2003 International Street Paper Survey Report

2003 International Street Paper Survey Report (December 18, 2003)

Africa

The Big Issue South Africa

Location: Cape Town, South Africa Contact: [email protected] : Publisher, [email protected] : Editor, [email protected] : Managing Director. Frequency of publication: Monthly Average circulation: 17,000 Average vendors per month: 250-300 Annual budget: Magazine only costs excluding social programmes. Total budget 2003: ZAR 1,854,932. Income: magazine sales: 44%, display advertising: 48%, fundraising: 8%. Expenditure: staff costs: 41%, printing and production: 37%, head office and marketing: 15%, variable costs (e.g. telephone): 4%, Fixed overhead (e.g. rent): 3%. Paid staff: 17 Volunteers: 2 and a VSO Involvement of marginalized individuals: One former vendor is now a staff writer and one former vendor works on distribution. Our distribution manager was homeless himself and spent several years on the street. Content: News and issues based features with an entertainment section including reviews of CDs, books and visual arts. Main goals: 1) Voice of poor: 2 2) Job training/skills: 1 3) Social services: 1 4) Forum for political activism: 4 5) Community for poor: 2 Affiliated programs/projects: The Big Issue runs art and writing groups each week and the material is used both, for the two Streets Ahead pages given over to vendors, and for exhibition and sales of art work published in the magazine. What paper does best: Comes out every month within budge. Succeeded in positioning itself as a showcase project for South African service delivery. Additional comments: The Big Issue continues to grow and develop with distribution in both Cape Town and Johannesburg. The future lies in consolidating this growth and finding creative and cost effective ways to develop our distribution into Durban and other major cities in South Africa.

Mango News

Location: The Gambia, West Africa Contact: Adama Bah Email: [email protected] Frequency of publication: Monthly Average circulation: 1500-2000 Average vendors per month: 23 Annual budget: We have just restarted the paper. Just printed the second edition. Paid staff: Only volunteers Volunteers: 5 Involvement of marginalized individuals: Not very much at the moment but gradually taking place Content/Readership: Informative, Educative and fun. Mainly tourist visiting The Gambia Main goals: 1) Voice of poor: 5 2) Job training/skills: 4 3) Social services: No rating 4) Forum for political activism: No rating 5) Community for poor: 5 Other: Providing information on services of small, medium and informal businesses What paper does best: Helps raise awareness and gives income and skills to the vendors

Canada

Calgary Street Talk

Location: Calgary, CA Contact: Paul Drohan, Editor Email: [email protected] Frequency of publication: Monthly Average circulation: 4,300 Average vendors per month: 35 Annual Budget: total $50,000 vendor purchases; about $24,000 CUPS subsidy about $26,000 Paid staff: ¾ person Volunteers: three to five (varies with issue) Involvement of marginalized individuals: In response to vendors wishes we are not that organized … we try to work by consensus and change therefore is constant … but it ain’t broke so we aren’t fixing it just yet. Took the editor a while to adjust, accept and be happy with the way things are … vendor meetings called when need arises or about every 6 weeks. Vendor contributors have more say, more often. Content/Readership:Our vendors and the issues of interest to us are at one end of the socio/economic continuum and the bulk of our readers much closer to the other end … we publish stories that are pertinent and relevant to the homeless, poor or about agencies or individuals who are trying to enable or empower those who are less fortunate … we try to tactfully and tastefully confront our readers with some realities that they might otherwise wish to ignore or turn away from. Main Goals: 1) Voice of poor: 2 2) Job training/skills: 3 3) Social services: 5 4) Forum for political activism: 6 5) Community for poor: 1 Affiliated programs/projects: literacy programs … personal and professional and education development for vendors primarily on a one to one basis as vendors show willingness or desire to participate in some form of self-improvement. What paper does best: give voice to those who don’t have other venues for expression … prod those with a social conscience into action … we have had people offer to help individual vendors become housed or satisfy basic needs such as clothing or social activities and also do it for vendors as a group … others have supported the paper through donations for social gatherings or vendor recognition programs.

