Readers will be given the choice of buying a digital access card, the size of a business card, from vendors and entering their unique access code into a dedicated website. The digital edition has the same content as the fortnightly print edition and works on computers, tablets and smartphones. The digital version will cost $6 – the same as the print copy – with vendors earning $3 from every sale.
The Big Issue Australia's digital model is similar to the one trialed last year by The Big Issue in the North with INSP. Read more.With an increase in people accessing news and entertainment online and on handheld devices, the move provides readers to chose their preferred method of access, whilst still supporting street vendors.
The Big Issue Australia's CEO Steven Persson said the digital edition will not replace the print magazine, but simply give people a choice in how they read it.
“We recognise that an increasing number of people now prefer to read magazines online,” he said. “By offering a digital version, we hope to meet the needs of customers and reach out to new audiences to help increase sales for vendors.”
A sample of the digital edition is available here.
