Strengthening Our Collective Resolve
by Leslie Fields-Cruz
Reflections on the 2025 PBS Annual Meeting
For the past few days, I’ve been catching up with my public media colleagues at the PBS Annual Meeting in Atlanta. This marked my 24th Annual Meeting. The tone wasn’t as somber as I had expected, given the ongoing threats to defund public media. Both Paula Kerger (PBS) and Pat Harrison (CPB) issued a rallying call that helped strengthen our collective resolve to protect and preserve this essential institution.
Personally, I welcomed the face-to-face meetings with system colleagues and enjoyed previewing upcoming programs from Indie Lens, POV, Nature, NOVA, Frontline, American Experience, and more. The BPM Fam was well represented, with clips from projects by Cyndee Readdean, Phil Bertelsen, Michèle Stephenson, Andrew Gonzales, Laura Varela, and Stanley Nelson. Luchina Fisher and Brittany Shyne were also in attendance as Wyncote Fellows. Sadah Espii Proctor showcased clips from her immersive project with South Florida PBS. Former BPM staffer and producer in her own right, Alexis Aggrey, was there with a film about Thurgood Marshall, produced by Firelight Media and Maryland Public Television.
Indies in the House
A highlight of this year’s meeting was the indie networking event organized by Nick Price of REEL South. My team and I had a chance to reconnect with old friends — Anjanette Levert (Ms. Peabody winner!!!), Artemis Fannin (360+ alum and AP for An American Coup: Wilmington 1898) — and meet emerging creators, like Jonathan Banks (Young Kings). Makers showed up from across the region — from ATL to Alabama and beyond. The southern independent doc community is vibrant, diverse and rich with powerful stories.
While I left with some uncertainty about what lies ahead, I also carry with me the conviction that change is gonna come, and that’s not always a bad thing.
— Fields-Cruz is the executive director of Black Public Media
