What's Coming to PBS This Fall and Winter
2020 may be an unprecedented year, but one constant is PBS programming, featuring such stalwarts as Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Masterpiece dramas, and new kids shows. Here's a preview of some of what's coming in the fall and summer.
What to Watch in August
August brings a new season of a long-running, cerebral mystery, extensive coverage and analysis of the Democratic and Republican Conventions from WTTW News and PBS NewsHour, and another overlooked story of the pandemic from Frontline.
Covering the 2020 Political Conventions
The executive producer of PBS NewsHour and the News Director of WTTW News discuss covering the Democratic and Republican conventions during a pandemic, lessons learned from 2016, and more.
WTTW Is Bringing Chicago's Summertime Activities To Your Home
Summer in Chicago is typically fully of fun activities from dancing to movies to concerts to summer camps held in the parks of the city. This year, WTTW is partnering with the Chicago Park District and Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events to bring those activities to you in your home.
The Performers of 'A Capitol Fourth,' 2020
On the 40th anniversary of PBS's A Capitol Fourth, the Fourth of July celebration is a bit different due to COVID-19, but there are still star performers and fireworks that you can enjoy from your home.
What to Watch in July
There’s a huge amount of worthwhile TV out there nowadays, so it can be hard to choose what to watch. But who better to recommend shows than the person who programs them? Lisa Tipton, WTTW’s Head of Programming and Pledge, constructs the WTTW schedule by searching through offerings from many different sources which include the national PBS network, the BBC, and independent filmmakers to put together a varied and engaging broadcast schedule.
Meet Bushra Amiwala, the Youngest Muslim Holding Public Office in the Country
Bushra Amiwala shares her story of becoming the youngest Muslim elected official in the United States. She's featured in the upcoming documentary, And She Could Be Next.
A Virtual Celebration of Juneteenth with Historical Institutions Across the Country
Six Black museums and historical institutions across the country are hosting a virtual event featuring cultural performances and scholars to celebrate Juneteenth, which marks the freeing of slaves in Texas two and a half years late, after the Emancipation Proclamation.
Ten Documentaries and Ten Books on Race in America
With America again in the midst of a public reckoning on race and racism, WTTW's head of community engagement, Tim Russell, was asked by a friend for recommendations on what to read and watch about race in America. Here are his lists.
A Virtual Graduation Ceremony for Chicago's High School Seniors
High school seniors may not be able to receive their diplomas in-person this year, but Chicago is hosting a virtual graduation ceremony featuring a commencement address by Oprah Winfrey and hosted by Hamilton star Miguel Cervantes.
WTTW Celebrates Trailblazers, Women Who Changed the World
This summer, in honor of the centenary of adoption of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote, PBS and WTTW are celebrating trailblazers: women who already have or are working now to change the world and explode societal limitations.
WTTW Programming Addressing Race and Racism
WTTW will broadcast and make available to stream a series of films and new specials focused on race in America following the murder of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, and the ensuing protests that erupted across the country.
Celebrate Gwendolyn Brooks with PBS Books and WTTW
The Chicagoland author and illustrator of the children's book Exquisite: The Life and Poetry of Gwendolyn Brooks give a live reading and discuss the process of creating the book as well as their admiration of the Pulitzer Prize-winning poet.
What to Watch in June
An exciting new series from WTTW exploring billions of years of the prehistoric record with the Field Museum's Emily Graslie, a new season of a beloved mystery, a look at an infamous celebrity, and more.
The American Writers Museum Spotlights the Voices of Immigrant and Refugee Writers
“You can make a strong case for saying the American writing experience is the immigrant writing experience,” says the author Juan Martinez, and that's exactly what the American Writers Museum's "My America" exhibit, newly made digital, does.
