The Big Issue

High quality, varied and entertaining content for readers across age, culture, religion, gender and other demographics. Stories include reporting on local and international happenings with a ‘bigger issue’ about an individual, and unusual news or events that impact us all. The Big Issue shares in-depth interviews with local and international celebrities, artists, change-makers and thought leaders. It also focuses on local people or organisations committed to making positive changes in society – intent on finding innovative ways to effect change.

The Big Issue

PLANT WARRIORS FOR THE PLANET

INTRODUCING GUEST EDITOR LANDSCAPER, BOTANIST AND AUTHOR MARIJKE HONIG

DRIVE BUY • Drivers who buy The Big Issue are brave souls. There’s so much to negotiate sensorily and psychologically when buying while driving. It’s not an easy reach to stop or pull over and then grabble with cash, enduring possible hooting while negotiating traffic for safety. We acknowledge these challenges, and extend grateful thanks to all our readers. Remember, our vendors are identifiable by their Big Issue bibs – it’s a hand-up, not a hand-out.

Seeking workshop volunteers • The Big Issue seeks experts in their field who are happy to donate their hours training our vendors on a variety of topics. Knowledge transfer training uplifts lives and helps grow awareness. Our Social Worker, Melody Gombakomba reports.

Journalism in the year 2024 • The world is in a state of flux. Political, economic, social, and technological change seems to be accelerating. But those of us in the journalistic world trying to decipher what will happen in 2024 need not fear – help is at hand. CEO of the International Network of Street Papers (INSP/Big Issue), Mike Findlay-Agnew reports from Glasgow.

WRITERS' REVEAL • Magic happens in the space between. For author Sven Axelrad, this lies somewhere between accounting and writing.

Five Minutes with Sihle Khumalo • Sihle Khumalo has travelled all over Africa getting to know the people. But it’s South Africa’s history that bewitches him, and for his latest book, he started off by looking into the history of place names – but ended with a lot more stories to tell.

Crisp Packets & Stolen Keys, Bottlecaps & Broken Glass • Why go through the ringer if you aren’t going to put it in a book? Stuart MacBride writes about how an idea he’d sat with for 13 years finally found legs in the dark humour of the Scottish weather system.

CITIZEN'S POET • At the tender age of 23 Lindokuhle Mathenjwa has already published her second book 101 Poems – Things We Should Be Loud About.

6 ways inequality holds back climate action • Are improvements to green technologies, like better batteries and more efficient solar panels, enough on their own to tackle climate change? Unfortunately not. Our behaviour and lifestyles must change too.

Let's go hiking!

FUNNY FUN!

FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE AT HOME • Environmental activism is here to stay. More than a passing trend or green speak, it must become an integral part of life. Our day-to-day activities can affect the planet in either hugely detrimental or positive ways. For example, did you know that reducing paving and allowing rainwater to infiltrate the soil has a massive cooling effect, which helps to counter global warming? Have you considered that you can diversify your lawn by adding species that provide seasonal colour and attract wildlife? We spoke to landscaper, botanist, and author Marijke Honig about how to implement positive change.

Filling in the missing years • Uncovering the events and finds of the missing years of famous naturalist William Burchell’s return journey across the southern African veld 200 years ago was the mission authors Roger Stewart and Marion Whitehead set themselves.

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