Jelena Radeta is a vendor of the street paper Liceulice in Belgrade, Serbia. In spite of all medical diagnoses she received, starting from the doctor's recommendation that her parents leave her in an institution, through the inadequate therapy she received in the early days, this she has a positive outlook, now works two jobs and is one of the most experienced vendors of Liceulice magazine. She proudly points out that the wishes of people with disabilities are no different than anyone else – to find a permanent job and start a family.

Liceulice vendor Jelena Radeta: “I am not ashamed of being a person with a disability”

The finalists of the 2022 INSP Awards together onstage at the ceremony at the Milan Museum of Science of Technology, 15 September 2022. Credit: Fedele Costadura.

On the last night of the Global Street Paper Summit in Milan, INSP celebrated the successes and innovations of the street paper network at the INSP Awards ceremony.

INSP Awards 2022 - WINNERS!

Kevin Gopal (left) with the rest of the editorial team: deputy editor Antonia Charlesworth, producer Christian Lisseman and designer Mark Wheeler. Credit: Rebecca Lupton

On the occasion of Big Issue North’s final edition as an independent magazine, its editor Kevin Gopal – in the role for 16 years – talks about some of the defining moments for him and his editorial team at the magazine.

Big Issue North editor Kevin Gopal: “I’ve been editor through the financial crash, austerity and now the cost of living crisis. What does marginalisation mean when nearly everyone’s being pushed to the margins?”

For his new film Killers of the Flower Moon, which recently premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, director Martin Scorsese, and his cast and crew, worked with members of the Osage tribe – the Native American community at the centre of the true story he was dramatising – to ensure his sweeping epic of a film honestly depicted their experiences. In his latest column, INSP editor Tony Inglis explains how Scorsese’s approach of instigating a co-creational model, and platforming people with lived experience of the events of the story, is not unlike how street papers approach journalism.

INSP editor Tony Inglis: “Martin Scorsese’s new film shows co-creation alongside people with lived experience can change the narrative”

With soccer on the mind due to the imminent Homeless World Cup in Sacramento, California, INSP editor Tony Inglis writes about the rise of “multiclub” networks and how, if state-subsidised wealth and corporate greed didn’t poison it, the sport could learn something from how street papers have historically been connected.

INSP editor Tony Inglis: “If football cut out corporate greed, it could learn something from the solidarity of the street paper network”

Everyone who is a part of the global street paper network knows what a street paper is – that extends to the staff that put each publication together and those who buy them. But the people who truly know what a street paper is – what it means – are those who sell them. Here, a collection of street paper vendors – from North Macedonia to Canada – tell us, in their own words, what a street paper is, personally to them.

“The street paper saved my life” – what street papers are in the words of those who sell them

Two street papers in close proximity to each other – 20er in North Tyrol (Austria) and zebra. in South Tyrol (Italy) – have collaborated with students at a local university to produce a co-branded 2023 calendar for vendors to sell. The calendar was launched a special pop-up exhibition at the beginning of November. It will be sold for €6 euros by zebra. and 20er vendors over the next two months.

North and South Tyrol street papers collaborate on 2023 calendar

Hu Peilian, affectionately known as Ms. Hu, sells The Big Issue Taiwan at the entrance of Taichung Railway station. Ms. Hu uses a wheelchair, and had been rejected from many jobs because of her physical disability before finding the street paper.

Big Issue Taiwan vendor Hu Peilian: “This job has shown me that I can actually support myself without having to rely on other people”

The Shift members (clockwise from bottom right): Eva Takakanew, Yvonne Mark, Julie Chapman, Jathinder Sandhu, David Deocera, James Witwicki, Mike McNeeley, Paula Carlson, Michael Geilen, the late Maryann Sundown, Lance Lim, Richard Young and Nicolas Crier. Credit: Holly Sakaki.

Canadian street paper Megaphone has launched a new peer newsroom consisting of more than a dozen vendors and storytellers who gather monthly to determine the direction of the magazine. It’s part of a partnership that will develop journalism best practices for reporting on marginalized communities. Paula Carlson, Megaphone’s managing editor, explains more.

Introducing The Shift, Vancouver-based street paper Megaphone’s co-creational newsroom

As part of an ongoing campaign to highlight the importance of street paper journalism, Israel Bayer, who leads on INSP’s North America project, writes in this op-ed about the power of journalism and storytelling in affecting societal change, and how street papers are doing so whilst also supporting people to maintain a dignified income.

