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PBS to Rename Professional Development Programs as the Dr. Sylvia M. Bugg Creative Voices Initiative

ARLINGTON, VA – Wednesday, October 21, 2026

  PBS President and CEO Paula Kerger announced that PBS is preparing to launch a new round of its professional development programs for filmmakers under a new name honoring the late Dr. Sylvia M. Bugg, PBS Chief Programming Executive and General Manager of General Audience Programming, who passed away in July.

The Dr. Sylvia M. Bugg Creative Voices Initiative supports filmmakers, producers, editors, and other storytelling professionals who have experienced barriers to entering the media industry.

Sylvia Bugg devoted her career to creating pathways for the next generation of media leaders,� said Kerger. �She believed in finding talented people who had not yet been given a chance and opening the door. The Dr. Sylvia M. Bugg Creative Voices Initiative will continue Sylvia�s work, supporting creative professionals who have faced barriers to entering the media industry. We are proud to rename this program in Sylvia�s honor.�

Originally launched in 2023, the Dr. Sylvia M. Bugg Creative Voices Initiative will continue creating opportunities for emerging and mid-career storytellers in public media while honoring Dr. Bugg�s commitment to stories that reflect the beauty, artistry, complexity, and richness of our nation.

As Dr. Bugg said in a 2024 interview: �We�re deeply grateful for those filmmakers who want to work in public media, who want their films on PBS. We felt it was important to continue to invest in the support they need to do their best work.�

Applications for Round III of each program open at different times. The Creative Voices one-year programs for filmmakers are offered every other year with two distinct pathways:

� Accelerator Fellowship: For mid-career professionals, full-time, salaried, one-year positions on a national PBS series or special. Applications will open in mid-November 2026.

� Ignite Cohort: In-depth training for early-career filmmakers, including the opportunity to pitch and direct an episode of a digital series with a PBS production partner. Applications will open in mid-January 2027.

Both pathways include one-on-one mentorship with a current or former public media producer or executive, monthly cohort sessions featuring workshops and networking opportunities, and in-person cohort gatherings.

Since its launch, 36 fellows have completed the program. Their work has reached 35 million digital views through PBS strands and series and has been recognized with a regional Emmy Award and an Imagen Award nomination. And 10 out of 14 full-time fellows were hired permanently or had their contracts extended with their productions after the program ended.

The Creative Voices programs are supported by Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies.

About PBS 
PBS, with more than 330 member stations, offers all Americans the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and digital content. Each month, PBS reaches over 36 million adults on linear primetime television, 16 million users on PBS-owned streaming platforms, 56 million viewers on YouTube, and 10 million followers on social media, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature, and public affairs and to take front-row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS�s broad array of programs has been consistently honored by the industry�s most coveted award competitions. More information about PBS is available at PBS.org, one of the leading dot-org websites on the internet, Facebook, Instagram, or through our apps for mobile and connected devices. Specific program information and updates for press are available at pbs.org/pressroom.

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