For a fresh, human-centred and solutions-focused perspective on our communities, buy the latest edition of Megaphone magazine from a vendor today. For previous issues, browse the archive for digital editions that you can download and still tip vendors.
Award-winning, Megaphone magazine has been sharing stories that explore social justice, culture, politics, and local arts in Vancouver since 2007. Over the years, we have contracted hundreds of professional writers, journalists and photographers to contribute content, edit or design the magazine. Various vendors and other community members have been published in the magazine and gone on to publish in other news journalism, books, magazines and academic journals. Now, the magazine is led by The Shift peer newsroom.
The monthly magazine is sold on the streets of Vancouver by vendors experiencing poverty. Vendors buy each magazine for 75 cents and sell it to customers for $2+, keeping the profits. Your purchase supports vendors’ livelihoods as well as independent journalism on issues that matter.
Much of the content for the magazine comes from our community writing workshops. We contract professional artists to run workshops that provide an empowering and positive space for community members to experiment with creative writing as a form of self-expression and healing.
Megaphone has the remarkable ability to bridge neighbourhoods and diverse lived experiences, fostering a deeper understanding and compassion among its readers and promoting social change.
Street papers have a long history in Vancouver
The history of Vancouver’s street papers began in 1992 when Michael McCarthy published Spare Change, secured an office on Homer Street and recruited over 55 vendors to sell the paper on the streets for a profit. McCarthy left the paper in 1997 and the paper split into two: Street Corner and The Street. Megaphone founder, Sean Condon, took over as editor of Street Corner and in 2007 merged all three papers into one to become Megaphone magazine. Over the years, Megaphone has held offices in several locations in the DTES, including sharing an office with Pivot Legal Society at 121 Heatley Street for many years. In 2017, we moved the Vendor Hub to our current home at 312 Main Street.
Street papers around the world
Megaphone is a member of the International Network of Street Papers. The street paper model is breaking down stigma around poverty and homelessness and supporting marginalized communities around the world. On their website you can discover variations of the international street paper model and read independent journalism from around the world.
Take a peek inside Megaphone
Buy your copy today! Use our map to locate a vendor in your neighbourhood. For previous issues, browse the archive for digital editions that you can download and still tip vendors.
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