New Kansas City PBS Show Brings Context to Issues Affecting Kansas City

Kansas City PBS has added a new, locally produced show to its lineup.

The Flatland show, named after the station’s digital journalism platform, is a monthly current affairs program that takes a deep dive into a single local issue raising questions, causing tensions, or is curiously unexplored. It will premiere Thursday, Sept. 16 at 7 p.m. on Kansas City PBS Channel 19.1, with new episodes airing on the third Thursday of every month. 

“The goal is to dig deeper than traditional news,” said Kliff Kuehl, president and CEO of Kansas City PBS. “We’re getting at the nuances and angles that short-form television reporting doesn’t allow. For us, it’s the next step in making public media the most trusted source for solution-minded journalism and constructive conversation. Flatland also provides us with the unique opportunity to highlight the excellent reporting and reporters of partner journalism organizations in Kansas City.”

Hosted by local writer, radio personality and activist D. Rashaan Gilmore, Flatland takes a multimedia approach, featuring an in-depth video report followed by a diverse panel of voices with different takes on the topic, supported by reporting on FlatlandKC.org. 

The new show will source experts over pundits, solutions over divisions, and informed insight over partisan talking points. It is uncompromising journalism that seeks answers, options and commonalities to address our city’s biggest problems. Everything is up for discussion: from the future of work in a post-COVID world to gentrification, houselessness, the environment and criminal justice reform. 

“Flatland is unique,” said D. Rashaan Gilmore. “It’s not a scattershot of different news and topics. It’s a John Oliver, This Week Tonight-esque long-form discussion. We’re giving people an opportunity to get to know an issue, the people affected by it, and those who are leading around it.” 

D. Rashaan Gilmore is a Newsweek contributing writer and the host of the weekly radio program “Unbossed and Unbothered” on 90.1 FM KKFI, which offers candid discussions, fresh insights and perspective-shifting interviews. 

For more information, visit kansascitypbs.org/flatland.