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About PBS

PBS KIDS Commitment to Representing All of America’s Children

At PBS, our approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is holistic and we celebrate all cultures, backgrounds, and lived experiences (i.e., with respect to race, ethnicity, religion, age, gender, veteran status, sexual orientation, disability, geographic region, socioeconomic status, and other dimensions of identity).

PBS KIDS strives to reflect the rich and varied backgrounds of its audience across television and digital platforms. All children across America between the ages of 2 and 8 should see themselves represented on PBS KIDS, through characters and stories that celebrate and give voice to a broad variety of lived experiences.  This begins by acknowledging differences in children’s starting points, contexts, and histories – and recognizing that the work of accurately reflecting everyone on-screen requires a commitment to celebrating all behind the scenes, as well. 

PBS KIDS values:

• Content that honors all cultural values, norms, and points of view.

• Authentic characters and developmentally appropriate stories, crafted and told by members of those communities represented in the content.

• Content that identifies purposeful ways to support children from historically underrepresented groups and helps them develop a positive sense of self.

• Productions that are led by, strive to hire and retain, and include qualified staff from all backgrounds at all levels of production.  PBS KIDS believes that productions that celebrate all – particularly at the leadership and decision-making levels – help guard against the perpetuation of harmful stereotypes and results in content that is richer, more authentic, and that better serves children and the public as a whole.

 

PBS KIDS requests producers to provide a report detailing how their project(s) will support these values – within the content itself, and behind the scenes.

Measuring our Progress

PBS KIDS recognizes there is always more work needed to make sure that our content includes all our stories, including those of underrepresented groups, across our content, on-screen talent, and pool of producers.

For these efforts to be sustained over time, we expect all producers to work with us by using the tool/s identified by PBS that not only measure accountability for all our stories, including PBS's Producer Portal, but also adhere to the privacy and security requirements of the PBS Technology and Operations Department.