J Wortham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
J Wortham
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Wortham in 2020
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| Alma mater | University of Virginia |
| Occupation | Journalist |
| Employer | The New York Times |
| Known for | Still Processing Black Futures (with Kimberly Drew) |
J Wortham is an American journalist. They write about culture for The New York Times Magazine. Wortham also co-hosts a podcast called Still Processing with Wesley Morris. In 2020, Wortham worked with Kimberly Drew to publish Black Futures. This book is a collection of Black art, writing, and other creative works.
Wortham started their journalism career working independently in San Francisco. Then, they worked for Wired before joining The New York Times in 2008.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Wortham grew up in Alexandria, Virginia. After high school, they studied medical anthropology at the University of Virginia. Wortham finished their studies and graduated in 2004.
Wortham's Career in Journalism
Writing for Major Publications
After college, Wortham moved to San Francisco. There, they gained experience by interning at San Francisco Magazine and Girlfriend Magazine. Wortham also wrote for SFist. Soon, they became a reporter focusing on technology and culture for Wired.
In 2008, Wortham joined The New York Times. They first worked as a reporter covering technology and business. In 2014, Wortham moved to the Times Magazine. This move was seen as a big step, adding to the magazine's strength. Wortham was already very popular online.
Wortham's articles have also appeared in many other magazines. These include Matter, The Awl, Bust, The Hairpin, and Vogue. They have also written for The Morning News and The Fader. Experts say Wortham is great at explaining how the internet and its culture are always changing.
In 2012, Wortham was named one of The Root 100 most influential African Americans. In 2015, The Fader listed Wortham's article about The Shade Room as one of the best culture writings of the year.
Wortham is known for their technology reporting. They are also praised for their comments on many cultural topics. A writer for The Village Voice said Wortham explores how technology, culture, and identity connect. Wortham even received a thank-you note from Beyoncé for an essay they wrote about her album Lemonade. Wortham also writes about identity and how race and gender are shown on television.
Authoring Books
Wortham worked with Kimberly Drew to edit a book called Black Futures. This book was published in December 2020. It is a collection of creative works.
Wortham is also writing their own book of essays. It is called Work of Body. This book will share Wortham's important experiences as a Black person. It will also look at how technology and the history of Black people in America have shaped these experiences. Work of Body will be published by Penguin.
Special Recognitions and Fellowships
In 2017, Wortham received the Zora Neale Hurston Fellowship. This was at the first Jack Jones Literary Arts retreat. They also received a fellowship at the MacDowell Colony in 2018. In 2020, Wortham and their New York Times colleague Wesley Morris were named Kelly Writers House Fellows.
Hosting a Popular Podcast
In September 2016, Wortham and Morris started a culture podcast called Still Processing. The New York Times and Pineapple Street Media produce the show. The podcast was very popular from the start. It was called "an incredible mix" and "refreshing." It also made "best of" lists at the end of the year. These lists included The Atlantic, The Huffington Post, and IndieWire. In 2020, the podcast was nominated for an American Society of Magazine Editors Magazine Award.
Other Creative Projects
In 2011, Wortham created Girl Crush Zine with Thessaly La Force. This project aimed to show women celebrating their admiration for other women. Other writers, like Jennifer Egan and Emma Straub, also contributed to the zine.
