| Publisher | The Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism (2022-present) Baltimore Banner Co. (1965) |
|---|---|
| Editor-in-chief | Kimi Yoshino |
| CEO | Bob Cohn |
| Language | English |
| Headquarters | 621 East Pratt Street |
| City | Baltimore,Maryland |
| Country | United States |
| Website | thebaltimorebanner |
The Baltimore Banner is a news website inBaltimore founded by the Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism, which is a nonprofit set up byStewart W. Bainum Jr.[1] It launched June 14, 2022.[2] It had a staff of 125, with about 80 working the newsroom, as of March 2024.[3] The newspaper had 55,000 subscribers by the end of 2024, and brought in $13 million in revenue with 45% from subscriptions, 35% from advertising and 22% from philanthropy.[4]
TheBaltimore Banner was also a 1965 newspaper, set up as a "strike paper" during astrike againstBaltimore newspapers. During a 1984 strike, strikers considered resurrecting it.[5][6][7][8][9]
Bainum statedThe Baltimore Banner takes its name from theStar-Spangled Banner flag that waved overFort McHenry in 1814 during theWar of 1812 and gave its name to the American national anthem.[7] Others have cited other inspiration.[10]
AfterAlden Global Capital refused an offer from Bainum to buyThe Baltimore Sun as part of their 2021 acquisition ofTribune Publishing, Bainum backed an all-digital, nonprofit competitor to be named TheBaltimore Banner in 2022, owned by The Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism.[10][11] It launched with 42 journalists and planned to expand to 70 by the end of the year.[6][12] Bainum cited his experience from the Maryland State Legislature in the 1970s, when "he marveled at the reporters’ ability to sort the honest politicians from the 'political whores' by exposing abuses of power."[13] "Mr. Bainum’s goal... is to build the largest newsroom in Maryland — more than 100 journalists," reportedThe New York Times.[14][failed verification]
On October 27, 2021, The Venetoulis Institute announced the hiring of formerLos Angeles Times managing editor Kimi Yoshino as theBanner's editor-in-chief.[8] The next day, The Institute announced the hiring of Klas Uden as Chief Marketing Officer, Shameel Arafin as Chief Product Officer, Early Cokley as Head of Technology, and Andre Jones as Head of People, Culture and Diversity.[15] In December 2021, the Venetoulis Institute has hired former Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones executive Imtiaz Patel as chief executive officer.[16] On December 19, 2023, the news organization announced that Bob Cohn, former President ofThe Economist magazine, had been named Chief Executive Officer, replacing Patel, who left in July 2023.[17]
TheBanner has hired several current and formerSun reporters, including crime reporter Justin Fenton, education reporter Liz Bowie, enterprise reporter Tim Prudente, and statehouse reporter Pam Wood.[18] TheBanner has also set up a “Creatives in Residence” program to "feature the work of Baltimore-area artists and writers." At launch, this group includedD. Watkins, Kondwani Fidel, Kerry Graham, and Mikea Hugley.[19]
Shortly before its launch, theBanner struck a partnership withWYPR, anNPR affiliate. The outlets pledged to share content and work together to cover stories and develop joint programming.[20] In August 2022, the station announced a partnership withWJZ-TV, aCBS-owned and operated station. The two outlets share online content and Banner journalists appear on the station's 9 a.m. newscasts.[21]
The Baltimore Banner bolstered its school sports coverage with its August 2022 acquisition of Varsity Sports Network.[22]
In March 2024, theBanner announced plans to expand its editorial coverage from the city intoBaltimore County, and from there toAnne Arundel County andHoward County.[3]
In February 2025, the Banner won aPolk Award for its coverage of Baltimore's drug overdose crisis.[23]
While members of theAmerican Newspaper Guild union went on strike against the BaltimoreNews-American, BaltimoreEvening Sun, and BaltimoreSun, as the "Baltimore Banner Co." they published theBaltimore Banner "strike paper" daily from April 30 to May 28.[24]
Patrick Gilbert, chairman of theBaltimore Sun unit of the Washington-Baltimore Local 35 of the American Newspaper Guild, led some 700 members on strike. The target was A.S. Abell Publishing, owners of the morningBaltimore Sun (circulation 185,510),Evening Sun (circulation 163,672), andSunday Sun (circulation of 407,436), employing some 1,500 full-time and 700 part-time workers. Guild members took steps to resume theBaltimore Banner strike paper.[5]
In 2005, theBaltimore Banner featured in a chapter of a novelistic retelling of history calledOn the Forward Edge byRobert D. Loevy, professor emeritus at Colorado College.[25] The name here substitutes for a real-life newspaper (Baltimore News-Post), owned by the "Patriot Newspaper chain" (Hearst Corporation), competing with theBaltimore Beacon (Baltimore Sun). The chapter focuses on a civil rights protest at a local restaurant chain, amidst which the protagonist realizes: "it was the first time in history that photographs of African-Americans, except for wanted criminals, were printed in theBaltimore Banner."[26]