CUSTOMERS of ‘street’ newspapers and magazines, such as The Big Issue and sold by homeless people, may soon have the option of purchasing a print version or a digital one, following an experiment being currently conducted.
The International Street Papers Network is exploring providing customers the option of purchasing a card, containing a QR code, that allows for the magazine to be downloaded on to a computer or mobile device.
The Glasgow-based ISPN is looking to pilot the idea in Britain and the USA: Big Issue in the North, in Manchester (which is affiliated to The Big Issue group of magazines), followed by StreetWise in Chicago.
It is seeking to pay for the possible development via crowd-funding website, Kickstarter.
Should it take off, the hope is that the digital option might include additional content, such as video and podcasts.