L’Itineraire

Location: 1907, Amherst St. Montreal (Que.) H2L 3L7 Canada Contact: Nancy Roussy Email: [email protected] Frequency of publication: monthly Average circulation: 20,000 Average vendors per month: 75 Annual Budget: around $100,000 (hard to tell) Paid staff: 3 for the paper itself. Our structure is complicated since the paper is part of a community group Volunteers: 4-5 text revisers a month Involvement of marginalized individuals: The organization is not the paper…the paper is only one part of 3 other projects: a Café and an Internet Space for the homeless. The Administrative committee of the Groupe Communautaire L’Itineraire is 50% homeless or former homeless. The voting members are in majority from the street. The content of the paper is 50% or more done by homeless or former homeless people. The paper is a school-paper for people to learn journalistic skills for example. Content: 50% of content comes from homeless/former homeless people. Subjects usually touch everything connected with homelessness, poverty, exclusion, marginalization… whether the approach be done politically, editorially, biographically, etc. Readership: Our readers are a mixed group: a lot of students (universities), a lot of people who want alternative information and know we can deliver it, people who believe in social change. Our readership is over 60% female. Main Goals: 1) Voice of poor: 5 2) Job training/skills: 4 3) Social services: 3 4) Forum for political activism: 2 5) Community for poor: 2 Other: Alternate information in a world of media control Affiliated programs/projects: INSP, NASNA, AMECQ (association of community media in Quebec). We are currently part of and creating a new network of alternative medias for the province of Quebec. RAPSIM: Network of alone and homeless people in Montreal. We are part of many consulting groups in order to make sure the levels of government consider every option before making decision. We also, as a school-paper, have courses in journalistic writing, basic computer skills, etc. What paper does best: Interests our readers in homeless people. Our vendors develop a really good relationship with their clients. Part of that is due to them believing in our projects and part of it is seeing the difference we can make in someone’s life. Our content also makes them see we want our vendors to collaborate and that makes our readers interested in our project. Additional comments: Our paper cannot function without the Group itself…it is connected to it. That makes our paper very different from others since ours is based on an empowerment group for the homeless, mainly done by the homeless, formerly- homeless. The paper wants to be able to do more job training also. Job and social reinsertion programs are what allows us to help people, not just giving them a voice.

La Quete

Location: Quebec City, Quebec, Canada Contact: Bernard Helie, coordinator Email: [email protected] Frequency of publication: Monthly Average circulation: 2,000 to 3,000 depending on the season Average vendors per month: 15 Annual budget: 75% sales of paper, 20% sales of publicity, 5% donations Paid staff: None for one year; with the help of federal government we had one paid staff member, but the program has not been renewed yet. Volunteers: Around 30; 2 part time workers on provincial government program to help them gain job-training skills. Involvement of marginalized individuals: Most of the writers are marginalized individuals. Two of the regular workers on government program are marginalized individuals. Content: Most of the paper content is stories form individuals’ experiences with homelessness or poverty. Some will write about loneliness. We also have articles describing what’s happening in the community. Poetry. Some fiction stories are also part of every month edition. Readership: no answer Main goals: 1) Voice of poor: 1 2) Job training/skills: 1 3) Social services: 1 4) Forum for political activism: 4 5) Community for poor: 2 Affiliated programs/projects: La Quete is part of the organization of “the night of the homeless” which takes place every year first weekend of November and is about raising awareness of population as to what happen to those that don’t have a warm place to sleep at night. We also do promotion of other organizations that work with poverty and homelessness. We are of every political debate that concerns poverty, homelessness and social issues. What paper does best: Help the vendors regain control of their lives and help them be viewed on the street as workers not beggars. The paper belongs to them, it’s their property and they are proud of it. Not many homeless people have that chance but with a street paper in a city, they can. Additional comments: Even if we do criticize government actions or the lack of it, we do it respectfully. If we want the paper and the vendors to be respected we have to respect others.

Our Voice

Location: 10527-96 Street, Edmonton, Alberta T5H-2H6 Contact: Warren Bjarnason Email: [email protected] Frequency of publication: Monthly Average circulation: 7,000 Average vendors per month: 75 Paid staff: 4 Volunteers: 2 Involvement of marginalized individuals: none Content: Articles about specific inner-city issues and social issues pertinent to the inner- city. Readership: Our demographic is largely educated, socially conscious people working in the downtown sector of Edmonton. Main goals: 1) Voice of poor: 1 2) Job training/skills: 4 3) Social services: 5 4) Forum for political activism: 3 5) Community for poor: 2 Other: Providing income for street vendors. Affiliated programs/projects: Writers’ workshops, student mentoring, poetry nights, poetry book projects, t-shirt/calendar/and poetry book sales. What paper does best: Our paper bring issues to the public that otherwise get little or no media attention.

