The Banner launches in Montgomery County
The Banner, a nonprofit, multi-platform news operation serving Greater Baltimore and Maryland, continues to expand, announcing that it is opening a bureau and introducing an edition in Montgomery County.
According to a release, “As the local media landscape in communities surrounding Washington, D.C. continues to shrink, The Banner has hired a team to bring its brand of trusted, independent journalism to the most populous county in the state…the launch decision is driven by local demand for quality coverage of the vast county.”
Since its launch in 2022, The Banner has seen a steady increase in subscribers in Montgomery County, even without dedicated reporters in the region. The press release states the new Montgomery County team will break news and highlight solutions on topics including politics, business, and education. The team will also cover the experience of living in the county through arts and culture, local events, and food.
The Banner also announced a media partnership with NBC4 Washington (WRC) and Telemundo 44 Washington (WZDC). As part of the partnership, Banner reporters will participate in on-air segments on NBC4 and Telemundo 44 to offer trusted journalism and insights for viewers on breaking news and investigative series on the issues that matter most across the Washington metropolitan area.
“Bringing The Banner’s journalism to Montgomery County fills a void in local media. Montgomery may be the most populous county in the state, but it is woefully under-covered, and we believe residents here deserve more and better. We look forward to providing our brand of trusted, independent, local journalism to new audiences and new regions,” said Banner CEO Bob Cohn.
Executive Editor Zuri Berry will head The Banner in Montgomery County. Berry has an extensive media background, previously serving as a radio editor in Washington, D.C., and Charlotte, North Carolina, and as deputy managing editor for news and multimedia at the Boston Herald.
Berry will lead a team that includes news editor Lauren Markoe and reporters Ginny Bixby (Local Government), Talia Richman (Education), Jack Hogan (Business Development), Antonio Planas (News), Hau Chu (Arts & Culture), and Danielle Allentuck (Sports).
“There is no shortage of important Montgomery County stories to be told, especially with the drastic recent changes in the federal government,” said Berry. “Montgomery County residents deserve up-to-date, reliable reporting, and we look forward to continued growth and building a loyal base of new readers in Montgomery County, including suburban Maryland and the DC suburbs.”
According to the release, The Banner has the largest newsroom in Maryland, with more than 90 full-time journalists.
The Montgomery County staff is shown above: On the top from the left: Lauren Markoe, Ginny Bixby, Hau Chu and Jack Hogan. On the bottom from the left: Antonio Planas, Talia Richman and Danielle Allentuck.
