InTune Magazine Aims to Highlight UO Black Community

Simone Moore and Lia Addisu sit next to each other in front of a pink background and form an O shape with their hands
Symone Moore, left, and Lia Addisu, creators of InTune Magazine, throw their “O” during a photo shoot. Photo by Raven Strawter.

by Kaia Mikulka, Class of ’25

The idea began as a conversation between two roommates: Lia Addisu wanted to create a passion project, and Symone Moore wanted to start a magazine, so they combined their ideas to create something that would unite their community.

InTune Magazine is a creative platform dedicated to giving Black students a voice and a place to express their creativity while highlighting Black student resources and Black-owned small businesses. Born out of Addisu and Moore’s shared passion for community building, creativity and representation, InTune serves as a bridge to connection and visibility, helping Black students feel seen and celebrated.

Moore and Addisu are third-year public relations majors in the UO School of Journalism and Communication (SOJC). Moore is president of the UO National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) and the internal coordinator for the Black Student Union (BSU). Addisu served as co-director of Black Women of Achievement and is a member of NABJ.

Showcasing resources for the Black community

When Moore arrived at UO in her first year, she noticed that programs and support for Black students weren’t widely advertised.

“I felt there weren’t many resources, or at least they weren’t being highlighted,” Moore said. “I was not fully exposed to all those resources until the end of my freshman year.”

Lia Addisu takes a photo of a group of people sitting on stairs
Symone Moore takes a group shot of the UO National Association of Black Journalists. Moore is president of the organization. Photo by Chandlor and Alison Henderson.

As she got more involved with the school, first as treasurer of the Black Student Union and then as president of the NABJ, Moore wanted to use her community to show that Black culture exists on campus.

“There are students who come onto this campus and are not aware of these groups and resources,” Addisu said. “One of the missions for InTune is to ensure people are in tune with what’s happening and available for Black students on campus.”

Moore was motivated to create a magazine after being exposed to Black media she consumed during COVID-19. “I was watching a lot of Black films and TV shows and reading magazines like Essence and Ebony,” Moore said. “I was really inspired to base the magazine on that.”

Although many resources exist for Black students, such as the Lyllye Reynolds-Parker Black Cultural Center, Black Women of Achievement, Black Male Alliance, Black Student Union and the African Student Association, there wasn’t an avenue for unfiltered creative expression.

“At times it’s hard to find spaces that feel welcoming enough for us to be ourselves and do what we love,” Addisu said. “The magazine allows people to showcase their work and interests.”

A need for a creative space

Eager to get the magazine off the ground, Moore and Addisu pitched the project to members of the NABJ. “Everyone was on board with having a role in it,” Moore said. NABJ members took on roles in editing, photography, graphic design and writing.

The team is using SOJC resources to help produce content for the magazine, such as the J-Cage for checking out gear like cameras and lights and Creative Central to learn how to use cameras and other equipment. “Everybody at the SOJC that we've connected with so far has been super supportive in helping us in any way possible,” Addisu said.

For InTune’s first release in June 2024, Moore and Addisu introduced the Black student clubs and leaders on their Instagram, @intune.magazine.

“We wanted to show that we do care, and we are out here to make the Black community stronger,” Moore said.

digital composite of three portraits with vibrant backgrounds and handdrawn text
Symone Moore, Walker Hicks and Lia Addisu were featured in Black student leader profiles on InTune Magazine's Instagram account. Hicks is a member of the Black Male Alliance. Images courtesy of InTune Magazine.

What’s coming next for InTune

So far Moore and Addisu have not produced a traditional digital or print magazine.

a group of students set up for a portrait session in a photo studio
Akila Wickramaratna, Hana Mazur, Danaya Lowe, Lia Addisu and Symone Moore (from left to right) set up a photo shoot for InTune Magazine. Photo by Elizabeth Briese.

“We are working to get a printed and/or digital issue,” Moore said. “As far as funding, we are finding ways to fund this magazine.”

For now, they are highlighting the Black community on Instagram. The team is working on their first official issue, which will feature local Black businesses and entrepreneurs and showcase student creative work such as essays, poems and artwork.

“We want to make sure people know that there is support, hope and a culture on campus here,” Moore said. “Whether it’s TikTok ideas, creative writing, photography or videography, they can have that space within this magazine.”

Want to learn more or find out how to get your creative work into the next issue of InTune Magazine? Direct message @intune.magazine on Instagram or email laddisu@uoregon.edu or smoore13@uoregon.edu with the subject line “InTune Magazine submission.”

Kaia Mikulka is an advertising major and a business minor, and is part of the SOJC’s direct-admit program. Her passions include design and art direction and their intersection with marketing and psychology. She is an art director for Align magazine as well as a designer for UO Creative Juice.