JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023
A WORD FROM OUR GENERAL MANAGER, DEANNA MACKEY
Happy New Year! I’m officially six months into my new role as general manager at KPBS and it feels like home. That’s not to say that things are quiet and restful…on the contrary. After nearly three years of construction, we are busy moving back into our beautiful building. We will host an open house in a couple months and cannot wait to show you the community space and studios we have added. We hope you will be able to attend.
There are also many exciting shows coming up, including a new podcast from our News team discussing transportation, and a new season of “Crossing South.” In February, KPBS honors Black History Month. We’ve highlighted a few not-to-be-missed shows in this newsletter. I invite you to visit kpbs.org/blackculture throughout the year, where we continually curate stories celebrating the rich Black culture, art and history found in San Diego and nationally.
It is because of your ongoing support that we are able to continue to tell stories that connect us all together as a community. Thank you for being part of the KPBS family.
“Vienna Blood”
Suspense, Drama and Love: “Vienna Blood” Returns
This winter, Dr. Max Liebermann and Detective Inspector Oskar Rheinhardt return to the screen in the third season of the hit mystery series “Vienna Blood.” Together, the duo tackles the darkest and most convoluted mysteries of early 1900s Vienna.
Based on the popular books by Frank Tallis, Season 3 will feature the distinctive plot twists and chilling suspense that fans know and love, as well as personal challenges and romantic drama in the lives of Liebermann and Rheinhardt. This is one mystery that will keep you guessing until the very last episode.
Premieres Sunday, January 8, at 10 p.m. on KPBS-TV. Watch this program live or stream anytime with the PBS Video app.
KPBS Welcomes Terence Shepherd to Lead Multi-Platform Newsroom
News Director Terence Shepherd joined KPBS in August 2022, after eight years as News Director at WLRN/Miami and past chair of the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA).
In addition to the amazing reporters and producers, Shepherd was attracted to how the San Diego audience engages with KPBS through its radio, television, podcasts and other digital platforms. KPBS is committed to meeting audiences where they are…where you are. And KPBS’ new headquarters is a perfect place to engage with the community. Shepherd says, “I think people are starving for face-to-face communication and seek human connections that can be found through KPBS events.”
While education, housing affordability and homelessness are critical topics at KPBS, Shepherd points to the importance of arts and cultural reporting as a key focus for the station.
Furthermore, he is thrilled to say that we are hiring a new reporter at KPBS
to cover racial and social equity issues. KPBS is leading the way in defining how the newsroom will cover this emergent topic and will share its guidebook with other California public media stations.
Terence Shepherd
“The Picture Taker”
Explore the Secret Life of a Civil Rights Photographer
In his documentary “The Picture Taker,” director Phil Bertelsen details the life and experiences of photographer Ernest Withers. A Memphis native, Withers’ name has become forever intertwined with the American civil rights movement. He is known for his nearly 2 million photographs of civil rights activism and life in Black communities, documentation that today is revered as a key piece of history.
Following Withers’ death in 2007, an investigation by a Memphis newspaper reporter led to an unexpected finding: Withers had been a secret informant for the FBI for years, continuously relaying information about civil rights leaders. His shocking informant career deeply contrasted his photography career, a contradiction that historians are still grappling with today.
Airs Monday, January 30, at 11 p.m. on KPBS-TV. Watch this program live or stream anytime with the PBS Video app.
We did it together!
Thank you for your support of KPBS and our Building on Trust Campaign.
We hope you are as excited as we are to get back into the KPBS Conrad Prebys Media Complex at Copley Center and continue to serve San Diego with the highest-quality news and programming available. We will be offering tours of the new space soon. We look forward to sharing this inspiring new home with you in the months to come. Learn more by visiting campaign.kpbs.org.
Roberta Flack
Soulful, Powerful: KPBS Celebrates Roberta Flack
Her middle name is Cleopatra, which is fitting for someone who is chart-topping popular music royalty. “American Masters: Roberta Flack” takes us on a journey with a music teacher who spent her evenings and weekends in D.C. singing blues, folk and pop standards.
Roberta Flack’s recording of “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” was featured in the soundtrack for the movie Play Misty for Me and became the biggest hit of 1971, spending six weeks at No. 1 and earning Flack a Grammy. From her duets with Donny Hathaway to her colossal hit “Killing Me Softly with His Song,” Flack faced racism and sexism on her way to becoming one of the nation’s most beloved artists. “American Masters: Roberta Flack” provides an intimate look at her personal journey and stunning talent.
