Season 8 of “Story in the Public Square” to premier in January 2022

“Story in the Public Square,” the five-time Telly-Award winning series from the Pell Center for International Relations and Public Policy at Salve Regina 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. It’s the creative collaboration between its hosts: Jim Ludes, vice president for public research and executive director of the Pell Center, and G. Wayne Miller, staff writer at 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 Mo Rocca, award-winning correspondent for CBS Sunday Morning. “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 ….  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 is the best-selling author of “Born Behind Bars” and “The Bridge Home. ” She celebrates the show’s choice to be offer diverse voices.

“Since the beginning, ‘Story in the Public Square’ has shown a deep respect for and understanding of diversity,” she said. “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. McGarvey’s work has been published in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, The Washington Post and TIME, among others.

“[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,” McGarvey said. “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.”

“Story in the Public Square” has been in production at the show’s flagship station, Rhode Island PBS, since January 2017. The series is currently seen in more than 85% of the nation’s television markets. It has won Telly Awards for excellence in political commentary and social impact in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021. The show is produced by the Pell Center at Salve Regina and presented by Rhode Island PBS via NETA, the National Educational Telecommunications Association.