The Big Issue Planning New, Digital-Only Title

Homeless magazine The Big Issue is considering launching a spin-off magazine available only digitally.

Responding to our Wednesday report the magazine has partnered with e-edition vendor Yudu, the title’s communication manager Lara McCullagh wrote in our comments: “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.”

Big Issue street sellers buy copies of the printed magazine for £0.75 which they then sell for £1.50, making £0.75 per copy. It’s not clear what, if any, kind of involvement they would get from the digital-only edition, but McCullagh added: “However, in developing any subscription mechanism, we will focus on ensuring that homeless people benefit from each and every transaction.”

Yudu’s Chris Sheard told paidContent:UK: “Anything we do will not affect street sales. We are looking at several revenue-share and ways to distribute content. All the potential avenues will not be detracting from street sellers.”