Premieres Tuesday, January 24, at 9 p.m. on KPBS-TV. Watch this program live or stream anytime with the PBS Video app.
Life in the Trees and Beneath the Sea
In Season 41 of “Nature,” viewers get a firsthand look at life in the wilderness and underwater.
“Wildheart”
On “Wildheart,” we explore Scotland and learn about the Scots pine tree, a living emblem of the Scottish way of life and a keystone species of the country’s exquisite landscape.
“Wildheart” airs Wednesday, January 18, at 8 p.m. on KPBS-TV.
“Soul of the Ocean”
Then we dive into “Soul of the Ocean” with underwater filmmaker Howard Hall (“Nature: Shark Mountain”). The episode examines the intricacies and symbioses that characterize sea life and introduces captivating footage of one of the least explored ecosystems on the planet.
“Soul of the Ocean” airs Wednesday, January 25, at 8 p.m. on KPBS-TV.
Watch these programs live or stream anytime with the PBS Video app.
“All Creatures Great and Small” Season 3 Brings Changes of All Kinds
In the series’ upcoming season, veterinarian James Herriot attempts to balance change within his practice and the challenges of marriage.
Local cattle farmers are apprehensive about James’ proposal to join a lucrative government tuberculosis testing program, fearing the possibility of financial ruin.
At home, Helen struggles to acclimate to a life away from the family farm, foreign to what she has always known. Despite tough transitions and new challenges, one thing remains constant: the love for animals and nature on “All Creatures Great and Small.”
Premieres Sunday, January 8, at 9 p.m. on KPBS-TV. Watch this program live or stream anytime with the PBS Video app.
“All Creatures Great and Small”
“I Didn’t See You There”
“I Didn’t See You There” Explores What It Means to “See” the Disabled
In the Sundance award-winning film “I Didn’t See You There,” filmmaker Reid Davenport captures footage of his daily life from his wheelchair, a unique perspective that allows viewers to get a firsthand look into the everyday barriers he faces as a result of his disability. In his words, Davenport often feels “looked at, but not seen” by those he encounters.
“I Didn’t See You There” sheds light on how disability inclusion can be advanced. “I want you to imagine other ways of seeing. And I hope that, together, we can expand our understanding of what cinema is, and what cinema can be,” Davenport says.
Airs Monday, January 9, at 11 p.m. on KPBS-TV. Watch this program live or stream anytime with the PBS Video app.
Sponsor Message
The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego welcomes all to experience our region and ourselves through the prism of contemporary art. MCASD achieves this mission because of visionary supporters who believe in the transformative power of art.
“Contemporary art sparks insight, inspiration and ideas that have the power to not only change ourselves but catalyze change in our communities and throughout our world,” said Kathryn Kanjo, MCASD’s David C. Copley director and CEO. “Our community deserves a site of shared experiences and reflection.”
At MCASD we want you to continually discover new ways to experience, support and gain access to more of what we have to offer. We hope your exploration through our galleries, programs and visitor experiences becomes part of your lifestyle and for MCASD to become an extension of our community into yours.
Experience being part of the MCASD community and enjoy Member access to free, unlimited admission to the galleries, invitations to fun and exciting programs and experiences and so much more. Join today! Learn more at https://mcasd.org/.
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KPBS channel info—television
KPBS TV—15, Cox 1011, Spectrum 1221
KPBS 2—15.2, Cox 811, Spectrum 1277
KPBS Create—15.3, Cox 816, Spectrum 1275
KPBS Kids—15.4, Cox 809, Spectrum 1276
KPBS channel info—HD radio
KPBS Radio—89.5 HD1, Calexico 97.7 FM
Classical San Diego—89.5 HD2
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— Mauricio, KPBS Supporter
Keep local San Diego programs on-air by donating your vehicle to KPBS. Our station accepts cars, boats, motorcycles and many other vehicles to support local programming. Generosity from donors like Mauricio helps our station continue to educate and inspire San Diego!
To learn more about how to donate a vehicle to KPBS, visit kpbs.careasy.org or call 877-KPBS-CAR.