Analysis of the

NHS cover of
The Big Issue
Events, groups, issues
and individuals

Is s ue s : t he de ma nd a nd la ck o f s t a f f w o rking
in t he N H S

Eve nt s : Va le nt ine 's da y a nd lo ve , LEG O lo s t

a t s e a , int e rvie w o f a s pyma s t e r t ha t
s urvive d t he co ld w a r a nd his 100 t h birt hda y

S o cia l gro ups : N H S w o rke rs , he a lt h w o rke rs

Individua ls : N H S w o rke rs , J a ck M o nro e ,

P e t e r S iche l - ( t he co ld w a r's la s t s urviving
s pyma s t e r)
Choices about
representations
The illustration (using the NHS
colors) and the text suggests that
The Big Issue has chosen to
represent the NHS in a way that
demonstrates the lack of NHS
workers that are supporting the
NHS but also appeals to social
interests of the audience to help
support the NHS.

THE POSITIVE
AND NEGATIVE USE
OF STEREOTYPES
A possible stereotype
( focusing on the feature
article) , is the 'doctors' in lab
coats wearing stethoscopes –
helping us to recognise them
as health workers
SOC IAL GROUPS WHO
ARE UNDER
OR MISREPRESENTED
Focusing on the main cover
illustration, it contains a
varied representations of
different social groups –
marginalised and not
• The cov er lines inv olv e
ind iv id uals from the
d ominant social g roup
Impacts of industry contexts
on choices producers can
make

The representation of the NHS in the

magazine, pertains to welfare, one of
the ideologies of The Big Issue. It
represents the NHS workers and
echoes the wants of the NHS to
increase their staff – something we
are all concerned about as it affects
us all.
How the media,
through representation,
construct versions of reality

The use of the 'NHS blue', the

cracking and chipping of the logo and
Click to add text
the strenuous effort of the health
workers trying to hold it up connotes
reality.

The illustration emphasizes the

efforts of health workers and the
need for more NHS staff.
Cultural, political and social
contexts

S oc i a l : th e L E G O stor y i n th e c ov e r l i n e s h a s some soc i a l

r e fe r e n c e s w h e n ta l ki n g a b ou t th e L E G O on th e b e a c h , i t h a s
q u ote s of p e op l e sa y i n g th a t th e y ' d r a th e r a c l e a n b e a c h –
me n ti on i n g a l a r g e r soc i a l i ssu e of l i tte r i n g a n d p l a sti c s i n th e
oc e a n s a n d on ou r b e a c h e s.

Pol i ti c a l : r e fe r e n c e s to i n v ol v e me n t, or l a c k th e r e of, fr om
p ol i ti c i a n s to g i v e th e NHS " d e c e n t p r ote c ti v e e q u i p me nt"
r a th e r th a n ju st c l a p p i n g for th e NHS - i n th e fe a tu r e a r ti c l e

C u l tu r a l : c u l tu r a l r e fe r e n c e s i n th e c ov e r l i n e s, th e c ol d w a r
sp y ma ste r stor y, th e b i ol og i c a l e x p l a n a ti on of l ov e i n th e
v a l e n ti n e ' s d a y c e n te r e d stor y