09/16/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/16/2024 13:19
PITTSBURGH (September 16, 2024) - The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) announced today that PBS SoCal (Southern California) has been selected as the lead station for a national public media civic content and engagement initiative. Leading into 2026 and the 250th anniversary of our nation's founding, the short-form, digital first initiative will collect and share the stories of Americans describing the defining moment or experience that made them realize that they could make a difference through public service and community engagement, their "civic spark."
"Our civic content and engagement initiative will celebrate what we all have in common as Americans - a love of freedom, a long legacy of helping one another, and a commitment to service in our role as citizens in a great democracy," said Patricia Harrison, CPB president and CEO. "We're pleased to have selected PBS SoCal as the lead station as public media captures and amplifies our American stories."
Harrison delivered the announcement today at the CPB Public Media Thought Leader Forum, held in conjunction with the National Educational Telecommunications Association Conference in Pittsburgh.
As the selected lead station, PBS SoCal will lead a pilot cohort of six public radio and public television stations to produce and distribute short-form, multimedia content prototypes, as well as work with an evaluation firm to develop, test, and evaluate the initiative over the next eight months. With the intention to launch this initiative nationwide next year, PBS SoCal will oversee the development of proven multimedia tools and resources to help all public television and public radio stations create and distribute short-form, digital-first content that captures these stories and reach new audiences.
"PBS SoCal is honored for the opportunity to lead this vital and timely national public media initiative. Working with local public TV and radio stations across the country, we are excited to inspire individuals to participate in their communities, to amplify the voices of everyday heroes, and promote civic understanding across the nation," said PBS SoCal President and CEO Andrew Russell.
Public media is proud to participate in community-based, nationwide efforts leading up to America's 250th Anniversary in 2026. CPB is a founding member of More Perfect, a bipartisan partnership dedicated to renewing our democracy through civic engagement, and a partner of America250, which was established by Congress to inspire Americans to participate in the upcoming 250th anniversary of the nation's founding.
Contacts:
CPB: Tracey Briggs at 202-309-1246 or [email protected]
PBS SoCal: JP Shields at 747-201-5886 or [email protected]