the big issue - industry

Question 1

economic context - how many copies does tbi sell everyday?

Answer 1

around 12,000 magazines everyday

Question 2

economic context - how much do vendors collectively earn a year?

Answer 2

£5.5 million

Question 3

economic context - what is the magazine part of?

Answer 3

only one part of The Big Issue LTD alongside: The Big Issue Foundation (independently funded charity providing support and guidance for vendors)

Question 4

economic context - how much to vendors buy tbi for and sell it for?

Answer 4

buy The Big Issue for £1.25 and sell it for £2.50.

Question 5

brand identity - what has tbi strived to do?

Answer 5

For over 25 years The Big Issue has strived to dismantle poverty through creating opportunity

Question 6

brand identity - what do they often focus on?

Answer 6

social crisis - highly engaging

Question 7

brand identity - what is the logo like?

Answer 7

is simple and direct, whilst also being aggressive and highly recognizable

It is easily noticed and wants to be provocative

Question 8

brand identity - what is relevant with the slogan?

Answer 8

slogan of ‘Helping People Help Themselves’ encourages and differentiates from other social/charity organizations

Question 9

brand identity marketing - how do tbi market themselves?

Answer 9

• as ‘Vendor-centric’ – their charity work is led by the hopes and aspirations of Big Issue Vendors
• ‘fully inclusive’
• ‘non-judgemental’ approach claiming to work with anyone who is prepared to engage with self help, regardless of their circumstances or background

Question 10

brand identity - what do they believe in regards to poverty/social issues?

Answer 10

poverty is completely indiscriminate and features many homeless people
believes in the right to citizenship for all

Question 11

brand identity - what political leaning is tbi?

Answer 11

left leaning

Question 12

brand identity - where do tbi list its manifesto?

Answer 12

Contents page and appears in every issue

Question 13

advertising - what does tbi market?

Answer 13

markets a whole range of products, Films, TV shows, charities, concerts etc through advertising – a much more varied palette of adverts to appeal to broad audience

Question 14

advertising - how much advertising is in tbi?

Answer 14

more advertising within The Big Issue than ever before; 21 pages out of the 60 in the set text

Question 15

how is tbi moving into digital media?

Answer 15

The Big Issue created an easily navigable website with option to visit The Online Big Issue Shop to purchase branded items and other products created by the disadvantaged

Question 16

curran and seaton - does tbi meet this theory?

Answer 16

• Dennis & The Big Issue represents a singular business partnership, financed and printed independently
• Independence from the larger dominating industries in the UK make it an ideal antidote to Curran and Seaton’s notion of power influencing control in the media when governed by conglomerates
• Being independent does indeed somewhat inspire creativity, diversity, adventure and complete political autonomy
• still needs to adhere to the conventions of other similar current affairs & entertainment magazines to be noticed/a success

Question 17

livingstone and lunt - how is tbi regulated?

Answer 17

NOT a member of IPSO - must adhere to the strict regulations of all publications created by them