March 27, 2026 The judges have made their decisions! Congratulations to the winners of the MDDC Press Association 2025 Contest. These winners represent the best work of the region in editorial, revenue and design categories. Over 1600 entries were submitted in over 80 categories. We will announce the winners for first and second place in our awards broadcast (premiered through Zoom) throughout the week of May 4th. Best of Show winners (one per category) will be announced at our Annual Conference on May 8th in Annapolis. MDDC will hold its annual conference and awards lunch on Friday May 8th from 9 am – 2:30 pm at the Doubletree Annapolis hotel. Join colleagues and industry experts for two sets of panels and discussions on topics of interest, speed networking in our new “Mixing Bowl” session, and the presentation of Best of Show awards during a festive Mexican buffet lunch. Register for the conference here. (First and second place awards will be announced in our pre-conference video drops during the week of May 4th.) Are you an award winner? Help us showcase your work by making sure we have your latest headshot, correct title and spelling of your name, and social handles. This information will also be used in our new directory we are releasing this year. Click here to complete the form . Division A The Baltimore Banner Stokey Baksh Sapna Bansil Giacomo Bologna Liz Bowie Jessica Calefati Meredith Cohn Céilí Doyle Ashanti Fortson Jessica Gallagher Kristen Griffith Rick Hutzell Jerry Jacson Sahana Jayaraman KT Kanazawich Andy Kostka Wesley Lapointe Ryan Little Paul Mancano Alex Mann Hallie Miller Greg Morton Ulysses Muñoz Kaitlin Newman Emily Opilo Tim Prudente Lillian Reed Anna Rubenstein Lee O. Sanderlin Dylan Segelbaum Krishna Sharma Staff Leslie Gray Streeter Jasmine Vaugh-Hall Allan James Vestal John-John Williams IV Adam Willis Ariel Zambelich Alissa Zhu The Baltimore Sun Jeff Barker Dan Belson Karl Merton Ferron Lloyd Fox Karl Hille Ela Jalil Todd Karpovich Andy Knobel Kenneth K. Lam Jean Marbella Mary Carole McCauley Lorraine Mirabella Abigail Olear Jonathan M. Pitts Chevall Pryce Tracie Rawson Staff Armstrong Williams Katharine Wilson The News Journal Shane Brennan Benjamin Chambers Delaware Online/The News Journal staff Martin Frank Ginger Garrison Krys'tal Griffin Brandon Holveck Stephanie Lindholm Esteban Parra Peter Pietrangelo Kelly Powers Staff Luis Solano Patricia Talorico Také Uda Xerxes Wilson Division B Cape Gazette Kevin Conlon Dan Cook Chris Flood Ron MacArthur Mallery Galaska Ellen McIntyre Aaron R. Mushrush Jim Parterson Nick Roth Bill Shull Abby Workman Cumberland Times Steve Bittner Cumberland Times-News Staff Mark Harris Chip Minemyer John Smith Times-News Staff The Daily Record Patrick Brannan Sloane Brown Kay Kron MBRT Staff Kate Malone Staff The Frederick News-Post Cameron Adams Erik Anderson Marwa Barakat Samantha Bangh James Constantine Graham Cullen Cliff Cumber Alexander Dacy Ric Dugan Esther Frances Rocco Geppi Noelle Hallman Brittney Hamilton Connie Hastings Ceoli Jacoby Erin Jones Anna Joyce Lauren LaRocca Gabrielle Lewis Kate McDermott Shelby Maly Ryan Marshall Jack Murphy Joseph Peterson James Rada Jr. Andrew Schotz Staff Greg Swatek Nolan Wilkinson Geordie Wilson Susan Writer Katina Zentz The Herald-Mail Julie E. Greene Daniel Kauffman Washington Business Journal Nate Doughty Ben Peters Daniel J. Sernovitz Division C Baltimore Fishbowl Nicole Allen Jack Barker Eddy Calkins Marcus Dieterle Len Foxwell Ed Gunts Charlie Herrick Maggie Jones Julie Kichline Karuga Koinange Matt McCarney Nathan McConarty Joe Mesa Karen Nitkin Dan Rodricks Staff Aliza Worthington Capital-Gazette (The Annapolis) Katherine Fominykh Michael Howes Anthony Maluso Benjamin Rothstein Eric Smith Maggie Trovato Katharine Wilson Carroll County Times Jeffrey F. Bill Lily Carey Brian Krista Anthony Maluso April Santana Catholic Review Christopher