[4][5][6] Processed World began publication in April 1981 and was printed on an irregular basis, approximately quarterly to semi-annually until Winter 1992.

[7] The magazine is about the absurdity and futility of modern employment practices in which a large number of college-educated people are often forced to seek temporary work with no employee benefits.

[8][1][4][6] Writers that have had work published by the magazine include founder Carlsson, Manning, Chris Winks, Denis Hayes, Greg Williamson, Jim Swanson,[3] Fred Rinne, Adam Cornford, John Norton, Jesse Drew, and Donna Kossy and many more.

The magazine featured cartoons by artists such as Tom Tomorrow,[9] Melinda Gebbie,[1] Ted Rall,[10] Jay Kinney, and Paul Mavrides.

Many of the magazine's contributors, such as Dan Perkins, e.g. "Tom Tomorrow," adopted pseudonyms to avoid retribution from potential employers.