What's the big issue over Big Issue (The Big Issue)

Member Name: allybally

Product:	The Big Issue
Date:	13/04/07 (106 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Informative and interesting read, great entertainment section, social benefit

Disadvantages: Nothing, although some complain about the amount of advertising

I have been buying Big Issue for about a decade now, having first been introduced to it while living in London.

Before talking about content, let me explain how the publication helps the homeless.

The Big Issue is an international publication which gives people facing homelessness the opportunity to help themselves.

Each vendor is given training and support before choosing a pitch from which to sell copies of the magazine to the public. Instead of pan-handling, The Big Issue gives people the opportunity to ear money through the distribution of the weekly magazine. The magazine is sold for £1.20 and a portion of this (70p I believe) goes directly to the vendor while the left over profits go to covering the expenses of producing it.

It is so great to see these people who, for what ever reason have fallen on hard times, being given the opportunity to regain their dignity by working legitimately. So often, the resources and support allocated to these people are limited leaving them with low confidence which inevitably leads to further problems such as alcohol and drug addiction and the inability to fit comfortably into society.

Selling the magazine gives each individual the same sense or responsibility and achievement that we all need to feel.

Most of the vendors I buy from are extremely friendly and curteous and genuinely appreciate you stopping for a chat.

Not only does The Big Issue help the homeless to regain their rightful status in the community, it is also a brilliant magazine to read - one i look forward to on a weekly basis. It profiles a different vendor each week interviewing them on their views on current events and how selling the magazine has benefitted them, giving them the recognition and encouragement they need as much as the rest of us.

Content
The magazine covers a variety of topics from hard-hitting current affairs issues such as asylum seekers rights and the state of the NHS to great music reviews and interviews with celebrities.
When George Michael decided to break his silence after his arrest in 1996, he did so to the Big Issue. Stars such as Kate Moss, David Beckham and Arnold Swartzenneger have also featured.

The Big Issue has also had a host of guest editors involved with their publication including artist Damien Hirst and Scottish author Irvine Welsh.

The magazine also acts as a great resource tool for its readers as well as the homeless who benefit from its sale. A fantastic job section which covers vacancies mostly in the charitable organisation arena is available as is a forum which allows homeless people to publish their written work for its readers to enjoy.

This is a well respected publication which has justly received a number of awards over the years including theCRE Race in the Media Award, the PPA Publisher of the Year Award and International Federation of Journalists Award. Where some publications shy away from difficult issues, The Big Issue tackles them head on with 100% conviction.

Not only am I proud to be contributing to a cause which I back fully, I relish being able to read a magazine which is so well put together. This is an important publication for all the reasons I have mentioned and I wish it was manditory for everyone to read.

Summary: A magazine created to give the homeless back their dignity