Re: San Francisco Street Sheet's Take on The Big Issue (fwd)

Anitra Again (anitra@speakeasy.org)
Mon, 26 Jan 1998 05:37:23 -0800 (PST) 

Comments also sent to the CSF list:

I'd like to point out again that with the size of The Big Issue,
compared to the size of most street-papers, their 20% homeless
coverage equals as many pages -- or more -- as the 100% homeless
coverage of other street papers.  Their homeless coverage is not
"fluff" either -- it is substantial issues, and well done journalism.

Also, vendors vary in what they *want* from a street paper.  Some of
the vendors here at Real Change get very involved with the paper --
they read every issue, comment on it, bring in their own writing,
volunteer as vendor reps, help out in the office, and generally
participate in making the paper.  As far as "management" goes, Tom, I
am only interested in having a voice in the editorial side of the
paper -- which Tim encourages from all.  Tim makes the decisions about
which printer we use, what bills get paid when, etc -- and Nobody has
ever wrestled him over that.

There are other vendors who just come in several times a day for
another bundle of 100 and go out and sell.  If they were selling
MacDonald's hamburgers they wouldn't care what was in the things, and
they really don't care what's in the paper.  They want to earn some
money and get off the stinking street.

I don't think it is "empowerment" to tell the vendors how much they
should participate in the paper.  I think it is empowerment to let
them participate at whatever level they are interested in.  And maybe
it would be empowering to give them a choice of papers to sell.  I'm
not pushing that idea -- I'm saying we should think about it.  Is
there really only room for one alternative press per city?  

There are 497,000 or so people within the city limits of Seattle.
Even in a good month, that's at least 450,000 who haven't bought a
Real Change.  I wouldn't mind if those 450,000 bought another paper
instead.   

I think Mr. Bird did act thoughtlessly in his first approaches to L.A.
I also believe he has already been forced to think.  He has agreed to
meet with Tim Harris and others when he comes to the States in
February. 

Dialogue creates an egalitarian society.  Polarized debate has created
the society we have now.  I advocate for dialogue.
___________________
WRITE ON! -- Anitra