Public media in the United States—and across much of the democratic world—is under pressure from political interference, funding withdrawal, and the gravitational pull of multinational platforms that have little interest in local communities. But the institutions best positioned to serve those communities may not be the existing national ones fighting to survive. A new generation of local and regional media in the public interest are reimagining what it means to be publicly supported: building trust through proximity, forging coalitions across cities. This conversation brings together practitioners from across public (interest) media, in the U.S. and internationally, to ask what a new localism for documentary might look like, and what it would require to build it.
Moderator: Justine Nagan (Actual Films)
Panelists: Kevin Colligan (Local Public), Chris Hastings (WXXI, The Little Theater, CITY Magazine), and Sharese Bullock-Bailey (Manhattan Neighborhood Network)
Biographies (submitted by the speakers):
Kevin Colligan leads Local Public, which builds and operates streaming apps for independent PBS stations.
Chris Hastings is the President and CEO of WXXI Public Media, bringing a rich background from his previous role as Executive Producer and Editor-in-Chief of GBH’s WORLD Channel in Boston. There, he championed diverse perspectives through acclaimed series like America ReFramed, Local USA, and Doc World. His award-winning work—including Peabody, duPont-Columbia, and Emmy honors—reflects his commitment to independent film and emerging talent. A graduate of Kutztown State University and American University, Hastings remains connected to his Pennsylvania roots and values community, family, and storytelling. At WXXI, he leads with a vision to use public media to reflect and connect all communities in Rochester and beyond.
Sharese Bullock-Bailey is the Chief Program Officer at Manhattan Neighborhood Network (MNN). She is an Emmy-nominated producer, strategic consultant and leader in social impact storytelling. Sharese has funded, distributed, and curated independent media globally for the over 20 years, leading service and international education programs in over 20 countries. She serves as Executive Board Member at Independent Television Service (ITVS) and a Board Member for CreativeTypes. Recently, Sharese served as the Festival Director/Chief Innovation Officer at Urbanworld Foundation, Chief Partnership and Strategy Officer at GFS and Director of Tribeca Teaches at Tribeca Film Institute and was selected by the Ford Foundation as a 2015 Rockwood JustFilms Fellow and as a 2016 New York Community Trust Leadership Fellow.
Justine Nagan is an Emmy and Peabody Award-winning documentary producer and creative media executive. She is currently Executive Vice President at Actual Films. Recently, she produced Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore (Sundance 2025) and The White House Effect (Telluride 2024.) Additionally, she EPed In Waves and War (Telluride 2024,) One With the Whale for Independent Lens, Make A Splash for ESPN, as well as Voices Rising: The Music of Wakanda Forever for Marvel on Disney+. Prior, Justine was the Executive Director of American Documentary, and an EP on its signature series, POV (PBS) and America Reframed (World Channel.) Films showcased during her time include Through the Night, The Mole Agent, Softie, Minding the Gap, Last Men in Aleppo, and Hooligan Sparrow. Before AmDoc, Justine led Kartemquin Films as Executive Director, EPing films including Life Itself, The Interrupters, and The Trials of Muhammad Ali. Justine is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences and the PGA.
Public media in the United States—and across much of the democratic world—is under pressure from political interference, funding withdrawal, and the gravitational pull of multinational platforms that have little interest in local communities. But the institutions best positioned to serve those communities may not be the existing national ones fighting to survive. A new generation of local and regional media in the public interest are reimagining what it means to be publicly supported: building trust through proximity, forging coalitions across cities. This conversation brings together practitioners from across public (interest) media, in the U.S. and internationally, to ask what a new localism for documentary might look like, and what it would require to build it.
Moderator: Justine Nagan (Actual Films)
Panelists: Kevin Colligan (Local Public), Chris Hastings (WXXI, The Little Theater, CITY Magazine), and Sharese Bullock-Bailey (Manhattan Neighborhood Network)
Biographies (submitted by the speakers):
Kevin Colligan leads Local Public, which builds and operates streaming apps for independent PBS stations.
Chris Hastings is the President and CEO of WXXI Public Media, bringing a rich background from his previous role as Executive Producer and Editor-in-Chief of GBH’s WORLD Channel in Boston. There, he championed diverse perspectives through acclaimed series like America ReFramed, Local USA, and Doc World. His award-winning work—including Peabody, duPont-Columbia, and Emmy honors—reflects his commitment to independent film and emerging talent. A graduate of Kutztown State University and American University, Hastings remains connected to his Pennsylvania roots and values community, family, and storytelling. At WXXI, he leads with a vision to use public media to reflect and connect all communities in Rochester and beyond.
Sharese Bullock-Bailey is the Chief Program Officer at Manhattan Neighborhood Network (MNN). She is an Emmy-nominated producer, strategic consultant and leader in social impact storytelling. Sharese has funded, distributed, and curated independent media globally for the over 20 years, leading service and international education programs in over 20 countries. She serves as Executive Board Member at Independent Television Service (ITVS) and a Board Member for CreativeTypes. Recently, Sharese served as the Festival Director/Chief Innovation Officer at Urbanworld Foundation, Chief Partnership and Strategy Officer at GFS and Director of Tribeca Teaches at Tribeca Film Institute and was selected by the Ford Foundation as a 2015 Rockwood JustFilms Fellow and as a 2016 New York Community Trust Leadership Fellow.
Justine Nagan is an Emmy and Peabody Award-winning documentary producer and creative media executive. She is currently Executive Vice President at Actual Films. Recently, she produced Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore (Sundance 2025) and The White House Effect (Telluride 2024.) Additionally, she EPed In Waves and War (Telluride 2024,) One With the Whale for Independent Lens, Make A Splash for ESPN, as well as Voices Rising: The Music of Wakanda Forever for Marvel on Disney+. Prior, Justine was the Executive Director of American Documentary, and an EP on its signature series, POV (PBS) and America Reframed (World Channel.) Films showcased during her time include Through the Night, The Mole Agent, Softie, Minding the Gap, Last Men in Aleppo, and Hooligan Sparrow. Before AmDoc, Justine led Kartemquin Films as Executive Director, EPing films including Life Itself, The Interrupters, and The Trials of Muhammad Ali. Justine is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences and the PGA.
