Comments on: Big Issue Disintermediates The Homeless With Digital Edition http://paidcontent.org/2009/08/26/419-big-issue-disintermediates-the-homeless-with-digital-edition/ The economics of digital content Fri, 24 May 2013 23:44:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Elaine Harwood http://paidcontent.org/2009/08/26/419-big-issue-disintermediates-the-homeless-with-digital-edition/#comment-73477 Fri, 28 Aug 2009 00:46:51 +0000 http://paidcontent.wp.gostage.it/2009/08/26/419-big-issue-disintermediates-the-homeless-with-digital-edition/#comment-73477 Exactly how are street sales going to be protected if you offer a different outlet for purchase?

Has anyone asked the homeless and vulnerably housed people how they feel about having their magazine distributed online? How much will they benefit from each and every transaction?

The whole idea of The Big Issue going digital seems completely unethical. Back issues I can understand but I just can't see how selling current editions will work to benefit the homeless in the same way as street selling does – even if it's a new title. Couldn't a new title be sold on the street too?

]]> By: Simon Plesbit http://paidcontent.org/2009/08/26/419-big-issue-disintermediates-the-homeless-with-digital-edition/#comment-73476 Fri, 28 Aug 2009 00:22:49 +0000 http://paidcontent.wp.gostage.it/2009/08/26/419-big-issue-disintermediates-the-homeless-with-digital-edition/#comment-73476 The whole point of the big issue has always been for the homeless people to generate an income, surely Yudu and the publisher are robbing from the poor!!

]]> By: Lara McCullagh http://paidcontent.org/2009/08/26/419-big-issue-disintermediates-the-homeless-with-digital-edition/#comment-73475 Thu, 27 Aug 2009 19:57:52 +0000 http://paidcontent.wp.gostage.it/2009/08/26/419-big-issue-disintermediates-the-homeless-with-digital-edition/#comment-73475 The Big Issue has absolutelt no intention of 'disintermediating' its vendors. The organisation's primary objective remains that of offering homeless and vulnerably housed people the opportunity to earn an income, hence our determination to protect street sales.

Initially we hope to work with Yudu to sell individual back issues, and going forward we are exploring the possibility of developing a new title which will be exclusively available in a digital format. However in developing any subscription mechanism we will focus on ensuring that homeless people benefit from each and every transaction.

]]> By: Mark Nagurski http://paidcontent.org/2009/08/26/419-big-issue-disintermediates-the-homeless-with-digital-edition/#comment-73474 Thu, 27 Aug 2009 01:14:03 +0000 http://paidcontent.wp.gostage.it/2009/08/26/419-big-issue-disintermediates-the-homeless-with-digital-edition/#comment-73474 The Big Issue do already offer a 'supporting' subscription package which starts from £250 a year – so it's feasible that they might do something similar here at a lower price point.

Also worth bearing in mind that both Big Issue Scotland and Big Issue Wales do publish mag content on their respective sites.

]]>