite news |title=The Big Issue Magazine: Help the Homeless |url=http://www.economist.com/node/21542406 |date=7 January 2012 |access-date=30 January 2012 |newspaper=[[The Economist]]}}</ref> In 2012, a Romanian ''Big Issue'' vendor obtained a court ruling which confirmed that she is entitled, as a self-employed person, to receive [[housing benefit]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Big Issue seller wins right to claim housing benefit |first=Steven |last=Morris|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/jan/17/big-issue-seller-wins-right-housing-benefit?newsfeed=true |newspaper=The Guardian |date=17 January 2012 |access-date=30 January 2012}}</ref> ''The Big Issue'' has been criticised for enabling migrants to access the benefits system in this way.<ref>{{cite web |title=Roma vendors and media criticism |url=http://www.bigissueinthenorth.com/2011/05/roma-vendors-and-media-criticism/2714 |publisher=The Big Issue in the North |date=24 May 2011 |access-date=30 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110919065708/http://www.bigissueinthenorth.com/2011/05/roma-vendors-and-media-criticism/2714 |archive-date=19 September 2011 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> The magazine responded by asserting its role in reducing benefit dependency, highlighting British former Prime Minister [[David Cameron]]'s description of it as "a fantastic example of how we can reduce dependence on state hand-outs".<ref>{{cite news |title=We are leading the way in benefit dependency |url=http://www.bigissue.com/mix/news/464/we-are-leading-way-reducing-benefit-dependency |newspaper=The Big Issue |date=18 January 2012 |access-date=30 January 2012}}</ref>


==Ethos==
==Ethos==
The magazine is produced by the Big Issue Company [[Limited company|Ltd.]] The company is a self-sustaining business that generates income through magazine sales and [[advertising]] revenues. Financially, ''The Big Issue'' is a social enterprise. The Big Issue Foundation is the [[registered charity]] arm of the organisation. It aims to underpin the company's work by tackling the underlying causes of homelessness.
The magazine is produced by the Big Issue Company Ltd. The company is a self-sustaining business that generates income through magazine sales and advertising revenues. Financially, ''The Big Issue'' is a social enterprise. The Big Issue Foundation is the [[registered charity]] arm of the organisation. It aims to underpin the company's work by tackling the underlying causes of homelessness.


[[File:Bigissueforsaleinjapan-2017-5-6.jpg|thumb|''The Big Issue'' for sale in [[Japan]], 2017]]
[[File:Bigissueforsaleinjapan-2017-5-6.jpg|thumb|''The Big Issue'' for sale in Japan, 2017]]


