From Newport to the nation: “Story in the Public Square” is a Rhode Island institution
Newport, RI – Eight years ago, a new public storytelling initiative out of the Pell Center at Salve Regina University debuted on Rhode Island PBS, “Story in the Public Square.” On July 6, the weekly series will air its 400th episode, kicking off its 15th national season. It now reaches audiences in nearly 300 television markets across the nation as well as Sirius XM listeners on the POTUS channel.
The show features conversations with distinguished guests, to study and celebrate the impact of public storytelling on public affairs and debate. Recognized last month with its twelfth Telly Award in eight years, the home-grown series has helped grow Rhode Island’s reputation as place where important ideas are hatched and explored.
The series’ executive producers, Jim Ludes, executive director of the Pell Center, and G. Wayne Miller, director of Ocean State Stories, initially presented "Story in the Public Square” as a conference. Ludes said, “Our conferences had always been incredibly well-received by attendees, and we wanted to share the program’s insights with a broader audience. Our concept was ‘Inside the Actor’s Studio’-meets-CNN.”
In the show’s interview-style format, Miller, a journalist and published author, focuses on storytelling craft and Ludes, a policy analyst with 18 years in Washington, DC, focuses on how the guest’s work contributes to shaping public understanding of issues and policy.
Seeking a media collaborator that shared the same desire to celebrate stories that matter, The Pell Center found two great partners in Rhode Island PBS and SiriusXM. “We learned how to produce a show thanks to people like Llewellyn King, who produced his show, ‘White House Chronicle,’ at Rhode Island PBS for a number of years, as well as a great crew of directors, camera operators, editors, sound engineers, and more who call Rhode Island PBS home,” said Ludes. He continued, “And in SiriusXM, we found a world-class radio partner with a committed and engaged national audience."
Tracy MacDonald, Executive Producer of Arts and Culture at Rhode island PBS, said “Reaching the 400th episode of Story in the Public Square is a remarkable milestone. We're deeply grateful to work alongside Jim Ludes and G. Wayne Miller, whose dedication to public affairs, inspired dialogue, and thoughtful storytelling continue to have a lasting impact. Through this series, they continue to bring diverse voices and perspectives to the American people in an engaging, accessible way. We're delighted to join them in celebrating this substantial achievement.”
Over the years “Story in the Public Square” has been blessed with incredible guests, from Sister Helen Prejean (author of Deadman Walking) to best-selling author Lisa Genova explaining the power of empathy in each of her books; Pulitzer Prize-winning photographers, authors, and journalists who have chronicled war, climate change, and the daily life of people living all over the world. In the last year, alone, world-class journalist Ray Suarez reminded audiences of the role immigrants play in the American story, while National Book Award-winner Ned Blackhawk reminded viewers of the role that indigenous individuals played in U.S. history, and acclaimed author Hanif Abdurraqib reflected on the inter-weaving of life and basketball in American cities.
Miller said, “Looking back over all of the episodes that we have produced, you can see that the issues our distinguished guests explore are of concern to audiences across America.”
Fittingly, the show’s milestone 400th episode features a conversation with acclaimed author Colin Woodard, whose recent research report “The Story of America: A rebooted civic national narrative for the United States,” illustrates the critical importance of national stories. The conversation explores his work in the context of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the American Declaration of Independence.
“Story in the Public Square” broadcasts each week on public television stations across the United States. In Rhode Island and southeastern New England, the show is broadcast on Rhode Island PBS on Sundays at 11:00 a.m. and is rebroadcast Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. An audio version of the program airs Saturdays at 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. ET, and Sundays at 2:30 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. on SiriusXM’s P.O.T.U.S. channel 124. “Story in the Public Square” is a project of the Pell Center at Salve Regina University. The initiative aims to study, celebrate and tell stories that matter.