Designed for mid-career professionals with 5 - 8 years of producing or editing experience, the PBS Accelerator Fellowship, is one of two programs that provide filmmakers and content creators with the opportunity to make meaningful contributions to public media. To learn about PBS Ignite, our program for early-career filmmakers, click here. 

OVERVIEW

PBS provides a service to all Americans by presenting programs that share a wide variety of perspectives and lived experiences. We also strive to elevate talented individuals from a variety of backgrounds to innovate and deliver on our mission. 

The PBS Creative Voices Initiative supports filmmakers and content creators who have experienced barriers to entering the media industry including those who can bring lesser-known stories or insightful perspectives to the media industry. 

As a part of this Initiative, the PBS Accelerator Fellowship for Creatives provides mid-career content makers who have experienced barriers to entering the media industry paid employment opportunities for up to one year with third-party productions working on PBS shows. The Fellowship Program will not only support Fellows, it will also accelerate changes in the producing ecosystem by bringing more voices into the production process in key roles, including producers and editors.  

The Fellow is hired by a PBS producing partner to work within a production team where the Fellow will be provided with an opportunity to make substantial contributions to programming, observe and learn practical leadership skills, and build a network of connections within the public media system. The Fellow will obtain a production credit for their work, receive a competitive salary, benefits, and will be a contract, full-time employee of the production company where placed. More information on the production company will be provided to those selected for interviews.  

To complement their job experience, Fellows become members of the PBS fellowship cohort which provides monthly cohort sessions, individual mentorship with prominent leaders in public media, access to industry events and professional networking opportunities with PBS senior leadership and partners.  

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS 

To be eligible, applicants must meet the following criteria:  

• The fellowship program is for mid-career professionals with
  • A range of five (5) to eight (8) years of mid-career production experience (i.e., 5 - 8 years of experience as a producer, journalist, editor) OR
  • Minimum of two (2) production credits with the same or similar job title as the fellowship position you are seeking
• A Fellow should be able to demonstrate they have experienced barriers to entering the media industry including those who can bring lesser-known stories or insightful perspectives to the media industry
• Participants must commit to and be available for the duration of the one-year fellowship

Applications for the 2025 - 2026 fellowship is closed. If you have questions, email PBSCreativeVoices@pbs.org.