The Baltimore Banner wins the James S. Keat Freedom of Information award for a breadth of reporting using public records and data. Four strong nominations were received for this award.
The award is named for Jim Keat, a retired editor and foreign correspondent for the Baltimore Sun, who was a long-time advocate for public information access. Keat was inducted into the MDDC Newspaper Hall of Fame in 2013 and is a former recipient of MDDC’s Distinguished Service Award.
The judges were impressed by The Banner’s wide-ranging portfolio of substantive projects that used public records in reporting. Reporters at The Banner have obtained and used public records in a variety of ways, including suing for records, scraping data from public websites, and using video and photographic records. The work has had impact, leading to the release of more information and even working with public officials to improve public reporting and databases released through open data portals.
From their submission letter, The Banner says “uncovering and telling stories using public records is part of the nonprofit Baltimore Banner’s DNA. It spans all beats and coverage areas, where our journalists over the past year have used documents, emails, data, surveillance photos and camera footage obtained through public records requests to hold powerful people and public agencies accountable, to shed light on what is happening behind the scenes and to give readers a fuller and deeper understanding of important issues they face.” The Baltimore Banner wins the James S. Keat Freedom of Information award for a breadth of reporting using public records and data.
The award is named for Jim Keat, a retired editor and foreign correspondent for the Baltimore Sun, who was a long-time advocate for public information access. Keat was inducted into the MDDC Newspaper Hall of Fame in 2013 and is a former recipient of MDDC’s Distinguished Service Award.
The judge was impressed by The Banner’s extensive use of public records to uncover stories across the state. From deaths at the Harford County Detention Center to investigation at Howard Community College, to ghost guns in Baltimore city and a coverage of the Key Bridge, Banner reporters were persistent in their pursuit of public records. The work has been impactful, leading to the release of more information and stronger explanations for the public.
From their submission letter, The Banner says “the pursuit of, and fight for, public records continued to drive some of The Baltimore Banner’s most important investigative, enterprise and accountability journalism in 2024.”
This is the second time The Baltimore Banner has won the award.
Click here to read The Banner’s nomination letter.
The News Journal
Xerxes Wilson was nominated for his effort to uncover information about police accountability through civil lawsuits regarding police brutality.
Click here to read the nomination letter.
