Black Public Media (BPM) supports the development of visionary content creators and distributes stories about the global Black experience to inspire a more equitable and inclusive future. BPM envisions a future in which Black people, Black stories, and Black voices are fully represented in every sector of the media landscape, including ownership, management, production, distribution, and engagement. BPM develops, produces, and funds documentary and immersive media content about the African American and global Black experience and distributes it through public media networks like PBS.

Black Public Media was founded as the National Black Programming Consortium in Columbus, Ohio in 1979. In 2000, NBPC relocated to Harlem, New York and in 2018, they rebranded as Black Public Media. Today, BPM is led by Executive Director Leslie Fields-Cruz and pursues its mission through: program distribution in partnership with various PBS series and through their signature series AfroPoP: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange; project development, providing funding for projects at critical stages of research and development, production and post-production—including PitchBLACK Forum and BPM Open Call—and talent development, offering professional development workshops and training; mentorships and fellowships to strengthen the pipeline of Black content creators such as 360 Incubator+. The BPMplus program provides professional development and project support to Black creative technologists producing immersive content–virtual/augmented reality (VR/XR) and artificial intelligence (AI).

Jerome Foundation supports Black Public Media’s BPM Emerging Media Artist program. Two early career New York City or Minnesota-based filmmakers and creative technologists participate in this program over the course of a year. Each artist receives a grant to use for their projects and/or to pay themselves while working on their project. Additional resources offered include mentoring, production support, WeWork membership, access to workspace, professional development through participation in BPM’s Bootcamp Retreat, participation in the Carson Center residency program (where Fellows have access to the Center’s workspace and immersive media equipment), and the opportunity to participate in BPM+ post-retreat workshops. The program is led by Denise Green, Director of Programs, and Lisa Osborne, Director of Emerging Media.