The Big Issue: Key Terminology

Advertising revenue- This is when companies and magazines gain money for putting advertisements into their product.

Articles- An article is a piece of writing that is written by a columnist, to be put with lots of other news into a newspaper, magazines.

Audience Appeal- this is when media text targets a very small specific audience that are interested in a specific topic or theme and are able to decipher the code in a media text without challenge.

Cost- this is a set amount that a person is required to pay in order to acquire the product.

Cultural and political awareness- This is when the magazine or newspaper a aware about things such as music and art (culture) and about what is happening in the world politically.

Culture- these are aspects of society which changes from country to country. For example, art and music

David v Goliath narratives- A story where a ‘down trodden group’ will fight corporate giants

Editor-in-chief- this person is also known as a lead editor, chief editor, who is a publication's editorial leader who has final responsibility for its operations and policies.

Editorial content- This means content that is not advertising based.

Editorial opinion- An article in a newspaper or magazine expressing the opinion of the editor or publisher.

Emotional fulfilment- This means the feeling of happiness and satisfaction on the completion of something, for The Big Issue when buying a copy somebody may feeling happy with themselves as they are helping someone less fortunate than them.

Front cover- the front part of the cover of a book, magazine. This generally tells you what is going to be inside the magazine.

Guest columnists- These are people that write articles on a topic of their choosing. They are typically selected due to their proximity to a national or international issue.

Hybrid genre- This is also known as a cross genre which is a genre that blends themes and elements from two or more different genres.

Ideological beliefs- These are sets of social or political beliefs that are from specific cultures.

Ideology- An ideology is a set of opinions or beliefs of a group or an individual. Very often ideology refers to a set of political beliefs or a set of ideas that characterize a particular culture. Capitalism, communism, socialism, and Marxism are ideologies

Independent publication- This is when the magazine or newspaper is responsible for producing and selling their products

Institutional factors- these are factors that relate to structures in society. For example, rules, routines

Intertextuality- this means the process of creating references to different kinds of media texts.

Interviews- these are question and answer columns between the interviewer and the guest

John Bird and Gordon Roddick- These are the founders of The Big Issue

Key appeals- these are main points that the editors think are the most important parts of the news, which the primary target audience would have an interest in.

Language code- The form of literature used, for example The Big Issue uses a formal and complex structure meaning only the primary target audience who are well educated will be able to understand the tests properly.

Low production values- this is the quality of the magazine, for example The Big Issue has low production values because the quality of the paper is fairly thin and easily damaged.

Magazine sales- the number of magazines sold.

Modes of address- The language used within articles. For example, The Big Issue uses complex sentence structures to make it appear that the article is talking to you as a reader. 

News- these are events that are happening in the world, in The Big Issue, the news would be different for each country in each magazine in order for it to be relevant to that society.

Not-for-profit organisation- this is an organisation that works not to gain a profit, but to help people that are struggling in life. Any remaining money is put into there company in order to benefit charity.

Passing trade- this means the copies of the magazines are sold within shops or newsagents, they are only available on the street when passing a vendor.

Primary target audience- this is the main audience The Big Issue is aiming to sell their magazine to, the demographic is ABC1 professionals aged between 25-44.

Public service- this is a service that people are doing to help the community, for example The Big Issue’s service is to get rid of homelessness.

Published-  this term is used after the magazine has been completed and can be purchased by the public.

Rogue traders- these are people that are illegally selling copies of The Big Issue.

Socially aware- this means people/ companies are aware of the problems that are happening in the world.

Start-up capital- The money needed and raised in order for the company to start production.

Target audience- The Big Issue is aiming to sell their magazine to, the demographic is ABC1 professionals aged between 25-44.

The Big Issue- the name of the magazine.

The Big Issue Company Ltd- this is the main organisation that owns the magazine and the charity. It is a private limited, meaning it has limited liability. Also meaning shares of the company can only be sold to friends and family of the owners. 

The Big Issue Foundation- The charitable organisation that is an arm of The Big Issue magazine

Vendors- these are the people that are responsible for selling copies of The Big Issue.

Weekly circulation- the number of magazines made, distributed and sold a week. For The Big Issue this is around 82,000 a week.