Reintroducing IMAGE Magazine

OVERVIEW

IMAGE Magazine is one of the oldest and longest-running English-language publications serving Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities in the United States, with a rich history spanning more than four decades.

Founded in 1977, IMAGE began as the quarterly newsletter of the Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) and launched the same year the group opened its national headquarters in Washington, D.C. In the 1990s, it became a national magazine for “Chinese Americans in the United States” and soon became a broader platform for rising AAPI artists, writers, and activists across the country. The magazine also chronicled significant moments in early civil rights and AAPI political history — including the murder of Vincent Chin, the establishment of AAPI Heritage Month, and the appointments of AAPI Cabinet Secretaries by various administrations.

THE CHALLENGE

In 2021, I became Communications Associate at OCA and was tasked with bringing IMAGE into the digital age. While IMAGE showcased photography, art, creative stories, and commentary that shattered stereotypes and celebrated the vibrant AAPI experience, it was limited in its physical form and its potential was untapped.

The evolution of IMAGE Magazine — Covers from the 1980s through 2020.

Working with Rosario Joaquin, we announced a relaunch of IMAGE, with a complete redesign across the magazine’s Spring/Summer 2021 print edition. The reimagined issue featured several new sections, giving it closer resemblance to a classic current affairs magazine like TIME or Newsweek.

Briefing: OCA member and chapter highlights, updates on federal policy impacting AAPI communities, and commentary from OCA members.

Features: Must-read longform stories, essays, and in-depth profiles.

Arts: Illustrations, photography, and poetry from creatives across the country.

ONLINE EXPANSION

The 2021 magazine also included the rollout of a new digital home on Medium and the creation of a comprehensive archive of issues from 2002 through 2021 on ocanational.org/image.