==Overseas projects==
==Overseas projects==
There are nine ''Big Issue'' projects by the same name in other nations.
There are nine ''Big Issue'' projects by the same name in other nations.
* ''[[The Big Issue (Australia)|The Big Issue Australia]]'' (from June 1996)<ref>[http://www.thebigissue.org.au/about-the-big-issue/about/ About - The Big Issue] Retrieved 22 May 2015.</ref>
* ''[[The Big Issue (Australia)|The Big Issue Australia]]'' (from June 1996)<ref>[http://www.thebigissue.org.au/about-the-big-issue/about/ About - The Big Issue] ''www.thebigissue.org.au'' accessed 22 May 2015.</ref>
* ''The Big Issue France'' (from October 1993): In France, a non-profit organization named Big Issue France created with support from John Bird the magazine against exclusion called ''La Rue''.
* ''The Big Issue France'' (from October 1993): In France, a non-profit organisation named Big Issue France created with support from John Bird the magazine against exclusion called ''La Rue''.
* ''The Big Issue Japan'' (from November 2003)<ref>[http://www.bigissue.jp/english/ "What is the Big Issue Japan?"] Retrieved 22 May 2015.</ref>
* ''The Big Issue Japan'' (from November 2003)<ref>[http://www.bigissue.jp/english/ "What is the Big Issue Japan?"] ''www.bigissue.jp'' accessed 22 May 2015.</ref>
* ''The Big Issue Kenya'' (from 2007)<ref>[http://www.bigissue.com/sites/bigissue/files/TheBigIssuePresentation.pdf The Big Issue Presentation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107064309/http://www.bigissue.com/sites/bigissue/files/TheBigIssuePresentation.pdf |date=7 January 2016 }} Retrieved 22 May 2015.</ref>
* ''The Big Issue Kenya'' (from 2007)<ref>[http://www.bigissue.com/sites/bigissue/files/TheBigIssuePresentation.pdf The Big Issue Presentation] ''www.bigissue.com'' {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107064309/http://www.bigissue.com/sites/bigissue/files/TheBigIssuePresentation.pdf |date=7 January 2016 }} accessed 22 May 2015.</ref>
* ''The Big Issue Korea'' (from July 2010)<ref>[http://bigissuekr.tistory.com The Big Issue Korea] Retrieved 22 May 2015</ref>
* ''The Big Issue Korea'' (from July 2010)<ref>[http://bigissuekr.tistory.com The Big Issue Korea] ''bigissuekr.tistory.com'' accessed 22 May 2015</ref>
* ''[[The Big Issue Malawi]]'' (from 2009)<ref>[http://www.bigissue.com/sites/bigissue/files/TheBigIssuePresentation.pdf The Big Issue Presentation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107064309/http://www.bigissue.com/sites/bigissue/files/TheBigIssuePresentation.pdf |date=7 January 2016 }} Retrieved 22 May 2015.</ref>
* ''[[The Big Issue Malawi]]'' (from 2009)<ref>[http://www.bigissue.com/sites/bigissue/files/TheBigIssuePresentation.pdf The Big Issue Presentation] ''www.bigissue.com'' {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107064309/http://www.bigissue.com/sites/bigissue/files/TheBigIssuePresentation.pdf |date=7 January 2016 }} accessed 22 May 2015.</ref>
* ''The Big Issue Namibia''<ref>[http://www.bigissuenamibia.org/ The Big Issue Namibia] Retrieved 22 May 2015. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150205222939/http://www.bigissuenamibia.org/ |date=5 February 2015 }}</ref><ref>Soul Beat Africa [http://www.comminit.com/africa/node/126975 "Big Issue - Namibia"], 17 August 2004. Retrieved 22 May 2015.</ref>
* ''The Big Issue Namibia''<ref>[http://www.bigissuenamibia.org/ The Big Issue Namibia] ''www.bigissuenamibia.org'' accessed 22 May 2015. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150205222939/http://www.bigissuenamibia.org/ |date=5 February 2015 }}</ref><ref>Soul Beat Africa [http://www.comminit.com/africa/node/126975 "Big Issue - Namibia"], 17 August 2004. accessed 22 May 2015.</ref>
* ''The Big Issue The Republic of Ireland'' <ref>[http://www.irelandsbigissue.com Ireland's Big Issue] Retrieved 22 May 2015.</ref>
* ''The Big Issue The Republic of Ireland'' <ref>[http://www.irelandsbigissue.com Ireland's Big Issue] ''www.irelandsbigissue.com'' accessed 22 May 2015.</ref>
* ''The Big Issue South Africa'' (from December 1996)<ref>[http://depts.washington.edu/stnews/bigissuesa.html Big Issue, South Africa] Retrieved 22 May 2015.</ref>
* ''The Big Issue South Africa'' (from December 1996)<ref>[http://depts.washington.edu/stnews/bigissuesa.html Big Issue, South Africa] ''depts.washington.edu'' accessed 22 May 2015.</ref>
* ''The Big Issue Taiwan'' (from April 2010)<ref>[http://www.bigissue.tw THE BIG ISSUE 大誌雜誌] Retrieved 22 May 2015.</ref>
* ''The Big Issue Taiwan'' (from April 2010)<ref>[http://www.bigissue.tw THE BIG ISSUE 大誌雜誌] ''www.bigissue.tw'' accessed 22 May 2015.</ref>
* ''The Big Issue Zambia'' (from 2007)<ref>[http://www.bigissue.com/sites/bigissue/files/TheBigIssuePresentation.pdf The Big Issue Presentation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107064309/http://www.bigissue.com/sites/bigissue/files/TheBigIssuePresentation.pdf |date=7 January 2016 }} Retrieved 22 May 2015.</ref><ref>[https://launchingvisions.wordpress.com The Big Issue Zambia] Retrieved May 22, 2015.</ref>
* ''The Big Issue Zambia'' (from 2007)<ref>[http://www.bigissue.com/sites/bigissue/files/TheBigIssuePresentation.pdf The Big Issue Presentation] ''www.bigissue.com'' {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107064309/http://www.bigissue.com/sites/bigissue/files/TheBigIssuePresentation.pdf |date=7 January 2016 }} accessed 22 May 2015.</ref><ref>[https://launchingvisions.wordpress.com The Big Issue Zambia] ''launchingvisions.wordpress.com'' accessed May 22, 2015.</ref>