Germany

TagesSatz

Location: Göttigen and Kassel, Germany Contact: Claudia Gottschalk Email: [email protected] Frequency of publication: 10 times per year. (Dec/Jan and Jul/Aug have one issue) Average circulation: approximately 3,000 to 4,000 issues per month for both cities. Average vendors per month: approximately 10 to 15 in both cities. Annual budget: grants/donations: 30% events: 0% government funding: 0% advertisements: 30% sales of the magazine/earned income: 40% Paid staff: None Volunteers: approximately 20 Involvement of marginalized individuals: Vendors are encouraged to participate as much as possible. There is a writer’s workshop for vendors each month. Also in Kassel, one vendor is responsible for the distribution of papers to all other vendors. Content: Each month’s content focuses on one major topic. A second part of the paper is specific to the city it is distributed in. We focus on independent cultural events in each city. The paper tries to introduce readers to people with special needs, and services that could require help. Readership: The readership of the paper is very diverse so it cannot be pinned down, however in Göttingen the majority of the readers are students since it is a college town. Main goals: 1) Voice of poor: 5 2) Job training/skills: 3 3) Social services: 4 4) Forum for political activism: 4 5) Community for poor: 5 Other: To give marginalized people some self-esteem by selling a good product, give them day structure, and some extra income. Affiliated programs/projects: There is a monthly writer’s workshop for the vendors so that they are able to voice their concerns and problems. They also produce a rather independent TagesSatz in January which indicates that they are able to handle the responsibility. Also a breakfast is held for vendors every two weeks so that they can share ideas and experiences. A new project was just started in which 50 one-way cameras are distributed to homeless people so that they may take pictures of their lives. Hopefully this project will culminate in a book that will show that the disparity between marginalized and non-marginalized peoples is not that large. What paper does best: We work well together and with our vendors to produce a quality product with a great layout.

Netherlands

Z Magazine

Location: Amsterdam (and surroundings) Contact: Jeroen de Rooij Email: [email protected] Frequency of publication: Bi-weekly, in the summer 3-weekly, in total 22 editions/year. Average circulation: 25,000 Average vendors per month: 175 Annual budget: 90% earned income, 10% donations. Paid staff: 4 persons, 1 fulltime, three part-time Volunteers: no answer Involvement of marginalized individuals: Some of them are working as a volunteer. Content: Content is 1/3 a perspective ‘from the street’, 1/3 content about Amsterdam and 1/3 culture. Readership: Readership is 2/3 women and 1/3 men, of which 60% is high educated. Main goals: 1) Voice of poor: 3 2) Job training/skills: 4 3) Social services: 4 4) Forum for political activism: 6 5) Community for poor: 2 Other: To earn an income, and bring homeless people in contact with society. [possibly a reversal of rating scale?] Affiliated programs/projects: Dutch lessons for vendors, a ‘housing/working’-project for homeless people, poet-club with 1 page publication in each A magazine, social events like a picnic, BBQ, or going to the movies. What paper does best: To make an income for the vendors and bring them in contact with society, by making a readable varied magazine, made by a professional staff. Additional comments: Z magazine is made more from a social/editorial perspective than from a political perspective. The main goal is of course helping the homeless to help themselves, but helping the homeless in the Netherlands is rather highly organized, by the government, local authorities, and a lot of institutions, so we help the homeless by making and distribute a streetmagazine like Z magazine, that’s our core-business.

Portugal

Location: Lisboa, Portugal Contact: Henrique Pinto Email: [email protected] Frequency of publication: Every month Average circulation: 35,000 per issue Average vendors per month: 136 vendors, but work with 200 people per year Annual budget: Staff: 77,100€, Magazine Production: 76,255.34€, Maintenance, services, traveling, rents: 29,085.81€, Income from sales: 77,000€, Donations: 15,000€, Sponsors: 15,000€, Government funding: 89,783.62€. Paid staff: Nine people Volunteers: Three to four people on average per month. Involvement of marginalized individuals: No homeless people work directly for CAIS, however some works are published, mainly written texts. Content: General news and interest pieces that are deemed important or relevant. Readership: The paper has quality pictures and is written for the medium to high cultured, learned reader. Main goals: 1) Voice of poor: 5 2) Job training/skills: 5 3) Social services: 2 4) Forum for political activism: 7 5) Community for poor: 1 Other: To create autonomous and independent individuals. Selling the paper has that scope in view. Affiliated programs/projects: Presented to the Portuguese Parliament a document concerning immigration and homelessness designed to trigger debate among members of Parliament. Also the media is encouraged to get involved with issues since they are released to the public before they are available to sell. What paper does best: CAIS creates a magazine that not only provides income for the vendors, but provides a quality product for the buyer. It is a platform where the opposites coexist in order to transform each other.

