New nonprofit Baltimore News Outlet banner launches website – CBS Baltimore

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — The Baltimore Banner, an all-digital nonprofit funded by hospitality mogul Stewart Bainum Jr., officially launched on Tuesday.

A sampling of the initial offerings, some of which are for subscribers only: writing a poll on how Baltimoreans would fix the city, a look at Baltimore’s ongoing problem of vacant homes, and an article on the “Francis Scott paradox Key”, author of the “Star-Spangled Banner”.

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Although the banner published several articles via its email newsletter ahead of today’s launch, including details of a legal dispute between the sons of Orioles owner Peter Angelos, a comprehensive website does not was posted online only on Tuesday.

The Banner currently has 42 journalists on staff and expects to have 70 by the end of the year, the company said in a press release.

Bainum and his family launched the Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism — named after former Baltimore County executive Ted Venetoulis, who worked as his post-politics news director — to oversee the banner’s operations.

As he told WJZ’s Denise Koch in November, Bainum has committed $50 million to get the project off the ground.

“We want to carry the banner of Baltimore’s great journalism tradition into the future,” he said.

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Bainum also has a background in politics, having served as a member of the Maryland General Assembly from 1979 to 1987. During that time, he recalled, there were six daily newspapers in the state. Now there is a vacuum of news.

“How can communities govern themselves when they don’t know what’s going on? He asked.

Bainum and Venetoulis made an unsuccessful takeover bid The sun and turn it into a non-profit association. Following Venetoulis’ death in October, Bainum decided to move forward with a new venture, and several city daily veterans, such as Justin Fenton, Liz Bowie and Tim Prudente, eventually signed on to join the new point of sale.

In a note posted on the banner’s site, editor Kimi Yoshino said Tuesday that the banner will provide “insight, depth, analysis and solutions” in its coverage.

“We want to make the news, but don’t expect us to cover every additional filming or development at City Hall. We will monitor government agencies and elected officials when things are not working properly. We will highlight success stories,” she wrote. “We will celebrate the rich culture and art in this region and provide useful information to help you decide how to spend your time and money. And we’ll find interesting stories you’ll want to talk about with your family and friends.

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