PBS North Carolina Announces 2024 Season of 'State Lines'
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PBS NORTH CAROLINA ANNOUNCES 2024 SEASON OF ‘STATE LINES’
Kelly McCullen is named the permanent host of the weekly program focused on NC politics.
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC, 2/1/2024 — PBS North Carolina announces Kelly McCullen, Director of the North Carolina Channel and Original Productions, as the permanent host of State Lines. In this weekly roundtable discussion, political analysts, journalists and elected officials examine the state’s top legislative stories as well as current events. State Lines airs Friday nights at 8:30 PM as part of PBS NC’s four-hour public affairs programming block. The show also streams on the free PBS App.
McCullen, who has moderated the show since its debut in January 2023, says, “State Lines offers a fair, nonpartisan forum for experienced analysts, influencers and elected leaders to articulate their perspectives. The series builds on PBS North Carolina’s decades-long commitment to thoughtful coverage of issues that impact people throughout the state.”
“As a native North Carolinian,” McCullen adds, “I’m honored to play a leading role in this series, both in front of and behind the cameras. The in-depth analysis and the expertise of our contributors make hosting this show very rewarding.”
State Lines will also produce specials that delve deeper on a particular topic. Recent specials have explored housing and education in North Carolina, revisited the Watergate scandal and offered a year in review with North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper. These specials were produced with a roster of guest hosts and contributors including PBS NC senior producer and correspondent David Hurst, journalist Melody Hunter-Pillion, analyst Anna Beavon Gravely and veteran broadcaster and PBS North Carolina CEO/General Manager David Crabtree.
Throughout 2024, State Lines specials will focus on candidates running for election; these interviews will air later this year, before early voting in North Carolina begins.
On the upcoming season, McCullen adds, “State Lines has one year under its belt, so we have a solid foundation from which to cover issues from every corner of North Carolina. The show has become a destination for timely, essential conversations, and we look forward to even more spirited dialogue as the 2024 legislative session convenes and races for the November general election heat up.”
State Lines airs Fridays, at 8:30 PM, on PBS NC. The program is also available on the free PBS App. Visit pbsnc.org/schedule for the latest broadcast information.
About the Host
Kelly McCullen is PBS North Carolina’s Director of the North Carolina Channel and Original Productions. Since 2005, he has served as a reporter, producer, executive producer, anchor and host for PBS North Carolina. He has led legislative news coverage, moderating and producing state primary debates and executive producing nationally distributed political debates. Prior to working at PBS North Carolina, McCullen was an anchor and assistant news director at a commercial television station in Mississippi.
About PBS North Carolina
As North Carolina’s statewide PBS network serving the country’s third largest public media market, PBS North Carolina educates, informs, entertains and inspires its audience on air, online and in person. Through its unique partnership of public investment and private support, the network includes in-person engagement, digital-first social and online content delivery and four over-the-air channels: PBS NC, the North Carolina Channel, Rootle 24/7 PBS KIDS channel and the Explorer Channel. Its transformational events and content spark curiosity and wonder for all North Carolinians. Additionally, PBS North Carolina serves as the backbone for North Carolina’s state emergency services. To learn more about PBS North Carolina, visit pbsnc.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
-PBS NC-
Media Contact
Allyson Meade, Marketing & Communications
PBS North Carolina
press@pbsnc.org