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PBS Releases Annual Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Report


ARLINGTON, VA – WEBWIRE –

PBS announced the release of its annual Diversity, Equity and Inclusion report. The report, which covers fiscal year 2021, is part of a concerted effort to build upon PBS’s strong foundation of inclusion by increasing transparency, reporting and accountability across the public television system. PBS has pledged to release this data on an annual basis.  

Key findings from the FY21 report include:  

Representation in front of and behind the camera 

  • 51% of PBS’s General Audience, primetime schedule included diverse on-screen talent; was produced, written or directed by diverse makers; and/or explored diversity-related topics.  
  • Among the 563 primetime documentary programming hours in FY 2021, 56% of content featured BIPOC talent, was produced by BIPOC makers, or explored diversity-related topics.  
  • 33% of primetime documentary content for PBS national distribution was created by BIPOC makers in executive producer, producer, director or writer roles, nearly double the percentage of the previous year (18%), representing an increase of 79 additional hours.   
  • PBS Digital Studios released 30 series, in which: 
    [list]
  • 64% of PBSDS series covered topics of a diverse nature 
  • 75% of PBSDS series featured BIPOC talent 
  • 68% of PBSDS series were produced by BIPOC creators 

  • 20 out of the 29 PBS KIDS nationally distributed series featured predominately human characters from diverse ethnic or racial backgrounds (the remaining nine series primarily feature non-human characters, such as animals). 
    [/list]

    People & Culture 

    • BIPOC employees comprised 51% of new hires, an increase from the previous fiscal year. 
    • 40% of promotions were BIPOC employees, an increase from the prior fiscal year.


    Leadership & Governance 

    • In FY21, 38% of PBS’s Senior Leadership were women and people of color made up 31% of the leadership team 
    • As of June 30, 2021, the 27-member PBS Board included 14 women and eight people of color. 


    To view the report in its entirety, please visit: https://www.pbs.org/about/about-pbs/inclusion/

    About PBS 

    PBS, with more than 330 member stations, offers all Americans the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and digital content. Each month, PBS reaches over 120 million people through television and 26 million people online, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature and public affairs; to hear diverse viewpoints; and to take front row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS’s broad array of programs has been consistently honored by the industry’s most coveted award competitions. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. Decades of research confirms that PBS’s premier children’s media service, PBS KIDS, helps children build critical literacy, math and social-emotional skills, enabling them to find success in school and life. Delivered through member stations, PBS KIDS offers high-quality educational content on TV – including a 24/7 channel, online at pbskids.org, via an array of mobile apps and in communities across America. More information about PBS is available at www.pbs.org, one of the leading dot-org websites on the internet, or by following PBS on Twitter, Facebook or through our apps for mobile and connected devices. Specific program information and updates for press are available at pbs.org/pressroom or by following PBS Communications on Twitter.


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