Real Change
Circulation 13,000 weekly (2019)[1] | | |
Website | realchangenews.org |
---|
Real Change is a weekly
History and Circulation
Real Change has been published by the Real Change Homeless Empowerment Project since 1994;
In February 2005, Real Change began publishing weekly due to increasing interest and sales,[4] making it the second street newspaper in the country to do so.[note 1] In addition to becoming a weekly newspaper, it hired several professional journalists shifting its focus to become a broadly progressive alternative paper.[7][8] As a biweekly, it sold 18,000 copies every two weeks;[4] and now has a weekly circulation of 16,000 papers. In April 2013, the paper's price increased from one dollar to two dollars and was the sixth street newspaper to do so.[9]
In 2012, it sold 872,562 copies and raised $957,949: 68.42 percent from donations and grants; 31.26 percent from circulation, advertising and
Contents
The topics covered in Real Change are a mixture of progressive local news and information specifically pertaining to the homeless and poor. Though it covers local news, it still openly advocates for "social justice"[7] and attempts to educate readers about homelessness.[4] Some readers, though, admit that they buy the paper more to help out and interact with the vendors than to actually read the contents;[8][12] this pattern of buying is common among street newspapers.[13][14][15] Part of the reason for the paper becoming a weekly publication in 2005 was to attract more readers and move the newspaper's image from a "charity buy" to a legitimate source of news.[8]
Vendors
Anyone may be a Real Change vendor. However, most are poor or unable to hold a regular job due to physical disability,
Most vendors sell within Seattle proper, although some sell in the Eastside, as far north as Bellingham, and as far south as Olympia, WA.[4] Vendors may sell without restriction on sidewalks and public spaces, and sometimes need to obtain permission to sell in commercial areas like malls.[4] Several vendors are very successful, selling as many as 2,000 papers a month and being known as "fixtures" in the community,[12] however most sell far less than that.[17] Real Change's "turf system" allows vendors selling over 300 papers per month to have priority at certain spots;[18] according to Harris, this system allows buyer-vendor relationships to grow and for vendors to become well known in communities, and can minimize conflict and competition between vendors.[12]
Not all the vendors of Real Change are
Awards
2004:
- Susan Hutchison Bosch Award for outstanding achievement[19]
2006:
- First place, personalities[20]
2008:
2009:
2011:
2012:
2013:
Notes
- ISBN 978-0-252-06699-3. )
References
- ^ a b Vande Panne, Valerie (May 27, 2019). "The Paper on the Street". nextcity.org. Retrieved 2019-11-24.
The paper has 16 staffers and a $1.2 million annual budget, with a weekly circulation of 13,000 copies
- ^ a b Dominic Holden (16 September 2010). "Honorary Political Genius: Tim Harris and Real Change". The Stranger.
- ^ Emily Heffter (1 July 2011). "Real Change defends donation to anti-tunnel effort". Seattle Times.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Harrell, Debera Carlton (2 February 2005). "Real Change expands to become first weekly street paper". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved 21 March 2009.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Real Change History". Real Change. 10 March 2008. Archived from the original on 16 July 2012. Retrieved 21 March 2009.
- ^ a b "KUOW 94.9 FM Seattle interview, The Conversation". 15 Feb 2012. Archived from the original on 2012-06-03.roughly at 10:30 into interview
- ^ a b c Dawdy, Philip (3 August 2005). "Best Grassroots Media Outlet". Seattle Weekly. Retrieved 21 March 2009.
- ^ Seattle Times. Retrieved 21 March 2009.
- ^ Brill, Linda (18 April 2013). "Real Change newspaper's price hike a boost for vendors ". KING 5 News. Archived from the original on 24 April 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
- ^ "Real Change: 2012 Annual Report". Real Change. 13 March 2013.
- ^ Doughton, Sandi (January 10, 2019). "Real Change: How Seattle's street newspaper plans to survive in the digital age". The Seattle Times. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f Hsu, Huan (10 April 2007). "Not All the Peddlers of Seattle's Homeless Paper Are Homeless". Seattle Weekly. Retrieved 14 March 2009.
- Ryerson Review of Journalism. Archived from the originalon September 11, 2007. Retrieved 12 February 2009.
- S2CID 145648624.
- ISBN 978-0-252-06699-3.
- ^ "2011 Annual Report" (PDF). Real Change. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 October 2014. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
- ^ Harris, Tim (5 April 2007). "Seattle Weekly: What the Fuck?". Retrieved 21 March 2009.
- ^ Erica. "Sandra Sells Social Scoop by the Safeway". Retrieved 13 January 2013.
- ^ "P-I wins 25 regional journalism awards". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. 16 May 2004. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
- ^ "Excellence in Journalism Competition 2006" (PDF). Society of Professional Journalists Western Washington Pro Chapter. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
- ^ "Society of Professional Journalists | Sigma Delta Chi Awards". Society of Professional Journalists. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
- ^ O'Hagan, Maureen (18 April 2009). "Real Change newspaper wins national award, attracts readers". Seattle Times. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
- ^ a b c d e "SPJ 09" (PDF). 2009 Society of Professional Journalists of the Pacific Northwest. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
- ^ a b c "SPJ Northwest Excellence in Journalism awards". The Seattle Times via The Associated Press. 22 May 2010. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
- ^ a b c d "2011winners_order" (PDF). washington press association. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f "2012 SPJ Northwest Excellence in Journalism Contest" (PDF). Society of Professional Journalists. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "2013 SPJ Northwest Excellence in Journalism Contest" (PDF). Society of Professional Journalists. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 December 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2013.