WNET received a big grant from CPB to support a civic engagement campaign for this important film about race in America way back in 2017. Yet there is no sign of how the money was spent, or made a difference. Where can people go to learn more about what happened with WNET's "The Talk" grant?
Received:
New York
Workbench Page Type:
Email:
Month and Year:
June, 2020
Comment:
In 2015, CPB invested $1.15 million in the development and production of The Talk, a groundbreaking two-hour documentary through WNET about the common conversation taking place in homes and communities across the country between parents of color and their children, especially sons, regarding how to behave if they are ever stopped by the police. CPB also contracted with WNET to provide engagement activities around "The Talk" for a further $400,000. CPB and WNET spent many months working to refine and review the engagement plan to meet program goals and expectations, taking care to design a broad and most effective multimedia approach. With several engagement activities planned around the February 2017 premiere of "The Talk," WNET requested CPB redirect engagement funds to create more programming about issues surrounding the police and communities of color throughout the year. Nearly $260k was allocated to PBS NewsHour Weekend to fund at least 12 original reporting segments that examine, in-depth, race in America focusing on criminal justice, jobs, education and families.