“Making some noise can make a difference, and I hope that would be encouraging to people who are afraid, especially in this political climate.” - Jane M. Wagner
“The idea of preemptively censoring, before any executive order or decision — not only do you feel violated, but I felt I could not go to any institution for potential protection or support for my independent voice.” - Michèle Stephenson
“I don't know if there's anything in history that we've ever seen in civic life [like] what we're seeing. But I do know, like Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony, we have to speak up…we have to be willing to put ourselves on the line. At the very least, I get to use my voice and put some things on the line.” - Chris Hastings, president and chief executive officer of WXXI Public Media in Rochester, NY; former executive producer and editor-in-chief of GBH’s WORLD Channel in Boston
“I'm talking about it because I think it's important for people to know the little ‘death by a thousand cuts’ that are happening. I don't think that appeasement is the way to maintain our free speech rights and our democracy.” - Alicia Sams
In the United States, there’s a “public” element to all broadcasting over the federally regulated airwaves. Audiences have the right to speak up about the changes we expect on the air.
Season 1 of Viewers Like Us concludes, but the push for a public media that includes and serves the entire American public is far from over.
In the decades-long struggle toward an equitable public media system, what will it take to move from mere talk to actionable change?
Tokenism and triumph are both part of the American experience for filmmakers of color in public media.
Given public media’s circular history around issues of diversity, equity and inclusion, Grace and Tunde wonder whether this is just another round of PBS ‘promising to do better.’
History’s rhymes continue to echo within PBS.
Grace Lee, an independent filmmaker, calls out the overwhelming whiteness of PBS. Its longtime CEO respectfully disagrees.