Something special is making its way to YouTube 👀 We’re excited to introduce PBS Documentaries, a brand-new home for a diverse collection of documentaries from across our network, in partnership with @itvsindies .
From indie films to science and history specials to powerful stories from communities across the country, this channel brings it all together in one place. Explore films from Independent Lens, POV, Reel South, VOCES, and so much more, including new digital-first docs from Digital Studios. If you’re into stories that spark curiosity, challenge what you know, and leave a lasting impression on you… then you won’t want to miss what we have in store.
The first documentary, “The Inquisitor” premieres today at 12 PM ET, tracing Barbara Jordan’s rise from Texas congresswoman to national icon, highlighting her powerful voice, integrity, and lasting impact on U.S. politics.
Head over to PBS Documentaries on YouTube and subscribe so you don’t miss a thing.
What stories do you want to see on the channel? Let us know below
This past November, our very own Lois Vossen received a Lifetime Achievement Award from DOC NYC. While the award may seem like an individual honor, Lois will be the first to tell you that it is more than that. This award recognizes the work that ITVS has done over the decades, through the good, the bad, and the really, really bad, and it could not have happened without Lois’ leadership.
As we look at the journey ahead in 2026, we are excited to take what we’ve learned over the past 30+ years, hungrier than ever to bring your stories to communities across the country.
Video credit: Jeremy Workman
@velvet_film
Another fantastic PBS Annual Meeting is in the books 🎉
The ITVS team had an amazing time at the annual gathering, this year hosted by @austinpbs . It was so great to see so many friendly faces and we’re proud to be a part of such an inspiring and powerful public media system.
Introducing our inaugural Independent Lens Creator Lab cohort!
For the last three decades, we've supported acclaimed independent filmmakers with bringing their stories and projects to households across the country. We're now bringing that same energy to a format millions engage with daily, vertical video on social media.
These six creators represent voices from every corner of the country: rappers, artists, journalists, comedians, and explorers. What they share is a commitment to authenticity. Their work is rooted in community, curiosity, and a willingness to engage audiences in meaningful, sometimes challenging ways.
Click the tag of each creator in their slide to check out their pages, and keep an eye on the PBS Documentaries YouTube channel for their work in the coming months.
We’re in our feels this Friday because we’re saying “so long” to ITVS icon Jim Sommers, who’s taking off for his next adventure.
Since joining ITVS in 2001, Jim has helped to set the standard for community engagement within the public media documentary space. He quickly rose to hold various senior leadership roles, including VP of Broadcast and Communications, Senior VP of Content Management, Sr. VP of Content, Executive VP of Content, and, most importantly, VP of Halloween Costumes.
The ITVS family will greatly miss Jim’s artistic talents, his knack for pulling off outrageous pranks, and his warm mentorship, which has left a mark on everyone who has ever called ITVS their home.
Thank you for everything, Jim. You’ll always have an open invitation to our company Halloween parties. ❤️
Congratulations to Stanley Nelson and Marcia Smith of @firelight_media on receiving @blackpublicmedia ’s 2026 Trailblazer Award at PitchBLACK this past weekend!!
The BPM Trailblazer Award honors documentary storytellers whose work has transformed the media landscape and expanded cultural representation. Stanley Nelson is the producer of several ITVS-funded films, including: A Place of Our Own, WE WANT THE FUNK!, Creating the New World: The Transatlantic Slave Trade, The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution, and Tell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Black Colleges and Universities.
A dive into the life of a great American artist receives an Emmy nod! 🎹
Congratulations to the ITVS-supported team behind The Disappearance of Miss Scott on your News & Doc Emmy nomination!
