A free press cannot be swept aside or silenced. This award honors acts of courage in journalism and strength in adversity while uncovering truth.  The Courage in Journalism Award was established in memory of those killed at the Capital Gazette in Annapolis in 2018 and in honor of those who survived.  Nominations included examples of the work as well as a summary letter describing the situation — the adversity faced and the actions taken by a journalist or news company to push forward — and the effect the work had.  

Fentanyl deaths are a grimly familiar tragedy in U.S. cities, but The Baltimore Banner approached the crisis with rare depth and persistence. 

Rejecting the notion that the deaths were inevitable, the nonprofit newsroom spent over two years—and more than $500,000—investigating. It fought a legal battle to obtain public records, collaborated with The New York Times’s Local Investigations Fellowship, and partnered with other local outlets to share its data nationwide. 

The reporting team faced immense obstacles. Many sources were unhoused or battling addiction, and maintaining contact was exhausting. Reporters Alissa Zhu and Jessica Gallagher immersed themselves in affected neighborhoods, even witnessing an overdose. Gallagher waited hours in fast food parking lots, often overnight, hoping to meet elusive sources. 

City officials resisted at every step—stonewalling interviews, canceling hearings, and accusing reporters of being industry plants. But the stories had real impact: days after a treatment provider was exposed, regulators moved to shut it down. The facility has since ceased operations and its housing is now under investigation. 

The articles dissected the roots of the crisis and pointed to possible solutions. Most importantly, they gave voice to a neglected community. One grieving mother, after reading, said, “Thanks for letting us heal.” 

Click here to read the nomination letter from The Baltimore Banner.