magazines - magazines / The Big Issue

Magazines

- frequency = how often they are published (The Big Issue - monthly)
- appeal = who / how are they appealing to target audience
- revenue = amount of money they make

audience:
- niche
- mass market

types of magazines:
- special interest - about particular things (e.g. Birdwatching) - niche audience
- automotive titles - (e.g. Cars)
- young women's titles (e.g. New Women)
- entertainment - films (e.g. Empire)
- celeb gossip

institutions:
- 5 big magazine companies: (multiple changes in last 3 yrs)

• Emap - Bauer Media Group / Ascential
• IPC Media - Time Inc
• National Magazine Company - Hearst Magazines UK
• Conde Nast
• Dennis

Conde Nast:

- titles they are responsible for: (many fashion-based)

     - British Vogue - 220,000

     - Teen Vogue - over 1 mill - 17,000 looking online

     - The New Yorker - over 1 mill

     - Tatler - 90,000

     - Golf World - 22,000

- still available in print format? yes / no

- circulation figures

- webite traffic

- diversification - what other media platforms does the company operate in? - all

- magazines owned by: Advance Publications

The Big Issue - context

- history & achievements:

• 1991 - launched by Gordon Roddick & A. John Bird - response to growing number of rough sleepers on streets of London - key to solving homelessness: helping people help themselves - vendors buy their magazines w/ own money & sell for own profit / loss
• 1995 - The Big Issue Foundation established - self-help ethos - links vendors w/ vital support & services - provided services about following issues:
• housing
• health
• finances
• education
• employment
• personal aspirations
• vendor's independence / livelihood - 40,000 positive outcomes in last decade
• 2015 - 2000 (+) vendor's achieved record levels of personal outcomes - impactful / cost effective work includes:
• teaching transferable sales / customer service skills
• access to: accommodation / mainstream healthcare / employment / education / volunteering
• establishment of support networks - including other The Big Issue vendors / customers / specialist service providers

- objectives:

• 'vendor-centric' - charity work is led by the hopes & aspirations of Big Issue vendors
• 'inclusive' - social & financial inclusion
• 'non-judgmental' - work w/ anyone who is prepared to self-help

- facts & statistics:

• 2000 vendors (500 in London)
• 90% men
• 50 (+) % supporting families
• £100 average weekly revenue
• 82,000 copies sold // week
• vendor opportunities include:
• corporate placements
• work in magazine distribution
• work experience
• training of new vendors