Russia

‘Put’ Domoi’ (Journey Home)

Location: St. Petersburg, Russia Contact: Marina Dmitrieva or Arcady Tuirin, editor Email: Marina: [email protected] or Arcady: [email protected] Frequency of publication: from 1st of December monthly Average circulation: from 3,000 copies now Average vendors per month: about 30 vendors Annual budget: 55% founders, 10% income from selling, 35% grants Paid staff: from 1st of December – 3 people Volunteers: from 1st of December – 4 volunteers + authors Involvement of marginalized individuals: 1 person in the Distribution point has not registration and place for living and so has not many civic rights like our vendors. Content: Articles about social problems (including homelessness) and activity of 3rd sector organization, materials about our vendors, about our city (details of city life), annotations, reviews, recritique (new books, movie, music), full list of cultural events (museums, exhibitions, galleries, concerts, theatres, excursions and others). Readership: one group – young people who are interested in content, and second group – elder (basically women, their main motivation for buying of street paper is charity. Our readers have higher level of education. Main goals: 1) Voice of poor: 2 2) Job training/skills: 1 3) Social services: 3 4) Forum for political activism: 5 5) Community for poor: 4 Other: Give income and jobs for homeless Affiliated programs/projects: Weekly training for vendors (financial planning, safety behavior, effective communications), social integration through sport (football team), art- therapy (there were some meetings). What paper does best: Work in the team. Additional comments: In this moment the magazine is reestablished recently. Before paper could provide job for 2,000 homeless.

Millhistorias

Location: Madrid and Valencia Spain, as well as Basque Country Contact: Mónica Sánchez Email: [email protected] Frequency of publication: every two weeks Average circulation: 5,000 Average vendors per month: 30-50 (three paid with contracts) Annual budget: (this budget is for all of the Foundations) Total budget 2001: 558,000€ (11.88% from donation, 84.13% from government funding, 3.26% from sales and advertisements, 0.74% from others.) Paid staff: 35 (two journalist, one pedagogy, and a social worker for the vendors) Volunteers: 60 Involvement of marginalized individuals: 7% of the staff is formerly homeless persons. Content: The paper tries to create social dialogue, ten topics are proposed each issue, and then responses from the public are printed. The paper aims to break down social barriers. Readership: N/A Main goals: 1) Voice of poor: 2 2) Job training/skills: 1 3) Social services: 1 4) Forum for political activism: 3 5) Community for poor: 2 Affiliated programs/projects: Art workshops, writing, photography, theater, and painting, Day centers, Accommodation programs, Street Educators, Social Support, Employment programs. What paper does best: All the social projects that surround the paper.

Sweden

Faktum

Location: Gothenburg, Sweden Contact: Emil Sernbo, Editor Email: [email protected] Frequency of publication: Monthly Average circulation: 15,000 copies Average vendors per month: 60 Annual budget: 60% earned income, 15% grants & donations, 25% government funding Paid staff: 7 Volunteers: 2 Involvement of marginalized individuals: We have two vendors on the board. We also have a monthly meeting, which all vendors can participate in. Content: The magazine is made up of two core content-parts. One is social reporting, where we try to keep a street, or grass-root perspective. The main objective is to put focus on the marginalized groups and how their lives look. Most of our material deals with things that take place in our city and its proximity. The other part is constituted of articles on different forms of alternative culture. Here we also try to keep the focus on the streets, with the occasional “up-and-coming” features. This means that we extremely seldom publish anything that has to do with celebrities in any way. Readership: Our main reader-group is socially conscious youth and middle-class, and students. We have a fairly young readership. Main goals: 1) Voice of poor: 5 2) Job training/skills: 5 3) Social services: 2 4) Forum for political activism: 4 5) Community for poor: 4 [possible reversal of ranking values] Affiliated programs/projects: Soccer team that participated in the 2003 homeless world cup, and is training for next year. Political activist group for “quick-response” actions when an issue occurs that might affect our vendors (i.e. housing projects, government drug rehab, etc.) Job-training programme (very small scale, so far). Each year we have a vendors-own-issue, which they put together by themselves, but with the regular staff as editors and coaches. What paper does best: We’ve only been around for two years, so what we’ve been able to accomplish so far is to get people to realize the conditions for homeless people and which social mechanisms and factors that contribute to homelessness. I believe that we provide the vendors with a good tool to strengthen their self-confidence and as a result find a way to improve their lives, and hopefully find hope, and a home.

