PBS News Weekend Logo PNG
The PBS News Weekend logo precisely matches the television program’s theme, which is based on providing updates on current events. The emblem is professional and reflects the project’s informational focus.
PBS News Weekend: Brand overview
The history of PBS News Weekend began in September 2013 as an ambitious initiative by the Public Broadcasting Service to expand weekend news coverage. Originally called PBS NewsHour Weekend, the program was conceived as an extension of the renowned PBS NewsHour while developing its distinctive approach to news reporting.
The show launched in 2013 from WNET’s television studio in New York City. Its first anchor and senior correspondent, Hari Sreenivasan, brought extensive experience in journalism. The early stages focused on defining its core concept: combining in-depth news analysis with accessible and engaging reporting.
In 2014, significant developments were made. A dedicated team of journalists was assembled, and partnerships were established with news agencies and correspondent offices worldwide. Efforts were directed toward crafting a unique presentation style that distinguished it from other weekend news programs.
By 2015, the team had introduced new segments to provide in-depth analyses of key events from the week. Special reports and documentaries were produced and noted for their thorough exploration of complex topics.
The period from 2016 to 2017 marked considerable growth. Special reports and analytical content increased. Collaborations with regional PBS stations allowed for broader coverage of local events, with a focus on stories often overlooked by mainstream outlets.
In 2018, the digital presence was enhanced. A redesigned website, social media accounts, and a podcast were launched, broadening the audience and offering additional ways for viewers to access content.
In 2019, the program expanded its international reporting. Collaborations with overseas broadcasters improved the depth and quality of global news coverage. Segments focused on science, culture, and technology were also introduced.
From 2020 to 2021, format changes included adopting advanced production technologies and emphasizing digital platforms. Interactive formats were developed to engage with the audience more directly.
In 2022, the show was renamed PBS News Weekend, reflecting its evolution and a refreshed presentation style. New graphics, a revamped studio, and restructured newscasts were introduced to align with its updated vision.
By 2023, the weekend news program had established itself as a leading source of information. Combining in-depth analysis with accessible storytelling remained a hallmark, while multimedia formats and an expanded digital presence became key priorities.
Throughout its history, the program has upheld the principles of public television: objectivity, comprehensive analysis, and serving the public interest. These values have earned viewers’ trust and established it as a vital news source for millions of Americans.
The program’s success is a testament to the dedication of its journalists, producers, and technical staff. Over the years, this team has maintained high journalistic standards and continuously sought innovative ways to enhance the quality of its content.
Meaning and History
What is PBS News Weekend?
On weekends, this television program offers in-depth coverage of important national and international topics. It focuses on thorough analysis and reporting, complemented by interviews with newsmakers, experts, and cultural leaders. The program adheres to high journalistic standards, providing balanced information and helping viewers better understand complex issues often overlooked by other news sources. Its style prioritizes context and insight over sensationalism.
2013 – 2015
When PBS NewsHour, which aired on weekdays, expanded its programming, the new Sunday show received its logo. The surrounding world served as its foundation—acting as the background, a source of information, the target audience, and an observer of current events. For this reason, the key element of the emblem is the brand’s distinctive icon featuring multiple faces.
The right side of the emblem is occupied by text featuring a significant amount of red, suggesting that all the news is hot—fresh, engaging, and relevant. On the left side is the highly recognizable symbol: a circle with profiles of heads. These are drawn in a geometric style and positioned one behind the other, creating the impression of three figures rather than two—two with lighter skin and one with darker skin, clearly visible in the negative space.
Next to it is the program’s title, “PBS NewsHour,” with a subtle note below reading “Weekend.” The top row is rendered in large, black font, while the lower lines use smaller, dark red letters. All the glyphs are uppercase and grotesque and exhibit a harmonious combination of angles and curves.
2015 – 2022
The updated PBS News Weekend logo appears more formal than the previous one. It lacks the abundance of large text, creating a more restrained atmosphere. To achieve this, the designers took several steps:
- They reorganized the text portion;
- Reduced the weight of the letters in the first and last words;
- Decreased the size of the icon.
As a result, the TV show’s name now spans two levels instead of three, as it did before. The abbreviation “PBS” is now combined with the phrase “NewsHour.” To prevent them from blending into a single blur and ensure they are visible, they were colored in black and red. The bottom line with the word “Weekend” is also red, but it doesn’t appear bright due to the excessively small glyphs.
The name is written in capital letters using three fonts: bold, semi-bold, and thin. This variety reflects the desire to distinguish each part, highlight it among the others, and even rank them in importance. The boldest font is used for the second word, the thinnest for the last one, and the medium weight is used for the first, representing the general name of the newsgroup.
The round icon with faces is placed at the front and reduced in size so that it properly aligns with the single-line text and doesn’t appear too large in comparison. In this way, the designers maintained the logo’s optimal scalability.
2022 – 2024
The modernization of the PBS News Weekend emblem is linked to the increasing popularity of the weekend news broadcasts, which required separation into an independent show distinct from weekday programs. To maintain the recognizability of the visual identity (the familiar design), the designers simply reorganized the standard elements:
- They split the text into parts and arranged them into three levels;
- They enhanced the brightness of the red color;
- They moved the brand icon to a different location.
They did not alter any details, preserving the original font and style. The first line is bold and black. It is written in uppercase block letters and contains a round symbol to the right (after the abbreviation). It features white profile heads – a symbol of the public’s mass interest in the TV show. These also represent viewers who closely follow events in the country and worldwide.
The word “News” in the second row is written in extra-large red glyphs to attract the audience’s attention and emphasize the nature of the news program. The third row contains “Weekend,” which indicates the program’s release schedule. Interestingly, this is the first version of the logo without adding “Hour”: it has been retained only in the weekday editions.
2024 – today
The latest PBS News Weekend logo modernization has added lightness without altering the concept. The airiness comes from two factors:
- the light color;
- the free space.
Now, a calming sky-blue is used instead of the intense color scheme (black and red). In this way, the company producing the news program emphasizes the peaceful atmosphere of the weekend and carefree relaxation in front of the TV. After all, blue symbolizes tranquility, confidence, perfection, and clarity.
The free space appeared due to the reduction of the first line and the enlargement of the last one. When the text is aligned to the left, the size difference creates much space, which remains unoccupied – just the white background. Additionally, the designers moved the round icon with faces to the front and placed it before the “PBS” abbreviation.
Another significant change in the emblem concerns the font. The old version, resembling the Rutan Bold typeface from The Northern Block, has now disappeared. In its place is a version with elongated characters, similar to the glyphs from the Prenton RP Cond Medium font. The grotesque letters appear confident and strict, evoking a sense of stability.
