Hyphen (magazine)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hyphen is a nationally-distributed, independent Asian American magazine aimed at 20 and 30-somethings. The name of the magazine comes from a debate over the use of hyphens in denoting ethnic Americans. (Contrary to its name, Hyphen does not use the hyphen in this manner.)
Hyphen is produced tri-annually by a volunteer staff and is a not-for-profit organization. It was founded in 2002 by a group of San Francisco Bay Area journalists, activists, and artists including Melissa Hung, a former reporter for the Houston Press and East Bay Express; Claire Light, former program manager for Kearny Street Workshop]; Yuki Tessitore, of Mother Jones, and filmmaker Jennifer Huang. Stefanie Liang, a graphic designer from Red Herring magazine joined the staff as artistic director before the publication of the first issue. Its advisory board includes notable Asian American journalists such as Helen Zia and Nguyen Qui Duc, the host of Pacific Time. The first issue was released in June 2003.[1][2][3] Hyphen is one of several Asian American media ventures created in the wake of A Magazine's demise.[4]
Shortly after its release, the publication was sharply criticized by AsianWeek columnist Emil Guillermo who theorized that Hyphen's young editors were arrogant, ashamed of their Asian heritage, and disrespectful of existing ethnic media in his weekly column.[5] He later said that he had not actually read the magazine.[6]
The magazine's first issue contained a story package on the history of Asian American community activism. Its content is decidedly to the left, feminist, and non-mainstream. Its coverage includes politics, arts, and pop culture.
In 2004, the magazine was nominated for an Utne Independent Press Award for Best New Title.[7] In January 2006, Hyphen's Body Issue won the Independent Press Association's Best Cover award for an image of an Asian American man, Yusuke Miyashita, partially submerged in a bathtub full of edamame.[8] Mr. Hyphen, a pageant created by the magazine to showcase more positive images of Asian American men, debuted in May 2006.[9] In the fall of 2007, the magazine received its second nomination for an Utne Independent Press Award, this time for Best Design.[10]
[edit] References
- ^ Hua, Vanessa. "Hot fusion: Fresh S.F. wannabe joins publications for Asian Americans", San Francisco Chronicle, 2003-06-05. Retrieved on 2007-10-31.
- ^ "Asian-American Startup Mag Launches", KRON 4, 2003-06-06. Retrieved on 2007-10-31.
- ^ Black, Catherine. "Hyphen Magazine Bridges the Gap", New California Media, 2003-12-09. Retrieved on 2007-10-31.
- ^ Deshmukh, M.S.. "‘Hyphen’ Magazine to Fill Gap in APA Media", Asianweek, 2002-11-29. Retrieved on 2007-10-31.
- ^ Guillermo, Emil. "Emil Amok: Dissin’ Hyphen", Asianweek, 2003-06-20. Retrieved on 2007-10-31.
- ^ Guillermo, Emil. "Emil Amok: My Cousins ‘Tis of Thee and More Dissin’ on ‘Hyphen’", Asianweek, 2003-07-04. Retrieved on 2007-10-31.
- ^ Utne Independent Press Awards Nominees -- 2004. Utne (November/December 2004). Archived from the original on 2007-10-20. Retrieved on 2007-10-31.
- ^ Bragging Rights. Hyphen Blog. Hyphen (2006-01-31). Retrieved on 2007-10-31.
- ^ Mr. Hyphen Contest. National Association of Asian American Professionals - San Francisco. Retrieved on 2007-10-31.
- ^ Nominees for the 19th Annual Utne Independent Press Awards 2007. Utne Reader (2007). Retrieved on 2007-10-31.
