Season 8 of “Story in the Public Square” to Premier in January 2022
NEWPORT, RI – “Story in the Public Square,” the five-time Telly-Award winning series from the Pell Center at Salve Regina University and The Providence Journal, is set to debut its eighth national season during the week of January 3, 2022 with 24 new episodes seen nationally on public television.
“Story in the Public Square” is a weekly, 30-minute series that centers on storytellers—acclaimed filmmakers, scholars, photographers, journalists, physicians, activists, historians, musicians and more—who share their stories along with analysis of culture, politics and current national and international events.
The series has been in production at the show’s flagship station, Rhode Island PBS, since January 2017 and is the creative collaboration between its hosts, Jim Ludes (Vice President, Salve Regina University) and G. Wayne Miller (Staff Writer, The Providence Journal.)
As the complex, world-shaping public issues of the past year have left many searching for hope and insight, “Story in the Pubic Square” has continued to bring inspiring and uplifting storytellers to public television audiences across America, with over 65 new episodes of the show produced throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
“Why do I love ‘Story in the Public Square?’” asked award-winning correspondent for CBS Sunday Morning, Mo Rocca. “Well, ‘Story’ is always front and center with Jim Ludes and Wayne Miller. And when so much of media is about self-aggrandizement, their mission is to serve the public.” He continued, “But more than anything, Jim and Wayne are total ‘squares.’ I mean, these guys actually read my book before I came on the show. Take it from this square, that’s something special!”
Padma Venkatraman, best-selling author of “Born Behind Bars” and “The Bridge Home,” said, “since the beginning, “Story in the Public Square” has shown a deep respect for and understanding of diversity and while the hosts are open to listening to people with differing opinions and political views, they have always sought to give a space to voices that have been historically marginalized or underrepresented.”
Award-winning still photographer and filmmaker Maddie McGarvey was among the photojournalists capturing the pandemic on film as it unfolded. She said, “[the program] allows the viewer to have a unique perspective on how our environment impacts our everyday lives through experts who dedicate their lives to informing the public.” She added, “every episode I watch, I learn something new and exciting and I’m thrilled to continue that journey with the renewal of the show in 2022.” McGarvey’s work has been published in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, The Washington Post, TIME, among others.
Jonathan Karp, President and Chief Executive Officer, Simon & Schuster “‘Story in the Public Square’ has proven to be a thoughtful and rewarding forum for discussion of art and ideas.
Produced from the studios of Rhode Island PBS, Story in the Public Square is currently seen in more than 85% of the nation’s television markets. It has won Telly Awards for excellence in politics and commentary as well as social impact in 2021, 2020 (twice); 2019, and 2018. The show is produced by the Pell Center at Salve Regina University and presented by Rhode Island PBS via NETA, the National Educational Telecommunications Association.
Story in the Public Square:
On the Web: https://pellcenter.org/story-in-the-public-square/
On Twitter: @pubstory
On Facebook: www.facebook.com/StoryInThePublicSquare/