==Criticism==
==Criticism==
{{update|section|date=June 2012}}
{{update|section|date=June 2012}}
{{further|Street newspaper#Differing approaches}}
{{further|Street newspaper#Differing approaches}}
''The Big Issue'' has been the centre of much controversy among publishers of street newspapers, mainly because of its business model.<ref name=review/><ref name=Sthlm>{{cite web | url=http://www.nyaorganisationer.soch.lu.se/SituationSthlm.html | access-date=12 February 2009 | last=Magnusson | first=Jan A. | title=The transnational street paper movement | work=[[Situation Sthlm]] | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060629073232/http://www.nyaorganisationer.soch.lu.se/SituationSthlm.html | archive-date=29 June 2006 }}</ref> Publishers of some other street newspapers, especially in the United States, have criticised it for being overly "commercial" and having a flashy design. According to these critics, street newspapers ought to focus on covering political and social issues that affect the homeless, rather than emulating mainstream newspapers to generate a profit.<ref name=UNESCO/><ref name="Howley">{{cite book|last=Howley|first=Kevin|title=Community Media|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2005|edition=illustrated|page=71|isbn=0-521-79228-2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MslR_FE5SI4C&pg=PA71|access-date=12 February 2009}}</ref> Publishers of some smaller papers, such as ''Making Change'' in [[Santa Monica, California]], said they felt threatened when ''The Big Issue'' began to publish in their area.<ref name=UNESCO/><ref name="Howley" /> Other papers have also criticised ''The Big Issue'' for its professional production and limited participation by homeless individuals in writing and producing the newspaper.<ref name=review/> Others, however, have stated that ''The Big Issue'' uses a successful business model to generate a profit to benefit the homeless, and its founder [[John Bird, Baron Bird|John Bird]] has said that it is "possible to be both profitable and ethically correct".<ref name=UNESCO/>
''The Big Issue'' has been the centre of much controversy among publishers of street newspapers, mainly because of its business model.<ref name=review/><ref name=Sthlm>{{cite web | url=http://www.nyaorganisationer.soch.lu.se/SituationSthlm.html | access-date=12 February 2009 | last=Magnusson | first=Jan A. | title=The transnational street paper movement | work=[[Situation Sthlm]] | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060629073232/http://www.nyaorganisationer.soch.lu.se/SituationSthlm.html | archive-date=29 June 2006 }}</ref> Publishers of some other street newspapers, especially in the United States, have criticised it for being overly "commercial" and having a flashy design. According to these critics, street newspapers ought to focus on covering political and social issues that affect the homeless, rather than emulating mainstream newspapers to generate a profit.<ref name=UNESCO/><ref name="Howley">{{cite book |last=Howley |first=Kevin |title=Community Media |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2005 |edition=illustrated |page=71 |isbn=0-521-79228-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MslR_FE5SI4C&pg=PA71|access-date=12 February 2009}}</ref> Publishers of some smaller papers, such as ''Making Change'' in [[Santa Monica, California]], said they felt threatened when ''The Big Issue'' began to publish in their area.<ref name=UNESCO/><ref name="Howley" /> Other papers have also criticised ''The Big Issue'' for its professional production and limited participation by homeless individuals in writing and producing the newspaper.<ref name=review/> Others, however, have stated that ''The Big Issue'' uses a successful business model to generate a profit to benefit the homeless, and its founder [[John Bird, Baron Bird|John Bird]] has said that it is "possible to be both profitable and ethically correct".<ref name=UNESCO/>


