Baltimore Banner

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Baltimore Banner
PublisherBaltimore Banner Co. (1965)
LanguageEnglish
CityBaltimore, Maryland
CountryUnited States

The Baltimore Banner was a 1965 newspaper, set up as a "strike paper" during a strike against Baltimore newspapers. During a 1984 strike, strikers considered resuming it. In October 2021, The Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism, a nonprofit founded by Stewart W. Bainum Jr., announced their plans to launch a new Baltimore Banner in 2022.[1][2][3][4][5]

History[]

Bainum stated the new Baltimore Banner takes its name from the Star-Spangled Banner flag that waved over Fort McHenry in 1814 during the War of 1812 and gave its name to the American national anthem.[3] Others have cited other inspiration.[6]

1965 strike paper[]

While members of the American Newspaper Guild (union) went on strike against the Baltimore News-American, Baltimore Evening Sun, and Baltimore Sun, as the "Baltimore Banner Co." they published the Baltimore Banner "strike paper" daily from April 30 to May 28.[7]

1984 strike consideration[]

Patrick Gilbert, chairman of the Baltimore Sun unit of the Washington-Baltimore Local 35 of the American Newspaper Guild, led some 700 members on strike. The target was A.S. Abell Publishing, owners of the morning Baltimore Sun (circulation 185,510), Evening Sun (circulation 163,672), and Sunday Sun (circulation of 407,436), employing some 1,500 full-time and 700 part-time workers. Guild members took steps to resume the Baltimore Banner strike paper.[1]

2005 On the Foward Edge[]

In 2005, the Baltimore Banner featured in a chapter of a novelistic retelling of history called On the Foward Edge by Robert D. Loevy, professor emeritus at Colorado College.[8] The name here substitutes for a real-life newspaper (Baltimore News-Post), owned by the "Patriot Newspaper chain" (Hearst Corporation), competing with the Baltimore Beacon (Baltimore Sun). The chapter focuses on a civil rights protest at a local restaurant chain, amidst which the protagonist realizes: "it was the first time in history that photographs of African-Americans, except for wanted criminals, were printed in the Baltimore Banner."[9]

2021 Plans[]

After Alden Global Capital refused an offer from Bainum to buy The Baltimore Sun as part of their 2021 acquisition of Tribune Publishing, Bainum backed an all-digital, nonprofit competitor to be named The Baltimore Banner in 2022, owned by The Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism.[6][10] Bainum will start with 50 journalists and a $15 million budget.[2][11] Bainum cited his experience from the Maryland State Legislature in the 1970s, when "he marveled at the reporters’ ability to sort the honest politicians from the 'political whores' by exposing abuses of power."[12] "Mr. Bainum’s goal... is to build the largest newsroom in Maryland — more than 100 journalists," reported the New York Times.[13][failed verification]

In early November 2021, The Baltimore Banner began searching for office space in downtown Baltimore.[14]

On October 27, 2021, The Venetoulis Institute announced the hiring of former Los Angeles Times managing editor Kimi Yoshino as The Banner's editor-in-chief.[4] The next day, The Institute announced the hiring of Klas Uden as Chief Marketing Officer, Shameel Arafin as Chief Product Officer, Early Cokley as Head of Technology, and Andre Jones as Head of People, Culture and Diversity.[15] In December 2021, the Venetoulis Institute has hired former Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones executive Imtiaz Patel as chief executive officer.[16]

The Banner has hired several current and former Sun reporters, including crime reporter Justin Fenton, education reporter Liz Bowie, enterprise reporter Tim Prudente, and statehouse reporter Pam Wood.[17]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b Valentine, Paul W. (9 June 1984). "Sun Paper, Union Talks Continue". Washington Post. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  2. ^ a b Coppins, McKay (14 October 2021). "The Men Who Are Killing America's Newspapers". The Atlantic Monthly. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  3. ^ a b Bainum, Jr., Stewart (26 October 2021). "A Letter from the Founder of The Venetoulis Institute". The Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  4. ^ a b Ellison, Sarah (26 October 2021). "Bainum unveils plans for new Baltimore Banner news site — and hires Kimi Yoshino, a top L.A. Times editor, to run it". Washington Post. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  5. ^ "Entrepreneur Stewart Bainum explains his Baltimore Banner startup and why local news is critical to 'strengthening democracy'". iHeart. 29 October 2021. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  6. ^ a b Kast, Sheilah (27 October 2021). "'Willing to Experiment': Stewart Bainum Unveils Plans for a Digital New Site Tuned to Baltimore". WYPR. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  7. ^ "About The Baltimore banner. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1965-1965". Library of Congress. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
  8. ^ "Robert D. Loevy Home Page". Colorado College. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  9. ^ Loevy, Robert D. (2005). "Mass Movements: Confronting the Established Order". On the Forward Edge: American Government and the Civil Rights Act of 1964. University Press of America. pp. 14–15, 17–18, 22–23 ("first time"), 25, 28, 31, 35 ("Patriot Newspaper chain"), 53, 83, 98, 105–106, 112, 198. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  10. ^ "Stewart Bainum on plans for the news journal "Baltimore Banner"". WYPR. 4 November 2021. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  11. ^ "Report: Stewart Bainum Jr. Plans To Launch 'The Baltimore Banner,' An All-Digital News Outlet". CBS WJZ Baltimore. 14 October 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  12. ^ Coppins, McKay (14 October 2021). "A Secretive Hedge Fund is Gutting Newsrooms: Inside Alden Global Capital". The Atlantic Monthly. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  13. ^ Tracy, Marc (14 October 2021). "The executive who tried to buy The Baltimore Sun plans a rival news outlet". New York Times. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  14. ^ "News startup 'Baltimore Banner' seeks office space downtown". Baltimore Business Journal. 9 November 2021. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  15. ^ "The Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism Expands C-Suite With Executive Hires". PR Newswire. 28 October 2021. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  16. ^ "Leadership". The Venetoulis Institute. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  17. ^ Dieterle, Marcus (5 January 2022). "Baltimore Banner hires Sun reporters, other Baltimore-area journalists". Baltimore Fishbowl. Retrieved 26 January 2022.

External links[]

Retrieved from ""