Basic Analysis

The Big Issue have used the

colour pallet to represent the
story in the cover lines about the
war between Russian and
Ukraine. They have used the
colours of the Ukrainian flag,
which could be highlighting
political values the magazine may
have or how they are supporting
Ukraine.
The magazine have decided to
represent how the NHS is
struggling to keep itself up by
almost using an intertextual
reference in the central image.
The magazine has created an
inclusive representation through
the central image, if the NHS
because the people holding up
the world are all different colour,
which could be suggesting The
Big Issue value positive
representations of all people.
Issues, events, social groups and individuals
The magazine, although not showing a
photographs of an individual or group, highlights
the connections of issues, events and social
groups.
Issues: Welfare (NHS being 'under pressure'),
War, poverty (social class), Environment
Events: The war between Russia and Ukraine
Social groups: The NHS, The general public
Individuals: Jack Monroe
Choices about representation
The magazine uses the image where NHS staff as
a group are struggling to hold up the words of
NHS, which highlights the NHS' struggle. The Big
Issue have chosen to represent this big issue as
the problem in welfare is something that the
magazine values and therefore would want to
cover on their magazine.
How the media through representation
construct versions of reality
The use of the feature article saying, 'saving the
health service doesn't have to hurt' creates this
version of reality for the audience and general
public as they are able to understand how this is
impacting the NHS. This highlights how The Big
Issues coverage usually gives this 'real'
experience, which is highlighted as the NHS'
struggles is real.
Positive and negative use of stereotypes
The media usually represents the NHS as a group
and welfare in a positive way and The Big Issue
magazine hasn't created any stereotype around
the NHS as a group and have rather just
highlighted the trouble in welfare and the big
issue they're facing. However, you could argue
that in the central image of the magazine the
people holding up the NHS letters are of
different colours, which shows a positive
representation of people of colour. The cover
lines have featured a story on Jack Monroe, who
is a white female woman, and the magazine has
created a positive representation of her that
doesn’t use stereotypes that the media tend to
use in female representations.
Social groups who are under- or misrepresented
By focusing the front cover on the NHS, the
magazine have tried to show this inclusive
representation. Although in the animated
drawing it isn't clear of the colouring of the
people, they deem to be holding up the NHS,
which could suggest they have chosen to
misrepresent people of colour to oversee saving
lives, but this could also be false. In the cover
lines, they have featured an article about Jack
Monroe who is a white female, which highlights
a marginalised group that aren't usually featured
in media positively.
How representations make claims about
realism
The representations of the NHS being 'under
pressure' in the central image, immediately
suggests to the readers that the story is real.
Even the clear fact that The Big Issue is about
the NHS and 'saving the health service' makes
claims about realism. The cracked letters and
the struggling doctors/NHS staff trying to keep
the letters up suggests that the NHS as a group
are doing the best, they can help us (general
public). The people trying to hold up the letter
of NHS could also imply to the determination of
this group which creates a positive stereotype
for the people who are in charge and usually
classed to be in the dominant group.
Cultural context:
• British cultural references in the feature
article to the health services.
• Reference to the NHS.
Social context:
• The front cover highlight the NHS being
'under pressure', which is highlighting
something going on in the society.
• The feature article uses direct language to
make it aimed to the public, which indicates
this issue to be something everyone should
be aware of because we can help.
Political context:
• The references to the NHS being 'under
pressure' highlights a problem we are facing
as a society and the lack of political action
to help or even change this.
• The references in the cover lines to Jack
Monroe's 'ongoing battle' with poverty
highlights what actions the government
need to take to help this issue.