The Big Issue Magazine - Success

 Like every media text there are many different ways to measure success however the success of The Big Issue is hard as it is unclear why the audience may be purchasing the magazine. Unlike most media texts people purchase it because they enjoy it however the distribution of The Big Issue (sold by the homeless and half of the money goes to that specific vendor) it is unclear if the person is buying the magazine because they want it of are buying it so they feel as if they are helping the vendor and in a way giving to charity while getting something back.  

One of the main ways of measuring the success of any magazine is the circulation and readership figures, in 2012 the circulation figures were 86,598 national and the readership figures were 482,000  showing people are interested in the content of the magazine. In addition to this is a huge amount of people as considering 91% of these audience members donate to charity on a regular basis and 75% participate in fundraising for charity.  

Another way that this magazine is a success is the fame and notoriety of the magazine now due to specific vendors, for example James was a recovering heroin addict who found and injured cat that he named Bob and now James is the author and creator of the book A Street Cat Named Bob, The World According To Bob and many more as well as the book A Street Cat Named Bob now being a film as well, this shows how one person can have such a small amount but then make it big and have a stable life. Although this is a rare case that does show the success of the magazine there are also many other success stories of how other vendors have battled addiction, homelessness and poverty. This is another way the magazine is a success as it changes people lives for the better and helps them in their time of need.  

Another way the magazine is a success is through the ABV model, this is the idea that the audience, business and vendors all need each other and work together for the magazine to be successful, each factory relies on another. These three things work in a symbiotic relationship and work together to create the text. In addition to this the model allows there to be problems in other, for example the magazine may not be up to standard (fail in b) but the fact that the vendors promote the magazine and are an appeal means that v brings the magazine up.  

The main way to measure the success of the media text is if the preferred reading and by the figures of the magazine it is clear that the audience do accept the ideological messages of the magazine as even by the fact that they purchase the magazine shows they want to help the vendors and try to help and or end homelessness for some people.  

Overall The Big Issue is a success and the main way this magazine shows the audience is the amount of people who want to help others and be involved in charity and helping people rebuild their lives.