Gunty George Matysek Jr. Gabriella Ferraro O’Brien Kevin J. Parks Staff Daily State News Jamie Bobbitt Jessica Cook Gary Emeigh Mike Finney Angi Hicks Beth Skinner Andy Walter Andrew West Daily Times Olivia Minzola Lauren Roberts Maryland Matters Danielle J. Brown Christine Condon William J. Ford Josh Kurtz Bryan P. Sears Division D Baltimore Beat Devin Allen Jocelyn Dombroski MacKenzie River Foy Grace Hebron Logan Hullinger Eze Jackson Sanya Kamidi Jonathan Keen Fabian Perez Bry Reed E. Brady Robinson Faith Spicer Staff Christian Thomas Baltimore Jewish Times Ebony Brown Braden Hamelin Lonna Kolick Bay Journal Karl Blankenship Jeremy Cox Lauren Hines-Acosta Whitney Pipkin Tim Sayles Staff Timothy B. Wheeler Bethesda Today Ashlyn Campbell Elia Griffin Louis Peck Max Schaeffer Cecil Whig Jane Bellmyer Carl Hamilton Patrick LaPorte Southern Maryland News Riley Dauber Megan Johnson Marty Madden Spotlight Delaware Karl Baker Tim Carlin Editorial Staff Brianna Hill Elsa Kegelman Julia Merola Jacob Owens José Ignacio Castañeda Perez Maggie Reynolds Mike Smith Nick Stonesifer David Stradley Staff Angela Reives The Star Democrat Ahmad Garnett Biff Haufe Konner Metz Meredith Moore Jennifer Quinn Eli Wohlenhaus Lily Tierney Eli Wohlenhaus Townson Times Craig Clary Washington Jewish Week Zoe Bell Aaron Troodler Frank Wagner Division E Baltimore Brew Christian Arias Jennifer Bishop Dante Davidson-Swinton Amy Davis Becky Kling Feldman Madelein O’Neill Keondra Prier Mark Reutter Dan Rodricks Fern Shen Carson Ward Business Monthly George Berkheimer Mark R. Smith Pantea Tofangchi Catherine White Jason Whong Caroline Review Connie Connolly Kennedy Thomason Coastal Point Chris Aube Susan Canfora Taryn King Shaun M. Lambert Karin Magill Darin McCann Staff Mike Stern Jillian Stohr Cian Titus Laura Walter OC Today -Dispatch Marc Emond Tara Fisher Brian Shane Washington Informer (The) Denise Rolark Barnes Elizabeth Booker Jada Ingleton Kamon Jackson Ra-Jah Kelly Skylar Nelson Dan Olds DeMarco Rush Staff Washington Informer Team Division F Aegis Matt Hubbard Brian Krista Taylor Lyons Brendan Nordstrom Afro-American (The) AFRO Editorial Staff Dr. Frances Murphy (Toni) Draper Ashleigh Fields Lenora Howze Matthew McDonald Tashi McQueen Victoria Mejicanos Dana Peck Kevin Peck Alexis Taylor Chrissy Thornton Baltimore Business Journal Baltimore Business Journal Staff Garrett Dvorkin Matt Hooke Joe Ilardi Alex Mason Jacqueline Prins Melody Simmons Morgan Simpson Bay Times /Record Observer Hannah Combs Andrea Grabenstein Capital News Service Jack Bowman CNS-TV News Staff Eddy Calkins Capital News Service Sophia da Silva Lillian Glaros Adam Hudacek Molecule Jongwilai Andrew McBride Cat Murphy Haley Parsley Peter Riccio Ruby Siefken Staff Tolu Talabi The Howard Center for Investigative Journalism Jade Tran Emma Tufo Zion Willians Ben Wolf Delaware Business Times Jennifer Antonik Howard County Times Jeffrey F. Bill Kiersten Hacker April Santana Molly Fellin Spence Jacob Steinberg Kent County News Will Bontrager Hannah Combs Laurel Star Mike McClure Seaford Star Chris Elliott Tede Griffith Carol Kinsley Brittany Passon Lynn Schofer Star, Georgetown Chamber of Commerce Star Staff Carson Williamson Independent Journalists Mark Hyman Madeline O’Neill Suzanne Pollak
Six journalism students have been selected as newsroom interns for the summer of 2026 through MDDC’s Reese Cleghorn Internship program. Funding for these internships was made possible the Delaplaine Foundation, the Goldseker Foundation and The Nutting Family Foundation, Baltimore Fishbowl, Baltimore Brew, and many individual donors to MDDC The interns were selected from a pool of highly qualified applicants. The intern selection committee, comprised of Andrea McDaniels of The Baltimore Banner, Ann LoLordo, Diana Sugg freelance journalist, Molly Fellin Spence of The Baltimore Sun, Kamau High of The Capital Gazette, Sam Davis