News & Media Updates

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