The Big Issue Cymru

Location: Wales, UK Contact: Su West Email: [email protected] Frequency of publication: weekly Average circulation: 9000 Average vendors per month: 50 Annual Budget: magazine sales: 53.5%, advertising: 28%, other commercial activity: 6%, public donations: 1.5%, govt. institutions: 11% Paid staff: 16 Volunteers: 3 Involvement of marginalized individuals: None Content: General interest – news, features, arts & entertainment, vendors writing/poetry. Main Goals: 1) Voice of poor: 4 2) Job training/skills: 5 3) Social services: 2 4) Forum for political activism: 1 5) Community for poor: 2 Other: to raise issues around social exclusion and campaign for change. Affiliated programs/projects: Design & Print management service What paper does best: Empowers homeless people to regain control of their lives.

United States

Big News/Upward

Location: New York City Contact: Ron Grunberg, editor Email: [email protected] Frequency of publication: Monthly Average circulation: 25,000 Average vendors per month: 100 Annual budget: 25% earned income, 20% advertising, 20% grants, 5% donations/subscriptions, 5% events, 25% government funding. Paid staff: 2 Volunteers: 5 Involvement of marginalized individuals: Homeless and formerly homeless clients at our social services center, Grand Central Neighborhood, contribute the bulk of our writer in Upward, our shelter paper, which in addition to being distributed to the shelter system in NY is the second section of BIGnews, which is sold to the public. Content: We seek to reach the general public through provocative art and literature, emphasizing the “outsider” perspective. In addition, to bridge the gap between the rich and poor by including our shelter paper in that package, so that the general public also gets an insight into the thoughts and artwork of the dispossessed. Readership: no answer Main goals: 1) Voice of poor: 3 2) Job training/skills: 2 3) Social services: 2 4) Forum for political activism: 6 5) Community for poor: 3 Other: To publish something anyone would want to read. Affiliated programs/projects: We’re part of a large social services organization, Grand Central Neighborhood. We run the city’s largest drop-in center, providing shelter, four meals, chairs, and a whole array of social services to over 200 different people a day. One of our “outreach” methods is a weekly writers group. We also hold photography and art groups. What paper does best: Provides honest and well-written stories and beautiful artwork to the general public. Our whole effort bridges the gap between disparate peoples, lessens the ignorance about the poor – and entertains.

Curbside News

Location: Stanislaus County, CA, main distribution in Modesto, CA Contact: Ken Lane Email: [email protected] Frequency of publication: monthly Average circulation: 200-500 printed issues, 500 emailed Average vendors per month: None, CSN is distributed free by volunteers. Annual budget: Approximately 800 dollars, all of which goes towards printing, and comes from donations. Paid staff: None Volunteers: It varies, but typically 6 Involvement of marginalized individuals: Everyone associated with the production of the paper is marginalized, barely making it as it is. Content: The content of the paper focuses on making the voices of homeless people heard. It also provides space for listings of useful services. It also keeps homeless people up to date on what’s being done in the county to help them. Readership: Readership includes Homeless, poor, and otherwise interested parties, as well as most of the City and County government official. CSN is also emailed to a number of service providers as well as the Modesto Police Administration. Main goals: 1) Voice of poor: 1 2) Job training/skills: 4 3) Social services: 2 4) Forum for political activism: 2 5) Community for poor: 1 Other: No response Affiliated programs/projects: California Homelessness Civil Rights Organizing Project What paper does best: Lets the poor and homeless citizens know that they are not alone and that there are those that actually do care about their plight. Also refers those in need to services in the area.

