Salute the Winners, then Lean In

PitchBLACK 2025 exceeded our expectations! Not only were the Forum pitches outstanding, the Awards program nearly sold out. Being able to host the event in Harlem at the Apollo Theatre’s new Stages at the Victoria venue was delightful. Overall, this year’s PitchBLACK was a much-needed morale booster for people working in public media. We appreciate all who attended, whether in-person or virtual, and we salute all the winners. Now, it’s time to lean in.

This month’s newsletter features PitchBLACK highlights. Next month, the awards program will be broadcast in the New York metropolitan area. Follow our Weekly Dispatch and this newsletter for details about how and when to watch. We’re already starting to plan for PitchBLACK 2026. Mark your calendars for another late April event. The exact date will be announced later this year. We look forward to having you join us.

We Appreciate You

Meanwhile, my colleagues and I would like to extend another word of appreciation to this year’s PitchBLACK sponsors and friends:

PitchBLACK Premiere Sponsor

NETFLIX

Trailblazer Award Sponsor

PBS

NCU Fellowship Sponsor

THE SONDER FOUNDATION

PitchBLACK Friends

Black Documentary Collective

Firelight Media

ITVS

Martha’s Vineyard Film Society’Center

New York Women in Film and Television

National Multicultural Alliance

POV/American Documentary 

Sarah Brown Catering

Shutterstock

NYC Media

WORLD

PitchBLACK Host Committee

Antonia Carew-Watts

Lisa Cortés

Christopher Hastings

Errol King

Claire Walls

Rachel Watanabe-Batton

Valerie Williams-Sanchez, Ph.D.

Support Matters, Especially in Difficult Times

These supporters make PitchBLACK possible. Public media is going through a difficult time right now. But I urge us all to remember whose shoulders we stand on. Together with our allies, we must lean in with the same conviction and determination that emboldened our predecessors. 

The stories produced for and shared on public media are valuable, and Americans have repeatedly demonstrated their interest to watch and engage with them. So, while the road ahead currently appears murky, rest assured, it is not a dead end. There is a role for each of us to play in navigating the current chaos and preparing for the future. Figure out yours and get busy. The projects pitched at PitchBLACK reassure me that what awaits us beyond the fog is even more glorious. Let’s go!