Studying Big Issue

Analysing The Big Issue

Here we have a copy of the big issue.

When we look at the front cover we can see a large picture of a homeless man.

• Links to the way they distribute
• looks proud, almost authorative-created by the low angle composition
• This promotes respect, and challenges stereotypes- this helps sell more big issues as it gives the audience a good representation of the vendors.

Slogan: "a hand up, not a handout"

• catchy slogan, easy to remember
• makes the reader feel as if they have done a good thing- this is why a lot of people purchase it, they often don't even read it
• its next to the price as if to justify it- however this is not the same for all copies of the big issue, just this one.
• Establishes the ideology of the magazine- most people are more attracted by this than the actual front cover#

Design:

• Simplistic design- perhaps because the target audience is very difficult to specify so it's suitable for almost everyone, this leads back to my previous point-most people are attracted by the idea that they are helping a homeless person, not the content. It may also be linkefd with the way they distribute, they do not have issues in a shop competing directly with the other magazines right next to it so the front cover is simple, but its also difficult selling things with a vendor as people may not even look at the magazine when passing. It very much depends on the vendor and/or the person buying it and the relationship between them- does the customer ignore them or buy it?
• there is variation of font for every different heading, this is quite eyecatching and bold
• Plain green background is a pleasant colour, i could not think of anything that the colour could be representing.
• The title is in the top corner, its looks bold but simple. Easy to read.
• The corner strap is very bold (with white font on red)

Language

• very straight/to the point
• superlatives used- for example on the corner strap it says "The Secret Of Positivity"

Associations: Social enterprise- clearly considered important if included on front cover. They are the makers of the big issue. They are very charity focused, this tells us the nature of the business and magazine. 


Big Issue Analysis

In todays lesson we also established that:

• The Big Issue has a USP- unique selling point. Instead of people buying it off of a shelf in a shop, people experience face to face interaction. Charity meets business.This way people can feel as if they are helping someone immediately and effectively, this links to the ideology of the magazine.
• The Big Issue relys heavily on voluntary support, as the vendors get half of the money made from people purchasing the magazine. The Lottery also help fund this, along with other charities. 
• There are 5 different editions in UK (depending on location) perhaps this is an attempt to widen their target audience.
• Gordon Roddick & John Bird founded it- their idea was to "help people help themselves" this sums up the ideology behind the company. John Bird himself was homeless from age 5, so this could be why he wants to make a difference so much as the company was started when there was a dramatic raise in homelessness.