Homeless Voice

Location: Davie, FL Contact: Sean Cononie Email: [email protected] Frequency of publication: 2 or 3 times a month Average circulation: 100,000 Average vendors per month: 100 Annual budget: $750,000:all earned income Paid staff: 2 for the paper alone Volunteers: five Involvement of marginalized individuals: all Content: Homeless issues and social service issues and poverty. Readership: no answer Main goals: 1) Voice of poor: 2 2) Job training/skills: 3 3) Social services: 1 4) Forum for political activism: 4 5) Community for poor: 5 What paper does best: Give poor people money.

Real Change

Location: Seattle, WA Contact: Adam Holdorf Email: [email protected] Frequency of publication: Bi-weekly Average circulation: 19,000 Average vendors per month: 200 Annual budget: Paid staff: 4 Volunteers: 67 Involvement of marginalized individuals: Homeless and formerly homeless people sit on our Editorial Committee, which informs my decision-making as the editor. Homeless and very-low-income people also get their poetry, essays, articles and photographs published in the paper. Content: We are a community newspaper of the Seattle area focused on social issue, including homelessness. Readership: Our readers tend to be moderate-income, middle-aged people, they tend to pick it up outside the regions grocery stores or at pedestrian-friendly street corners, and they tend to be politically liberal people who want to help the homeless and appreciate a dignified transaction (as compared to panhandling). Main goals: 1) Voice of poor: 1 2) Job training/skills: 3 3) Social services: 5 4) Forum for political activism:2 5) Community for poor: 4 Other: Easy and flexible means of making a living. Affiliated programs/projects: StreetWrites/Out of the Margins – a homeless writers’ conversation forum and writing workshop. First Things First – a political action platform to allow concerns citizens to take action around poverty. What paper does best: Offer a way for people to connect across the economic divide. Street Light

Location: San Diego, CA Contact: Rocky Neptun Email: [email protected] Frequency of publication: Monthly Average circulation: 5,000 Average vendors per month: 30-40 Annual budget: Our annual expenditures average $10,000 Paid staff: None – although the health insurance of the editor is paid. Volunteers: 12-15 Involvement of marginalized individuals: At least 1/3 of our Board of Directors are requires to be homeless or formerly homeless. Content: With no alternative paper in town, we try to be both a community newspaper as well as a voice for the homeless. Readership: no answer Main goals: 1) Voice of poor: 1 2) Job training/skills: 5 3) Social services: 5 4) Forum for political activism: 1 5) Community for poor: 3 Affiliated programs/projects: We have a distribution co-op which engages the homeless in distribution. We are also intensifying our efforts to get more homeless writers and poets involved in an editorial cooperative. What paper does best: Advocate for affordable housing. Editor was recently elected to planning board on need for affordable housing.

Street Roots

Location: 1231 SW Morrison, Portland, OR 97205 Contact: Israel Bayer Email: [email protected] Frequency of publication: Twice a month Average circulation: 10,000 Average vendors per month: 30-50 Annual budget: $70,000 Paid staff: 1 1/2 Volunteers: 25 Involvement of marginalized individuals: 7 of our 15 Board of Directors seats are held by vendors. We also have people who are homeless involved in production and layout. Content: Our content tends to lean towards the civil rights of people experiencing homelessness, but we try not to be a single-issue newspaper. Readership: Portland is a lefty town, and we are a lefty paper. Main goals: 1) Voice of poor: 5 2) Job training/skills: 4 3) Social services: 3 4) Forum for political activism:5 5) Community for poor: 5 Other Goals: A new office space, lockers for our vendors, increase circulation, and hire more staff. We really need to catch up to our expansion. We’re growing more than we can handle. Affiliated programs/projects: Right to Sleep campaign (along with Sisters of the Road, Crossroads and Village). What paper does best: Street Roots believes its journalism is some of the best in the country.

