Jenna Wortham

Jenna Wortham — Public Profile

Born: Wed Nov 03 1982 (Alexandria, United States). Jenna Wortham (they/them) is a journalist, critic, editor, and cultural commentator known for incisive writing on technology, Black culture, wellness, intimacy, and the internet. They are widely recognized for work at The New York Times Magazine and for co-creating and co-hosting the podcast Still Processing with Wesley Morris. Wortham is also the co-editor, with curator Kimberly Drew, of the acclaimed anthology Black Futures.

News and recent updates

• Continues to publish features and essays for The New York Times Magazine, exploring how digital life, art, and identity intersect in everyday experience (2024–2025).
• Still Processing remains a signature audio project; recent seasons and archive episodes continue to be widely streamed and discussed in classrooms and cultural spaces.
• Ongoing conversations and moderated talks at cultural institutions and universities highlight themes of Black futurity, care, and creative practice.
• Black Futures continues to appear on academic syllabi and community reading lists; Wortham and Drew’s stewardship of the project is often cited in discussions of Black archival practice.
• Public essays and interviews in recent years emphasize rest, embodiment, friendship, and digital well-being as cultural and political practices.
• Wortham routinely contributes commentary across podcasts and live events, reflecting on media, aesthetics, and the evolving creator economy.

Recent and ongoing projects

• Developing a forthcoming book-length project centered on the body, care, and liberation, building on themes present across recent essays and talks.
• Curatorial and editorial collaborations at the nexus of art, memory, and technology, often foregrounding Black creative communities.
• Seasonal and special-edition audio storytelling with Still Processing and guest hosting or guest features on allied culture podcasts.
• Workshops and public dialogues focused on rest, digital hygiene, and sustainable creative practice.

Social media and web

• Website/portfolio: jennydeluxe.com
• Instagram: @jennydeluxe
• X (Twitter): @jennydeluxe
• NYT Magazine author page: nytimes.com/by/jenna-wortham
• Still Processing podcast: nytimes.com/column/still-processing-podcast

Selected works and contributions

• Co-editor, Black Futures (One World/Random House, 2020), an expansive compendium of art, essays, and ephemera mapping Black life now and imagining what comes next.
• Co-host, Still Processing (The New York Times), a culture show blending criticism and conversation about movies, music, art, identity, and politics.
• Signature NYT Magazine features on technology’s social effects, the aesthetics of the internet, friendship and care, queer life, and contemporary art.
• Earlier reporting on the tech industry and digital culture helped shape mainstream understanding of social media, apps, and online communities.

Career and background

• Began reporting on culture and technology at outlets including Wired before joining The New York Times as a technology reporter.
• Later became a staff writer at The New York Times Magazine, expanding into longform criticism and profiles.
• Editorial practice bridges journalism, art, and curation, with a focus on documenting present-day Black cultural production.
• Known for accessible, deeply researched writing that treats personal experience as a critical lens on systems and media.

Speaking, teaching, and media

• Regular guest at conferences, museums, libraries, and campuses; topics include Black futures, creative labor, digital wellness, and archival practice.
• Moderates conversations with artists, technologists, and thinkers across disciplines.
• Frequently appears on podcasts and radio to discuss culture, technology, and storytelling craft.

Note: This profile consolidates information from publicly available sources as of 2025. For the latest work, visit the links above or Jenna Wortham’s verified social channels.