CPB Selects PBS SoCal to Lead Public Media’s Civic Content and Engagement Initiative
CONTACT FOR PBS SOCAL
JP Shields
JPShields@pbssocal.org
747-201-5886
CONTACT FOR CPB
Tracey Briggs
press@cpb.org
202-309-1246
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.
About PBS SoCal
PBS SoCal uses the power of public media for good, strengthening the civic fabric of Southern California and providing our community with an essential connection to a wider world. As a local, donor/member-supported non-profit organization, PBS SoCal manages 7 channels — including 2 primary broadcast channels, PBS SoCal and PBS SoCal Plus as well as 5 digital subchannels. With a commitment to make content available anytime and anywhere for free, PBS SoCal is reaches nearly 19M viewers in the region with programming that reflects the diversity of Southern California and showcases the full schedule of beloved and trusted PBS content spanning Education, News, Environment and Arts & Culture. PBS SoCal programming is available to viewers over-the-air, on all key streaming platforms via the free PBS App and PBS KIDS App. PBS SoCal also sparks the sharing of ideas at in-person cultural events and community conversations as well as prepares children for kindergarten and beyond by bringing bilingual, hands-on learning experiences to the community for free.
About CPB
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private, nonprofit corporation authorized by Congress in 1967, is the steward of the federal government’s investment in public broadcasting. It helps support the operations of more than 1,500 locally managed and operated public television and radio stations nationwide. CPB is also the largest single source of funding for research, technology and program development for public radio, television, and related online services. For more information, visit cpb.org, follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn and subscribe for email updates.