News & Media Updates

The conversation is now up on Noosphere, the platform for independent journalists. Filmed at Carpenters' Hall in Philadelphia, where the First Continental Congress once met, Oliver and Laura Trevelyan trace the story behind Becoming American: the founding of the country seen through the lens of its first capital, the contradiction inside the words "all men are created equal," and the enslaved and free Africans whose lives shaped both the city and the nation. Oliver also opens

Becoming American: Philadelphia's Story is now available to stream on PBS. From PBS: "Becoming American" explores the founding of the United States through the lens of Philadelphia, America's first capital. From indigenous people and enslaved Africans to lawmakers and artisans, the film reveals how diverse communities shaped a new nation. Though rooted in Philadelphia, this is a shared American story whose debates, ideals, and consequences still resonate today. 55m 12s | TV-P

WHYY's Studio 2 welcomes Becoming American: Philadelphia's Story creator and co-executive producer Oliver St. Clair Franklin and Bear House Media executive producer Annie Connolly for a conversation about the new PBS documentary. The episode airs Thursday, May 28 at 1:00 PM, ahead of the film's world broadcast premiere on WHYY TV-12 the same evening at 8:00 PM. From the episode description: "A new PBS documentary, Becoming American: Philadelphia's Story, highlights the journe

The Philadelphia Citizen featured Becoming American: Philadelphia's Story on May 8, 2026, ahead of the film's WHYY premiere at the Philadelphia Film Society on May 12 "I didn't choose this project. This project chose me. We want Philadelphians to understand that they're living in the middle of all this." — Oliver St. Clair Franklin Becoming American airs on WHYY-12 on May 28 and nationwide on PBS beginning June 15. Read Courtney DuChene's full feature at The Philadelphia Citi

The new documentary highlights the city's early diverse communities and their lasting impact ahead of America's 250th anniversary Presented by WHYY and distributed by PBS, the new documentary will become available nationwide June 15, 2026, spotlighting Philadelphia's early diverse communities and their lasting impact ahead of America's 250th anniversary PHILADELPHIA, PA (April 29, 2026) – A new documentary exploring Philadelphia's central role in shaping the United States, Be