Megaphone vendors, staff, volunteers and supporters celebrate some positive changes
Paula Carlson
Editorial and Program Director
Megaphone has a fresh spring in its step!
On Friday, April 5, vendors, staff, volunteers and supporters hit the streets of downtown Vancouver to celebrate the launch of the organization’s new website and vendor payment system.
The bus ride downtown was filled with excited chatter as about 20 vendors, dressed in their vibrant red Megaphone gear, travelled to the area around Georgia and Granville Streets to sell magazines and calendars while connecting with new customers.
Shortly after arriving, longtime vendor Stephen Scott made a loud pronouncement — “We got our first sale!” — while raising a $5 bill over his head.
After an eruption of cheers from colleagues, the customer took back the $5 and gave Scott a $20 and the celebratory jubilation grew even louder as Scott waved the new bill around.
Cash wasn’t the only thing lauded during this promotional “Big Sell” event, designed to build excitement around a reinvigorated Megaphone.
Thanks to an overhaul by the digital strategy, design and development experts at Denim & Steel, Megaphone now has a seamless digital payment system that helps customers easily support vendors by purchasing publications when they are not carrying cash.
Denim and Steel also gave Megaphone’s website a refresh — showcasing a dynamic new look and easy interaction with the stories that uniquely covered by Megaphone magazine.
Photos by Luis Jaime Suárez Ahumada
Paula Carlson
Editorial and Program Director
For three decades, Paula Carlson has worked as an editor and reporter at various newspapers throughout the Lower Mainland, contributing stories and stick-handling special projects that have won more than 50 industry awards for news, feature and opinion writing, page layout and design. Her work has appeared across B.C. and Canada. She's fairly certain a good cup of coffee improves almost anything.
Rooted in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, we're committed to amplifying voices that are overlooked by mainstream media. We’re actively growing our team of storytellers and journalists to serve our community.
More about our Peer Newsroom“Why "The Shift?" So the framework of Megaphone magazine can “shift” to being a more inclusive street paper, empowering those with lived and living experience to tell the stories that matter the most to them and their communities.”
Paula Carlson Editorial and Program Director
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