== Awards ==
== Awards ==
* October 2004 – [[UN Habitat Scroll of Honour Award]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.unhabitat.org/content.asp?typeid=19&catid=490&cid=2909 |title=. World Habitat Day 2006 &#124; Previous Scroll Winners |publisher=Un-Habitat. |date=26 March 2013 |access-date=2 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004220918/http://www.unhabitat.org/content.asp?typeid=19&catid=490&cid=2909 |archive-date=4 October 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* October 2004 – [[UN Habitat Scroll of Honour Award]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.unhabitat.org/content.asp?typeid=19&catid=490&cid=2909 |title=. World Habitat Day 2006 &#124; Previous Scroll Winners |publisher=Un-Habitat. |date=26 March 2013 |access-date=2 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004220918/http://www.unhabitat.org/content.asp?typeid=19&catid=490&cid=2909 |archive-date=4 October 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* October 2008 – [[Ernst & Young]] Social Entrepreneur of the Year award<ref name="Ernst & Young 2009-12-02">{{cite web|url=http://www.ey.com/Publication/vwLUAssets/EoY_-_2008_award_recipients/$FILE/EY_EOY_2008_award_recipients.pdf|title=Ernst & Young Entrepreneur 2008 award recipients|date=2 December 2009|publisher=[[Ernst & Young]]|page=2|access-date=21 October 2014}}</ref><ref name="Ernst & Young 2008-10-07">{{cite news|date=7 October 2008|title=Richard Harpin, CEO of Homeserve Plc, is Ernst & Young 'UK Overall Entrepreneur Of The Year 2008'|url=http://www.ey.com/UK/en/Newsroom/News-releases/EOY---08-10-07---R-Harpin-UK-EOY-2008|publisher=[[Ernst & Young]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120223234233/http://www.ey.com/UK/en/Newsroom/News-releases/EOY---08-10-07---R-Harpin-UK-EOY-2008|archive-date=23 February 2012|access-date=21 October 2014}}</ref>
* October 2008 – [[Ernst & Young]] Social Entrepreneur of the Year award<ref name="Ernst & Young 2009-12-02">{{cite web|url=http://www.ey.com/Publication/vwLUAssets/EoY_-_2008_award_recipients/$FILE/EY_EOY_2008_award_recipients.pdf|title=Ernst & Young Entrepreneur 2008 award recipients|date=2 December 2009|publisher=[[Ernst & Young]]|page=2|access-date=21 October 2014|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924041001/http://www.ey.com/Publication/vwLUAssets/EoY_-_2008_award_recipients/$FILE/EY_EOY_2008_award_recipients.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Ernst & Young 2008-10-07">{{cite news|date=7 October 2008|title=Richard Harpin, CEO of Homeserve Plc, is Ernst & Young 'UK Overall Entrepreneur Of The Year 2008'|url=http://www.ey.com/UK/en/Newsroom/News-releases/EOY---08-10-07---R-Harpin-UK-EOY-2008|publisher=[[Ernst & Young]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120223234233/http://www.ey.com/UK/en/Newsroom/News-releases/EOY---08-10-07---R-Harpin-UK-EOY-2008|archive-date=23 February 2012|access-date=21 October 2014}}</ref>


== See also ==
== See also ==
Line 82: Line 70:


==Further reading==
==Further reading==
*{{cite journal | title=The Big Issue and other street papers: a response to homelessness | year=1999 | journal=Environment and Urbanization | first=Sinead | last=Hanks | author2=Tessa Swithinbank | volume=9 | issue=1 | doi=10.1177/095624789700900112 | pages=149&ndash;158 | url=https://semanticscholar.org/paper/5afbe1c8ac482cd9d5ab7b074b9e6ccca8f7d3a5 }}
*{{cite journal | title=The Big Issue and other street papers: a response to homelessness | year=1999 | journal=Environment and Urbanization | first=Sinead | last=Hanks | author2=Tessa Swithinbank | volume=9 | issue=1 | doi=10.1177/095624789700900112 | pages=149&ndash;158 | s2cid=155008284 | doi-access=free }}
*{{cite book|last=Swithinbank|first=Tessa|title=Coming Up from the Streets: The Story of The Big Issue|publisher=[[Earthscan]]|year=2001|pages=21–33|isbn=1-85383-544-7|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ha1dO1WD88AC&pg=PA21|access-date=11 March 2009}}
*{{cite book|last=Swithinbank|first=Tessa|title=Coming Up from the Streets: The Story of The Big Issue|publisher=[[Earthscan]]|year=2001|pages=21–33|isbn=1-85383-544-7|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ha1dO1WD88AC&pg=PA21|access-date=11 March 2009}}


Line 102: Line 90:


{{DEFAULTSORT:Big Issue, The}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Big Issue, The}}
[[Category:Newspapers published in London]]
[[Category:Political magazines published in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Political magazines published in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Weekly magazines published in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Weekly magazines published in the United Kingdom]]

Latest revision as of 02:28, 5 November 2024

"Big Issue" redirects here. For the South Korean television series, see Big Issue (TV series).