of the Baltimore Sun and Tom Ferraro reviewed more than thirty initial applications, which included a personal essay, published clips and educational and professional references. The committee narrowed the field and conducted a panel interview with each candidate. Each intern will be treated as a professional working journalist at his or her host newsroom, with the expectation of generating 35-40 published clips and real-world experience during their 8-week paid internship. As part of the program, interns participate in a one-day briefing on how to get the most out of the internship. MDDC will also hold its popular “Into the Newsroom” series, which brings together reporters, freelancers and interns from MDDC member organizations for skill building training sessions. Interns will also be partnered with mentors, who will offer guidance outside the newsroom and coaches who will focus on writing skills. The interns are (in alphabetical order): Marijke Friedman University of Maryland; Andrew Hall , Morgan State University; Evelyn Lucado , Washington College; Oliver Mack , University of Maryland; Nicole Pilsbury, University of Maryland; Theodore Rose , University of Maryland.
We are featuring amazing examples of investigative journalism by our news media members that demonstrate the ideals of Sunshine Week in action! Sunshine Week is a nonpartisan collaboration among groups in the journalism, civic, education, government and private sectors that shines a light on the importance of public records and open government. This year’s efforts are coordinated by Joseph L. Brechner Freedom of Information Project at the University of Florida’s College of Journalism and Communications. And supported by John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and thrive with a growing list of partners. Sunshine Week is about the public’s right to know what its government is doing, and why. Recent investigative and transparency reporting from MDDC members During Sunshine Week, MDDC will feature important investigative pieces that show the power of local reporting and transparency in our communities. Please tag your own work with #SunshineWeek2026 to be part of the conversation. Josh Investigates – Josh Shannon – Newark Post (The) Inmates share medical records to prove alleged BCDC H.pylori outbreak – Alexis Taylor- Afro American (The) The housing hustle igniting a foreclosure crisis in Baltimore – Hallie Mikker, Giacomo Bologna, Shahanna Jayaraman – Baltimore Banner (The) Thousands say they were sexually abused in Maryland juvenile detention centers. – Madeleine O’Neill – Baltimore Beat Maryland’s public employee union quietly loses $1 million in “phishing scam” – Mark Reutter – Baltimore Brew Health care’s heavyweight showdown – Matt Hooke, Craig M. Douglas – Baltimore Business Journal Rehoboth using AI to track license plates, Rehoboth issues AI camera report, etc. – Chris Flood – Cape Gazette Off the Rails – The Howard Center for Investigative Journalism – Capital News Service ‘Ticking time bombs’ – Coal ash pits pepper the Bay watershed – Timothy B. Wheeler, Whitney Pipkin – Bay Journal He admitted ‘filthy’ chats with a teen. Cumberland made him police chief . – Madeleine O’Neill Federal filing by ‘shadowy’ group trolling Moore leaves questions unanswered – Bryan P. Sears – Maryland Matters Toddler tram death linked to equipment problems, probe finds – Bethany Hooper – OC Today-Dispatch https://spotlightdelaware.org/2025/06/12/wilmington-lobbied-biden-camp-to-bring-presidential-library-to-the-city/ – Brianna Hill, Karl Barker – Spotlight Delaware Visit Harford nonprofit reportedly spent thousands on parties, gifts, alcohol – Matt Hubbard – Aegis Intentional hole cut in Fort Detrick lab suit – Ceoli Jacoby, Marwa Baraka – Frederick News-Post (The) Hundreds of Delaware teachers found working on expired licenses – Kelly Powers, Esteban Parra – News Journal (The)
