The Big Issue

The Big Issue: 

Front cover-

Key image: MCU of animated neon sign celebrating 25 years of  publishing success for the magazine, The Big Issue’. The Las Vegas style graphic image adds a pizzazz atmosphere to this magazine that supports the homeless.

Coverline:  The Anchoring feature strapline, ‘25 years of a publishing revolution’ is the key image as well. Both combined are the focal point of the cover, drawing the audience’s attention to the main theme of this edition. Banner, ‘Special Anniversary edition does reinforce the idea of a bumper bonus editions.

Slogan: ‘A Hand up not a Handout’. Play with words as it connotes helping the poor/homeless by creating employment for them, not just handing out benefits to the homeless which is negatively stereotype of them.

Title/Masthead: ‘The Big Issue’ use of irony connoting the big issue of homelessness and poverty makes potential donors feel a sense of empathy 

Lighting: High-key artificial lighting creates a happy and successful mood to the magazine cover which is celebrating 25 Years of excellent service to the needy/homeless.

House style: Generally funky, lively cover that uses a Hollywood style presentation for this Big edition of 25 years of success.

Mode of Address: ‘Speaks’ to its audience in an informal & casual mode of address – ‘talking’  to its audience in a friendly manner as if they are part of an exclusive club e.g. the tagline ‘A Hand Up not a Handout’ does use language that the potential buyers can identify with.

Product details: Barcode, price, date & issues. Often price may reflect the type of readers. Sales are monitored for marketing strategies as well as for registering revenue made.

Adverts/promotion: The use of celebrity endorsement to Promote the brand and raise its status as a quality publication i.e. Teresa May, Andy Murray etc.

Product details: Barcode, price, date & issues. Often price may reflect the type of readers. Sales are monitored for marketing strategies as well as for registering revenue made.

Brand Values (similar to house style):  alternative, daring, vibrant, supportive, empowering,  rebellious,  interactive, charitable etc.

Web address: very common feature nowadays as all magazines have websites so readers can discover more about their products. Media convergence offers readers alternative access to their products. This is a common convention used in this digital age.

Industry- 

• Published weekly by Dennis & The Big Issue Ltd, 1991 to present. 

• Set edition: October 17-23 2016 

• Price: £2.50 

• Circulation: 82,000 readership 

• Website: http://www.bigissue.com/ 

• Genre: Independent/current affairs/entertainment/street magazine. 

• Strapline: ‘A hand up not a handout’ 

• ‘From an award-winning magazine offering employment opportunities to people in poverty, to a multi-million pound social investment business supporting enterprise to drive social change. For over 25 years The Big Issue Group has strived to dismantle poverty through creating opportunity, in the process becoming one of the most recognised and trusted brands in the UK.’