The Big Issue
The Big Issue
Editor-in-chiefPaul McNamee[1]
CategoriesEntertainment and Current Affairs
Frequencyweekly
Circulation57,059 (as of 2022)[2]
First issueSeptember 1991
CompanyThe Big Issue[3]
CountryUnited Kingdom
Australia
Ireland
Japan
South Africa
South Korea
Namibia
Kenya
Taiwan[4]
Malawi[5]
Based inLondon, United Kingdom[6]
LanguageEnglish (UK Edition)
Websitebigissue.com

The Big Issue is a United Kingdom-based street newspaper founded by John Bird and Gordon Roddick in September 1991 and published in four continents. The Big Issue is one of the UK's leading social businesses and exists to offer homeless people, or individuals at risk of homelessness, the opportunity to earn a legitimate income, thereby helping them to reintegrate into mainstream society. It is the world's most widely circulated street newspaper.[7][8]

History

[edit]

Inspired by Street News, a newspaper sold by homeless people in New York City, The Big Issue was founded in 1991 by John Bird and Gordon Roddick (husband of The Body Shop entrepreneur Anita Roddick) as a response to the increasing numbers of homeless people in London.[9][10] The Body Shop provided the equivalent of $50,000 in start-up capital.[11] The magazine was initially published monthly but in June 1993 The Big Issue went weekly. The venture continued to expand with national editions being established in Scotland and Wales, as well as regional editions for Northern England and South West England. Further editions are also produced in seven locations overseas.

In 1995, The Big Issue Foundation was founded to offer additional support and advice to vendors around issues such as housing, health, personal finance and addiction. Between 2007 and 2011, the circulation of The Big Issue declined from 167,000 to less than 125,000. It has since plummeted. Competition between vendors also increased at this time. From July 2011, the regional editions were merged into a single UK-wide magazine.[12] In January 2012, the magazine was relaunched, with an increased focus on campaigning and political journalism. New columnists were added, including the Premier League footballer Joey Barton, Rachel Johnson, Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park[13] and Samira Ahmed. The cover price was also increased.[14][15]

In 2016, The Big Issue celebrated surpassing 200 million magazine sales.[16] In September 2021, the magazine celebrated its 30th birthday. [17]

Ethos

[edit]

The magazine is produced by the Big Issue Company Ltd. The company is a self-sustaining business that generates income through magazine sales and advertising revenues. Financially, The Big Issue is a social enterprise. The Big Issue Foundation is the registered charity arm of the organisation. It aims to underpin the company's work by tackling the underlying causes of homelessness.

The Big Issue for sale in Japan, 2017

Overseas projects

[edit]

There are nine Big Issue projects by the same name in other nations.

  • The Big Issue Australia (from June 1996)[18]
  • The Big Issue France (from October 1993): In France, a non-profit organisation named Big Issue France created with support from John Bird the magazine against exclusion called La Rue.
  • The Big Issue Japan (from November 2003)[19]
  • The Big Issue Kenya (from 2007)[20]
  • The Big Issue Korea (from July 2010)[21]
  • The Big Issue Malawi (from 2009)[22]
  • The Big Issue Namibia[23][24]
  • The Big Issue The Republic of Ireland [25]
  • The Big Issue South Africa (from December 1996)[26]
  • The Big Issue Taiwan (from April 2010)[27]
  • The Big Issue Zambia (from 2007)[28][29]

Criticism

[edit]
Further information: Street newspaper § Differing approaches

The Big Issue has been the centre of much controversy among publishers of street newspapers, mainly because of its business model.[8][30] Publishers of some other street newspapers, especially in the United States, have criticised it for being overly "commercial" and having a flashy design. According to these critics, street newspapers ought to focus on covering political and social issues that affect the homeless, rather than emulating mainstream newspapers to generate a profit.[11][31] Publishers of some smaller papers, such as Making Change in Santa Monica, California, said they felt threatened when The Big Issue began to publish in their area.[11][31] Other papers have also criticised The Big Issue for its professional production and limited participation by homeless individuals in writing and producing the newspaper.[8] Others, however, have stated that The Big Issue uses a successful business model to generate a profit to benefit the homeless, and its founder John Bird has said that it is "possible to be both profitable and ethically correct".[11]

