PBS Presents at the Virtual TCA Summer 2021 PressTour — Day 1
Paula Kerger, PBS President & CEO, greeted TCA critics and credentialed press this morning to share the latest news and programming from PBS.
As you know, the “P” in PBS stands for public. It is core to our mission to serve the whole of the American public — to represent and reflect the great diversity of our country…and this enduring commitment has taken on even greater importance as our country grapples with legacies of inequality, discrimination, and racism. — Paula Kerger
In her remarks, Paula Kerger announced multiple diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives as part of the company’s enduring commitment:
Public television’s muli-year, multimillion-dollar commitment to Firelight Media to support and amplify the work of underrepresented communities.
Corporation for Public Broadcasting and PBS Digital Studios will work with local stations to establish Digital Centers of Innovation in geographically diverse markets, with the goal of launching 15 new series over the next two years.
And through a grant from the National Science Foundation, Digital Studios will launch a new slate of STEM content featuring underrepresented voices, with a focus on Black and Hispanic science communicators.
Paula also announced the hiring of the company’s new Senior Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion — Cecilia Loving.
Paula also highlighted 15 new programs coming to the network during Tuesday’s Virtual Press Tour, including the return of “Sandition” and “All Creatures Great and Small” to MASTERPIECE as well as the new series THE GREAT AMERICAN RECIPE.
Our ancestors are calling, waiting for us to discover their stories — Professor Gates
The FINDING YOUR ROOTS team followed Paula Kerger’s executive session for a sneak peek at its eighth season coming to PBS stations in January 2022.
To mark the 20th anniversary of the September 11th attacks, PBS shared a preview of GENERATION 9/11, a new film that shares the stories of seven young people that were in the womb and lost their fathers on that fateful day.
In October, AMERICAN VETERAN will explore the veteran experience and the powerful cultural bond shared across the five branches.
Critics were then given a preview of “American Reckoning,” from FRONTLINE and RetroReport, a special that brings new light to the 1967 murder of NAACP leader Wharlest Jackson.
A part of FRONTLNE’s UNRESOLVED, a multiplatform initiative featuring documentaries, a podcast, and a touring exhibit, the program examines 150 cold case murders dating back to the civil rights era.
PBS closed out its first day of presentations with music video performances featuring composer John Williams and Grammy-winning soprano Isabel Leonard to tease the upcoming GREAT PERFORMANCES #PBSForTheArts program.
