Baltimore’s The Banner, a nonprofit news organization launched in June 2022, has received a 2025 Pulitzer Prize for local reporting and a Polk award for its coverage of the opioid crisis, marking a significant milestone for the publication and its parent organization, The Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism.
The awards recognize The Banner’s rapid ascent in a challenging media landscape. Founded by Maryland businessman Stewart Bainum Jr., the Institute established The Banner to address a growing need for locally focused, independent journalism in Baltimore and central Maryland. According to data released by the organization, by the finish of 2024, The Banner had secured 55,000 subscribers, generating $13 million in revenue, with 45% of that income derived from subscriptions, 35% from advertising and 22% from philanthropic contributions.
A key element of The Banner’s success has been its embrace of a new role within the newsroom: the digital-native content creator. Rondez Green, a former esports host and community theatre artist, exemplifies this evolution. Green joined The Banner in October 2023 after building a following on platforms like YouTube and Twitch, where he provided commentary on social and political issues.
“I realised people were looking to me as a trusted source,” Green said. “Someone who would fact-find, relay verifiable information and provide nuanced commentary that’s based in reality – and digestible.”
Green’s remit at The Banner extends beyond traditional reporting. He focuses on community engagement and covering stories often overlooked by mainstream media, including the largest sewage spill in US history. His background in performance, honed through years of community theatre and digital comedy, informs his approach to storytelling, making complex issues more accessible to audiences.
“There’s something deeply satisfying,” Green explained, “about knowing someone at home feels comforted by getting accurate updates – understanding what’s happening and how they can act on it.”
The Venetoulis Institute was founded in 2021 with strategic support from the Lenfest Institute for Journalism, and is named in honor of former Baltimore County Executive Theodore “Ted” G. Venetoulis, who championed nonprofit ownership of local news. Bob Cohn, President and CEO of The Venetoulis Institute, outlined accelerated expansion plans in September, including the recruitment of additional local reporters and editors.
Green noted that he initially worried about censorship, but found the opposite to be true. “The audience engagement team helps expand and strengthen my stories,” he said. “It’s about adding depth, more fact-finding, more information – not limiting opinion, but grounding it.”
The Banner’s model, which integrates digital content creators into the core newsroom structure, is gaining attention from news organizations globally. The Institute’s approach reflects a growing recognition of the need to connect with audiences in new and innovative ways, blending traditional journalistic standards with the reach and engagement of digital platforms.