Lesson 1 - THE BIG ISSUE

THE BIG ISSUE - LESSON 1

Magazines: The Big Issue

Magazines must be studied in relation to media language and media representations, including a consideration of the social, cultural and political contexts that influence how media language is used to construct representations. 

The Big Issue is a niche magazine outside the commercial mainstream that learners may not normally engage with. It provides a contrasting example of how the elements of the theoretical framework for media language can be used to construct alternative representations that appeal to particular audiences, including a consideration of the influence of the social, cultural and political contexts. 

Learners must study two front covers of The Big Issue, from the September of the first year of teaching a two year course, (e.g. from September 2023 onwards for a candidate entering for assessment in June 2025), chosen by the centre. The front covers selected should demonstrate representations that are alternative to the mainstream and of national significance, in terms of the events or issues they portray. 

The question could ask you to: 

• Discuss an unseen cover. 
• Compare an unseen cover to the ones you have studied. 
• Discuss the covers you have studied. 

https://www.bigissue.com/magazines/ 

Look through the relevant covers and find the two that you think best fit the bill. Post a link in the comments below and explain why you think that it would be good to study. 

The earliest you can use is issue 1580 with Bukayo Saka on the cover. This is certainly a good example of how media language is being used and representation but see if you can find a cover that you feel has a more political context.