GOLD2023

The Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism

Nonprofit. Local Impact.

aka The Baltimore Banner   |   Baltimore, MD   |  https://thebaltimorebanner.com

Mission

Our mission at The Baltimore Banner is to be an indispensable resource that strengthens, unites and inspires our Baltimore community. We will accomplish this through trustworthy, quality journalism that tells the varied stories of our people, delivers local news that readers are willing to support, and holds our leaders accountable. As a nonprofit founded by The Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism, we are truly independent and we do not endorse leaders or political candidates.

Ruling year info

2021

CEO

Imtiaz Patel

Main address

621 East Pratt Street Suite 401

Baltimore, MD 21202 USA

Show more contact info

Formerly known as

Sunlight For All Institute

EIN

86-1715499

NTEE code info

Printing, Publishing (A33)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

The news landscape has witnessed a fundamental transformation. Three-plus decades of shifts include print-to-digital transition, plummeting advertising revenues, rise of social media, news outlet consolidation, and disinformation. What is happening is a dramatic loss of capacity in local news; 2,400 newspapers have closed; 35,000 journalism jobs lost; 1,800 communities without a newspaper. News deserts are spreading as local newspapers close. As a result, nearly half of U.S. adults (47%) say the local news they get mostly covers an area other than where they live, according to a Pew Research Center survey. In the Baltimore region, the problem is worse — 57% of people in the seven-county region say their local news media mostly covers another area. The Baltimore Banner, by contrast, has invested from the beginning to become the trusted, community-centered local news outlet that residents are eager for and to prove a new business model for local news can succeed here in Maryland.

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

Creatives in Residence

The Creatives In Residence program engages a cohort of Baltimore-area writers, poets and artists to contribute regularly to the publication, adding authentic takes and perspectives. A significant portion of program participants identify as native to Baltimore. Their work populates our publication's pages and is essential for growing our efforts to engage authentic community voices.

Population(s) Served
Artists and performers

The Baltimore Banner's BNEXT Youth Internship program is designed to provide young aspiring journalists with an opportunity to experience work-life in a digital-first, nonprofit start-up news organization. This real-world experience serves to immerse interns into each function of our organization, providing insight into the importance of each function and how it supports delivery of journalism.

Population(s) Served
Children and youth

Help us support building a robust newsroom with skilled reporters and professionals who innovate and explore topics that prioritize solutions-oriented journalism. With your support, our newsroom can build stronger relationships with the entire Baltimore community, respond to readers’ feedback, and foster crucial conversations that create even greater change around Baltimore and beyond.

Population(s) Served

Where we work

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

Our mission is to be an indispensable resource that strengthens, unites, and inspires our communities. We will accomplish this through trustworthy quality journalism that tells the varied stories of people living in this region, holds our leaders accountable, and delivers local news that readers are willing to support.

Our vision: We want to make a positive impact on the region by delivering trustworthy local news coverage to various communities in the Baltimore region and eventually across Maryland.

The key strategic elements to our operation are:

• To build the largest newsroom in Maryland

• To focus on local relevance with national prominence on select issues

• To be multi-platform

• To create a highly scalable operation across product, marketing, technology, analytics and development/fundraising

• To be diverse (content and workforce)

• To create positive outcomes for the communities we serve

The Banner’s leadership team includes experts from the fields of media and journalism who offer diverse perspectives and expertise in the realms of marketing, product, insights, technology, philanthropy, finance, community engagement, and human resources. Our newsroom, while still in early stages of development, is comprised of a talented and diverse team of journalists and interns. Our team is further equipped with a news media consultant and community engagement director. Most reporters and editors have ties to Baltimore and Maryland, making it a truly local newsroom. They all share a common mission: to be an indispensable resource that will uplift, unite and strengthen our community.

Financials

The Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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Build relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

The Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism

Board of directors
as of 05/02/2023
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

Stewart Bainum, Jr.

Choice Hotels International

Sandy Bainum

Janet Curie

Bank of America

Jedd Gould

Mediabids

William L. Jews

Professional Director

Brian McGrory

The Boston Globe

Imtiaz Patel

Shanaysha Sauls

Baltimore Community Foundation

Josh Tyrangiel

Eden Productions/ Kunhardt Film

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 8/25/2022
info Candid has made improvements to the race and ethnicity options.

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
Asian/Asian American
Gender identity
Male

Race & ethnicity

No data

Gender identity

No data

 

No data

Sexual orientation

No data

Disability

No data