Big Issue in Big Trouble
You heard it here second... | 17.05.2002 14:59
From todays Times:
"The Big Issue has more than 1 million readers and has given thousands of homeless people the chance to earn money legitimately. but now, after a disastrous launch in America, staff cutbacks and talk of a financial crisis, the magazine faces an uncertain future...
On the streets around Euston station last night, the talk among vendors was anger directed towards john Bird- The Big Issues' founder and and editor- in - chief, who this week confirmed that 6 out of 13 journalists ij cluding the editor are taking redundancy... "Its John Bird that owns it, its him thats getting rid of all the staff. Its all I, I , I with him"
The Times suggests that the failed attempt to 'break' into the USA cost some £250,000, and if so, the question is WHY Mr Bird felt the need to speculate in this way, as if perhaps he was managing a second-rank rock band ? As always, once the profit motive becomes uppermost, the well-being of those the project was set up to benefit will be forgotten. Capitalist methods cannot ultimately succeed.
"The Big Issue has more than 1 million readers and has given thousands of homeless people the chance to earn money legitimately. but now, after a disastrous launch in America, staff cutbacks and talk of a financial crisis, the magazine faces an uncertain future...
On the streets around Euston station last night, the talk among vendors was anger directed towards john Bird- The Big Issues' founder and and editor- in - chief, who this week confirmed that 6 out of 13 journalists ij cluding the editor are taking redundancy... "Its John Bird that owns it, its him thats getting rid of all the staff. Its all I, I , I with him"
The Times suggests that the failed attempt to 'break' into the USA cost some £250,000, and if so, the question is WHY Mr Bird felt the need to speculate in this way, as if perhaps he was managing a second-rank rock band ? As always, once the profit motive becomes uppermost, the well-being of those the project was set up to benefit will be forgotten. Capitalist methods cannot ultimately succeed.
You heard it here second...
Comments
Hide the following 6 comments
yes...
17.05.2002 15:49
Indeed, it is basically a business. And naturally, it's attempt to 'break into' the USA failed, because the impetus from the USA homeless presumably, wasn't there. Not to mention the people???
What's needed then in the UK? Vendors, rise up and take over the Big Issue?
Whatever happened to the arm the homeless campaign???
stinkbomb
I feel Quite sad
17.05.2002 15:55
occasional Buyer of Big issue
Heres a Keynsian Tip to help the Sellers
17.05.2002 15:59
Occasional Big Issue Buyer
Dickens ? really ?
17.05.2002 16:10
Occasional Buyer
Non-Issues
17.05.2002 17:57
Reader's wife
Good riddance
17.05.2002 20:44
It gets worse though because there is a pool of good will out there towards homeless people which is being soaked up by the Big Issue. And really all the mag is is a low grade copy of tabloid muck.
Some of these vendors are quite aggressive and try to guilt trip people into buying it. The sooner the Big Issue folds the better....
Wellington Buffet