For a fresh, human-centred, solutions-focused perspective on poverty and social justice, buy the latest edition of Megaphone magazine from a vendor today. For previous issues, browse the archive for digital editions you can download — and still tip vendors.
Award-winning and independent, 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 and design the magazine. Many vendors and other community members have been published in the magazine and gone on to publish in news outlets, books, magazines and academic journals. Today, the magazine is shaped by The Shift peer newsroom — 14 peer journalists reporting from the heart of the DTES from the perspective of lived experience.
The monthly magazine is sold on the streets of Vancouver by vendors experiencing poverty or homelessness. Vendors buy each issue for $1.50 and sell it for $5, keeping the difference and any tips. Your purchase supports vendors’ livelihoods as well as independent journalism on issues that matter.
Each issue includes a ‘zine insert from our Voices of the Street creative writing program. Content is submitted by vendors or sourced directly from the community in the DTES — hence the name. Much of this content also comes from our community writing workshops, where we contract professional artists to run sessions that offer an empowering, supportive space for community members to explore creative writing as a form of self-expression and healing. For more Voices of the Street, purchase our poetry anthology on the street starting in May.
Street papers have a long history in Vancouver
Vancouver’s street paper history began in 1992 when Michael McCarthy published Spare Change, secured an office on Homer Street, and recruited over 55 vendors to sell the paper for a profit. McCarthy left 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 create Megaphone magazine. Over the years, the Megaphone organization has operated from several locations in the DTES, including sharing an office with Pivot Legal Society (creators of the Hope in Shadows calendar) at 121 Heatley Street. In 2017, we moved our Vendor Hub to its 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 helping break down stigma around poverty and homelessness and supporting marginalized communities around the world. Visit its website to discover variations of the street paper model and read independent journalism from across the globe.
Take a peek inside Megaphone
Buy your copy today! Use our map to locate a vendor in your neighbourhood, or give us a call at 604-255-9701. For previous issues, browse the archive for digital editions that you can download — and still tip vendors.
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