The Big Issue

 Intertextuality- where a media text creates a references to another piece of media such as using images, lines or actions similar to others.

Big Issue

The big issue will often use intertextuality on their front covers with references often relating to their stories they feature. Such as one of their covers featuring clear references to the Alfred Hitchcock movie Vertigo, whilst others relating to Sgt Peppers front covers. 

72% of the big issues readers are in the ABC1 category

43% of readers are AB

Psychographics: Reformers Explorers

To appeal to their target audience who will have the cultural capital to understand the references 

Mass Magazine 

• Usually printed on high quality paper
• Usually stapled or bound
• Published less frequently than newspapers
• Usually categorized by theme or topics

The front covers are important because they should indicate the stories, the genre and signature of the magazine (must be familiar and similar to other copies)

Masthead-Should be instantly recognizable to the audience and can often be copped out for a logo

Coverlines-Stories top convince the readers to buy the issue, often between 6-12 coverlines to convince different audiences

Color palette-Usually three colors which run throughout the cover

Taglines/slogans-A catchy slogan which represents the brand

Feature Articles-Usually the largest font on the screen and best represents the target audience

Central Image-Usually connected to the featured article, appeals to the target audience and may have a celebrity focus. Often secondary images which relate to smaller stories

The Big Issue House Style

Is their house style followed strictly- They take some liberties with their style as whilst most issues will feature the name of the interviewed celebrity in the center, not all of them do  

How do the Big Issue front covers differ compared to a typical fashion magazine?

They The big issue tend to use a variety of styles on its covers option for a unique style with little conventions in each issue of the magazine. IT also does not follow a common color pallet scheme choosing to implement a variety of colors instead f being limited to 3 or 4.

Genre and magazine

The big issue is defined by its distribution method: street vendors

Its not constraint to one genre like other magazines

It doesn't need to be recognized by retailers

until recently it didn't even have a barcode because it didn't need one

Politics

It is a political magazine, it holds all politician of every stripe to account. Who are we to say what people are to spend their hard earned wages on 

their target is to dismantle poverty and to fight for social inclusion

They are often critical of big business who they believe suck money out o0f they economy rather than put money in.