Gene Demby facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gene Demby
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| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Hofstra University |
| Occupation | Journalist, Podcast Host |
| Employer | NPR |
| Known for | Code Switch PostBourgie |
Gene Demby is an American journalist and a host of podcasts. He helps host the popular podcast called Code Switch from National Public Radio (NPR). He also writes for the Code Switch blog, where he talks about race, culture, and different backgrounds. Before this, he started his own blog and podcast called PostBourgie. He began his career working for The New York Times and Huffington Post.
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Early Life and Education
Gene Demby grew up in South Philadelphia. He went to college at Hofstra University.
Journalism Career Highlights
Before joining NPR, Gene Demby worked for The New York Times. He was also a managing editor for Huffington Post's BlackVoices section.
NPR's Code Switch Project
Gene Demby helped launch the NPR project called Code Switch on April 7, 2013. He wrote an introduction that was very popular. A writer named Jason Parham said that if Demby's essay, "How Code-Switching Explains The World," showed what was coming, then everyone should be excited.
In 2016, Demby and his co-host, Shereen Marisol Meraji, started the Code Switch podcast. People at Harvard's Neiman Lab called it "the long-awaited podcast."
Starting the PostBourgie Blog
Gene Demby started blogging in 2004. In 2012, he told ColorLines that he was frustrated with how the media talked about race. He remembered a time a CNN reporter asked him about Bill Cosby's Pound Cake speech. Demby felt that some conversations about black people were too simple. He wanted a different way to talk about these topics.
So, in 2007, Demby created a group blog called PostBourgie. It focused on race, culture, politics, and media. He invited friends to write with him. They wanted a place to have conversations that showed black people as complex and real. They wanted a space that was not too preachy.
Many people praised PostBourgie. A writer named Jamil Smith said it set a high standard for online spaces for people of color. It allowed them to share their true perspectives. Alyssa Rosenberg from The Washington Post noted that PostBourgie helped its writers grow. It gave them a chance to practice their writing and ideas. Many writers from PostBourgie later got jobs at other big media companies. These include Shani O. Hilton (from BuzzFeed) and BuzzFeed writers Joel Anderson and Tracy Clayton. Demby also hosts a podcast that goes with the PostBourgie blog.
Awards and Recognition
In 2009, Gene Demby's PostBourgie won a Black Weblog Award. It was recognized as the Best News/Politics Site.
In both 2013 and 2014, Demby was named to The Root 100 list. This list highlights the 100 most important black influencers.
In 2014, Demby and the Code Switch team won an award from the Online News Association. They received it for Best Online Commentary.
Personal Life
Gene Demby is married to Kainaz Amaria, who is also a journalist. She is a Zoroastrian American. She works as a visuals editor for Vox Media. The couple lives in Washington, D.C.
