PBS Annual Meeting — Day 1 Highlights
We began the first day of Annual Meeting celebrating being back in-person after four long years apart. PBSers from across the system joined us for the opening session today, where PBS President & CEO Paula Kerger gave us a review of the many ways we serve the public and impact our communities. There were several stand out moments, including a powerful instance where we recognized many of us who are new to public media and attending their first annual meeting. After highlighting our commitment to showcasing how the planet is changing, civic programming and educating kids across the country, PBS Board Chair Larry Irving talked about the long history of public media and our bright future.
Paula Kerger acknowledged the talented and dedicated public media members we lost this year and then posthumously awarded Former PBS CEO & President Bruce Christensen the Dan Miller Station Leadership Award.
Finally, Deanna Martin Mackey, KPBS’s GM, wrapped up our Opening Session with a land acknowledgement statement and an ode to the beautiful San Diego and innovative spirit at the heart of KPBS.
Following the opening session, PBS’s Chief Programming Executive & GM Sylvia Bugg gave an overview of our multiplatform content strategy and previewed upcoming shows coming to PBS. She delved deep into our upcoming shows that focus on our changing planet, including HUMAN FOOTPRINT and Season 2 of AMERICA OUTDOORS.
Sylvia Bugg also covered democracy and journalism programming, upcoming history shows and culture, arts and drama content that will inspire and educate.
Following Sylvia Bugg’s presentation, Baratunde Thurston shared his story of how he came to launch his podcast, How to Citizen, and how AMERICA OUTDOORS has changed his perspective and allowed him to reconnect with his past. In the panel following his electric performance, they discussed the ways that stations can be a source of stories as well as plant the seeds for ideas on community action.
Then, NOVA and NATURE previewed their upcoming shows to Annual Meeting attendees, which featured groundbreaking visuals and of course, cute animals.
On THE GREAT AMERICAN RECIPE panel, we learned about some of the differences between Season 1 and Season 2, how recipes tell the stories of family and history, and how the judges learned something special from all the home cooks.
After ANTIQUES ROADSHOW gave us a sneak peak of the new season, we heard from the producers of Season 2 of NATIVE AMERICA about how this season is an extension of the narrative in Season 1, but also foregrounds the owners of the history of indigenous people with Native producers and filmmakers. They also discussed how to build mutually beneficial relationships between the production team members and members of the community they were asking to share their stories.
Finally, we wrapped up Day 1 of Annual Meeting with a special interview of Anna Deavere Smith by Margaret Hoover from FIRING LINE.