Awards

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Paul McNamee". bigissue.com. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  2. ^ "The Big Issue - National (Group)". Audit Bureau of Circulations. 21 February 2023. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  3. ^ "Contact Us". bigissue.com. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  4. ^ "Introduction & History". Big Issue. Archived from the original on 24 September 2008. Retrieved 11 October 2008.
  5. ^ Masina, Lameck (13 March 2009). "Malawi Magazine to Help Provide Financial Support to Poor". Voice of America. Retrieved 5 May 2009.[permanent dead link‍]
  6. ^ "Contact Us". bigissue.com. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  7. ^ Heinz, Teresa L. (2004). "Street Newspapers". In David Levinson (ed.). Encyclopedia of Homelessness. SAGE Publications. p. 538. ISBN 0-7619-2751-4.
  8. ^ a b c Brown, Ann M. (2002). "Small Papers, Big Issues". Ryerson Review of Journalism. Archived from the original on 11 September 2007. Retrieved 12 February 2009.
  9. ^ "Introduction". The Big Issue. Archived from the original on 1 March 2009. Retrieved 11 February 2009. and "History". The Big Issue. Archived from the original on 1 March 2009. Retrieved 11 February 2009.
  10. ^ Greenstreet, Rosanna (27 August 1995). "HOW WE MET; JOHN BIRD AND GORDON RODDICK". The Independent. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  11. ^ a b c d Boukhari, Sophie (15 May 2001). "The press takes to the street". The UNESCO Courier. UNESCO. Archived from the original on 20 February 2008.
  12. ^ "Big issue launches first UK-wide edition". Press Gazette. 8 June 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  13. ^ Shinoda, Mike (18 September 2012). "Mike Shindoa and Music For Relief: 'Let's power the world'". The Big Issue. Archived from the original on 3 January 2016. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  14. ^ "The Big Issue Magazine: Help the Homeless". The Economist. 7 January 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  15. ^ "Revamped Big Issue hits the streets". BBC News. 16 January 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  16. ^ "Big Issue celebrates 200 million sales". BBC News. 7 April 2016. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  17. ^ "The Big Issue marks 30th birthday with a special birthday edition and brand new digital editorial strategy". AllMediaScotland. 20 September 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  18. ^ About - The Big Issue www.thebigissue.org.au accessed 22 May 2015.
  19. ^ "What is the Big Issue Japan?" www.bigissue.jp accessed 22 May 2015.
  20. ^ The Big Issue Presentation www.bigissue.com Archived 7 January 2016 at the Wayback Machine accessed 22 May 2015.
  21. ^ The Big Issue Korea bigissuekr.tistory.com accessed 22 May 2015
  22. ^ The Big Issue Presentation www.bigissue.com Archived 7 January 2016 at the Wayback Machine accessed 22 May 2015.
  23. ^ The Big Issue Namibia www.bigissuenamibia.org accessed 22 May 2015. Archived 5 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine
  24. ^ Soul Beat Africa "Big Issue - Namibia", 17 August 2004. accessed 22 May 2015.
  25. ^ Ireland's Big Issue www.irelandsbigissue.com accessed 22 May 2015.
  26. ^ Big Issue, South Africa depts.washington.edu accessed 22 May 2015.
  27. ^ THE BIG ISSUE 大誌雜誌 www.bigissue.tw accessed 22 May 2015.
  28. ^ The Big Issue Presentation www.bigissue.com Archived 7 January 2016 at the Wayback Machine accessed 22 May 2015.
  29. ^ The Big Issue Zambia launchingvisions.wordpress.com accessed May 22, 2015.
  30. ^ Magnusson, Jan A. "The transnational street paper movement". Situation Sthlm. Archived from the original on 29 June 2006. Retrieved 12 February 2009.
  31. ^ a b Howley, Kevin (2005). Community Media (illustrated ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 71. ISBN 0-521-79228-2. Retrieved 12 February 2009.
  32. ^ ". World Habitat Day 2006 | Previous Scroll Winners". Un-Habitat. 26 March 2013. Archived from the original on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 2 October 2013.
  33. ^ "Ernst & Young Entrepreneur 2008 award recipients" (PDF). Ernst & Young. 2 December 2009. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  34. ^ "Richard Harpin, CEO of Homeserve Plc, is Ernst & Young 'UK Overall Entrepreneur Of The Year 2008'". Ernst & Young. 7 October 2008. Archived from the original on 23 February 2012. Retrieved 21 October 2014.

Further reading

[edit]
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to The Big Issue.
Regional sites
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