INSP North America director: “Street papers believe in the idea that journalism can bring people together to make the world we live in a better place”

Maja Ravanska next to a recent cover of North Macedonian street paper 

Several street papers in the INSP network have noticed a rise in printing and publishing costs affecting their organisations. INSP spoke to Maja Ravanska, project manager and managing editor of North Macedonian street paper Lice v Lice, about the cost and environmental implications of having a print product in the modern day and how that affects the concept of a street paper.

How a rise in publishing costs is affecting street papers

Nový Prostor vendor Josef. Credit: Eliška Krátká

Selling Czech street paper Nový Prostor is not only about money. It’s about the way the seller connects with other people, which in return reconnects them with the society. Here, the magazine talks to vendor Josef about growing up in Peru, working as a sculptor, and caring for his dog Kyra.

Nový Prostor vendor Josef: “I want to get off the street”

Nataša Bojanić – or Naca – is a familiar face to all those who pass her pitch in Belgrade, where she has been selling Liceulice for more than ten years. During those years, she has experienced many things – some bitter and some sweet. But Naca has learned to deal with the occasional inconveniences she faces, and she remains cheerful and determined not to give up.

On Liceulice vendor Nataša Bojanić: “Engaging in different situations, ranging from positive to the negative ones, gave Naca a greater sense of independence”

Iso Numero's Enkete Mungbaba. Credit: Janne Hukka.

Everyone who is a part of the global street paper network knows what a street paper is – that extends to the staff that put each publication together and those who buy them. But the people who truly know what a street paper is – what it means – are those who sell them. Here, a collection of street paper vendors – from Brazil to Finland – tell us, in their own words, what a street paper is, personally to them.

“Street papers have a sort of superpower” – what street papers are in the words of those who sell them

Changgab’s face has a peaceful and relaxed look, which is perhaps surprising for someone who’s lived many years at sea, slept rough at Seoul Station and lived day-to-day in short-term accommodation. Life is good right now, he says. Changgab has been working as a Big Issue Korea vendor since September 2018 and met his wife in 2020. They now share their lives with their dog, Bo-ri, and live in a rented home.

Big Issue Korea vendor Kwak Changgab: “You can move forward when you earn some of your own money”

Peter Andersen, current editor of Hus Forbi in Denmark, takes us through their plans to help vendors through a rough part of the year, with additional products to ensure a continued to sustainable income to assistance with managing the winter cold.

Q&A: How Danish street paper Hus Forbi supports vendors through the winter

Sarah Britz, who previously worked at one of Sweden’s largest daily newspapers, made a change twp decades into her career, becoming editor-in-chief of Gothenburg-based street paper Faktum, where she has now been for seven years. She considers it the fulfilment of a dream of the type of journalism she strived for when first becoming interested in the media industry. In this op-ed she outlines her journey, and explains why street paper journalism and the INSP News Service make an impact directly on people’s lives.

“Reading a street paper provides a new picture of what is happening in the world”: Faktum editor-in-chief on why street paper journalism matters

To mark World Press Freedom Day, Tony Inglis discusses the recent cuts at independent media organisations, how street papers are not immune from the threat, and the importance of a diverse media ecosystem.

INSP editor Tony Inglis: "Street papers have forged their own path in journalism. Now they need your support"

' Marcus Vinicius. Credit: Thaís Mallon.

Everyone who is a part of the global street paper network knows what a street paper is – that extends to the staff that put each publication together and those who buy them. But the people who truly know what a street paper is – what it means – are those who sell them. Here, a collection of street paper vendors – from Greece to Australia – tell us, in their own words, what a street paper is, personally to them.

“It was an opportunity for rediscovery” – what street papers are in the words of those who sell them

Paul Shawdover has been a Megaphone vendor since 2018. Credit: Paula Carlson.

Paul Shawdover, who sells Megaphone, a street paper based in Vancouver, Canada, says he is proud to be a Black Jamaican Canadian and appreciate the values and lifestyle that he has learned and earned in this piece reflecting on the country’s celebration of Black history.

Megaphone vendor Paul Shawdover on what Canada’s Black History Month means to him

On the occasion of Big Issue North’s final edition, ceasing publication of an independent Big Issue magazine for the north of England due to multiple factors, the head of The Big Life Group and CEO of Big Issue North writes about the history of the magazine, why it was an important journalistic touchstone, and how it will continue to support vendors in the future.

Big Issue North CEO Fay Selvan: “I am proud that we continued publishing gritty content, focused on real life stories, with a local northern perspective for the last 30 years”

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