PBS is getting in on the whole #MeToo movement with a little help from Women for Women International founder Zainab Salbi. The broadcaster supported by viewers like you has ordered a five-part, half-hour series “#MeToo, Now What?”
In the current moment, when sexual harassment is at the forefront of the national conversation, “#MeToo, Now What?” aims to take the discussion to another level, engaging both women and men from all generations and walks of life in dialogue about these difficult issues, per PBS. With the goal of making sense of these tumultuous times, the series seeks to answer this: How did we get here and how can we use this moment to effect positive and lasting change?
Each episode will focus on an aspect of sexual harassment, and will include reporting from Salbi both in the field and in studio as she facilitates open and authentic conversations that penetrate to the heart of the matter, the series’ official description continued. Topics to be explored include the impact of popular culture on women in the workplace, how race and class factor into the discussion, the social costs of pay inequity and gender discrimination, how men can be engaged in this discussion, and, ultimately, how we begin to chart a path forward.
“‘#MeToo, Now What?’ will offer a much-needed space for honest conversation around this issue,” said Beth Hoppe, PBS Chief Programming Executive and General Manager, General Audience Programming. “This series will provide context and perspective from a wide range of voices, with the goal of moving towards healing and understanding.”
“In order for this conversation to create true cultural change, we must talk with the man on the street, in our lives, our colleagues and friends,” added Salbi (pictured above). “Equally, we need to have the conversation with the women in our lives to examine why, when we’ve seen sexual misconduct, we’ve often looked the other way when it didn’t impact us directly.”
PBS presented “#MeToo” and other shows Tuesday at the Television Critics Association press tour. The network has not been immune to the current wave of sexual misconduct allegations in Hollywood and the media: Charlie Rose was dropped by PBS in November after admitting to “inappropriate behavior.”
“#MeToo, Now What?” is set to premiere Friday, Feb. 2 at 8:30 p.m. on PBS.