Since its founding in the late 1960s, PBS has presented itself as a trusted home for America’s multitude of stories and experiences. An inclusive space of exploration and education for all. So when independent filmmaker Grace Lee published an essay in 2020—calling out public broadcasting’s overreliance on “America’s storyteller,” documentarian Ken Burns—her words set off a chain of events that reached the highest levels of PBS leadership. Soon after, a group of filmmakers joined Grace in asking PBS why they relied so heavily on one white male director’s perspective to tell the history of our country and its people. They were left with more questions than answers. Welcome to Viewers Like Us, a new podcast series that explores: What will it take to restore the entire public to public television?
Show Notes
October 22, 2020
Ken Burns: America’s Storyteller tribute presented by PBS and hosted by Tom Hanks,
Aired June 4, 2018
“A Letter to PBS from Viewers Like Us,”
March 29, 2021 by Beyond Inclusion
PBS series referenced in Part 1:
“PBS Chief Insists Network Doesn’t Favor Ken Burns at Expense of Filmmakers of Color,”
February 2, 2021 by Reid Nakamura
“Filmmakers Call Out PBS For A Lack Of Diversity, Over-Reliance On Ken Burns,”
March 31, 2021, edited for Morning Edition by Petra Mayer and adapted for the web by Petra Mayer and Eric Deggans
“Filmmakers condemn PBS over lack of diversity and dependence on Ken Burns,”
March 31, 2021 by Jewel Wicker
“Is Ken Burns Taking up Too Much Space? He Doesn’t Think So.”
August 2, 2021, Interview with Kara Swisher for New York Times interview show, “Sway”