The Visionary

Location: 1400 E. Lombard Street, Baltimore, MD 21231 Contact: Leonard Sparks, Editor Email: [email protected] Frequency of publication: Every 2 months Average circulation: 5000 Average vendors per month: None yet Annual budget: Grants: 98%, Donations: 1%, Subscriptions: .05%, Advertising: .05% Paid staff: 1 Volunteers: 4 Involvement of marginalized individuals: So far, they are only involved as contributing writers. The goal is to find and involve more people in production and distribution. Content: Hard news (local), national news briefs, personal stories, poems, resource listings. Readership: The paper is currently distributed to outreach centers, treatment programs, advocates, and public officials. Main goals: 1) Voice of poor: 1 2) Job training/skills: 5 3) Social services: 3 4) Forum for political activism: 2 5) Community for poor: 4 Affiliated programs/projects: Just started weekly writers group. What paper does best: Provides a communication tool specific to homelessness, substance abuse, and the anti-poverty mission.

What’s Up Magazine

Location: Boston, MA Contact: Kyle Robidoux Email: [email protected] Frequency of publication: monthly Average circulation: 5,000 Average vendors per month: 15-20 Annual budget: $42,000 Donations-17%, Events-15%, Advertising Sales-33%, Grants- 10%, Vendor Sales-16%, Sales in Businesses-6%. Paid staff: 1 FTE Volunteers: 20-30 help with each issue, 10-15 for other tasks (fundraising, treasurer, outreach, board, etc.) Involvement of marginalized individuals: Homeless and low-income vendors. Content: Content is split between covering the arts and issues of social justice. Readership: Primarily ages 20-45 and artists, activists, young professionals, and college students. Main goals: 1) Voice of poor: 1 2) Job training/skills: 3 3) Social services: 5 4) Forum for political activism: 2 5) Community for poor: 1 Affiliated programs/projects: We recently started a writer’s group. Organizing- coalition member of Homeless Emergency Action Taskforce (H.E.A.T). What paper does best: Covers local and national arts.

Whats Up Magazine

Location: St. Louis, Missouri Contact: Jay Swoboda Email: [email protected] Frequency of publication: Bi-Monthly Average circulation: 5000 Average vendors per month: 25 Annual budget: Earned Income: 50%, Grants: 5%, Donations: 35%, Special Events: 10% Paid staff: 0 Volunteers: 45 Involvement of marginalized individuals: 5 of the 45 Content: We serve as a community-based media source. Our content combines social awareness and local entertainment, in a way that encourages the entire diverse population of Greater Saint Louis to be socially conscious. Readership: Our readership is 58% female, 65% under 45, and make on average $36,420/year. Main goals: 1) Voice of poor: 1 2) Job training/skills: 3 3) Social services: 5 4) Forum for political activism: 2 5) Community for poor: 2 Affiliated programs/projects: Safer Streets Campaign – Track harassment and violence against persons experiencing homelessness. Whats Up Writer’s Workshop – Still in development but will be able to offer several workstations to our disadvantaged and homeless writers who seek to get involved and published in the magazine. What paper does best: Provide direct economic opportunity. People want to work and we put them to work.

Wyoming Winds/StreetViews Magazine/StreetViews Canada

Location: Online: WW http://www.vcn.com/~wch/wchwyw.htm , SVM/SVC http://www.vcn.com/~wch/wchsv.htm Contact: Virginia Sellner Email: [email protected] Frequency of publication: We publish WW monthly if possible, and StreetViews, both the Magazine and Canada edition are published quarterly. Average circulation: Who knows—online and going to a lot of lists, it would be impossible to say. Average vendors per month: No vendors, no hard copy. Annual budget: We do not have the paper budget separate from our organization budget (the Wyoming Coalition for the Homeless) and we operate WCH on about $40,000 per year – we are ALL VOLUNTEERS. Paid staff: NONE Volunteers: 25 Involvement of marginalized individuals: On the board, as artists and writers. Content: Wyoming Winds is more of a newsletter type – featuring articles on homeless, housing and poverty issues as well as local events and happenings, new agencies, etc. StreetViews the Magazine is a “literary” publication featuring art and writing by homeless and formerly homeless individuals. StreetViews Canada features articles, sometimes poetry, by homeless and formerly homeless individuals from Canada and also features news of events, happenings, homeless/housing/poverty issues in Canada. Readership: no answer Main goals: 1) Voice of poor: 1 2) Job training/skills: 4 3) Social services: 5 4) Forum for political activism:2 5) Community for poor: 3 Affiliated programs/projects: We have another program called Art From the Streets, which of course could also include StreetViews, The Magazine. We have had art exhibits – always an ongoing exhibit – we have had writing workshops and other events. What paper does best: Offers people an opportunity to express themselves in a non- violent manner.