INSP street papers are newspapers or magazines whose sales provide socially excluded people with the means to earn an income. INSP reserves the right to refuse or end membership of its network.
To become a member of INSP, organisations must meet our membership standards and align with our street paper model:
Our street paper model
Street papers exist to tackle poverty and social exclusion. They provide an enterprising hand up not a charitable hand out: vendors sell the street paper to generate an income. Social enterprise is core to the street paper model with profits reinvested back into their social mission. In addition to employment, many street papers offer their vendors on-going support and access to practical training and other social services. Street papers are also independent media, reporting on social justice issues and providing a unique platform for alternative perspectives and unheard voices, challenging public perceptions of poverty and social injustice around the world.
Our Membership Standards
Our Membership Standards
- Align with the following INSP values:
- We are committed to challenging inequality and social exclusion.
- We nurture creative and innovative approaches to social problems.
- We respect different approaches and perspectives and are committed to learning from each other.
- We are committed to socially responsible, transparent and ethical operations.
- We use our resources efficiently to maximise our impact.
- We respect our network of members and our board as their elected representatives.
- We are committed to fair pay and we value our staff, interns and volunteers.
- We are committed to providing a safe and dignified working environment for our staff, volunteers and network colleagues.
- We are opposed to all forms of unfair discrimination.
2.Treat their vendors with dignity and encourage self-help.
3.Ensure that a significant percentage of the cover price of the street paper goes to the vendor.
4.Operate as an independent organisation, social business, NGO or association.
5.Re-invest organisational surplus back into the street paper and/or associated projects that work for the benefit of the vendors and marginalised people.
6.Aim to create a quality and respected publication with high journalistic standards and ethics.
7.Ensure that editorial independence and freedom are not compromised, or dependent on, another organisation or the state.
8.Avoid unnecessary competition with other street papers.
9.Display the INSP logo in their street papers and digital platforms.
10.Contribute and give back to the network.
