Friday, January 19, 2018
Associated Press
PASADENA, Calif.
PBS, which dealt with sexual misconduct allegations in its own backyard, will air a series examining the pressing social issue.
The five-part series, “#MeToo, Now What?” will address how we got here and how “we can use this moment to effect positive and lasting change,” PBS chief executive Paula Kerger said.
Hosted by Zainab Salbi, founder of Women for Women International, a humanitarian organization, the series will include reporting and conversations on topics including how race and class figure into the issue.
Men and women from across the country will be among the studio guests, along with activists, celebrities and leaders from media, business and other sectors. The series debuts Feb. 2.
In a Q&A with TV critics, Kerger was asked why PBS was caught unaware by misconduct allegations against Charlie Rose that led PBS to drop his long-running interview program.
Rose, who also lost his job on “CBS This Morning” and as a “60 Minutes” contributor, called the allegations embarrassing but inaccurate.
Rose’s program was independently produced and managed by him, as are other public TV programs, and PBS didn’t have “that kind of view” into his organization that would been revelatory, Kerger said.
PBS also severed ties with talk show host Tavis Smiley after investigating misconduct allegations against him, which he has repeatedly denied.
A wave of accusations against prominent men gave rise to the #MeToo anti-misconduct movement.