WBAL photojournalist Mac Finney honored for excellence in broadcast journalism
Mac Finney, an award-winning photojournalist at WBAL-TV, is being honored as one of the 2026 Silver Circle inductees for his impact on Baltimore journalism.
According to WBAL, the National Capital Chesapeake Bay Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences announced this year’s inductees to the prestigious Gold and Silver circles. Silver Circle awardees have devoted more than 25 years to the broadcast industry, and Gold Circle inductees have served more than 50 years.
Over his 43-year career, Finney has been honored with prestigious awards in journalism, including National Headliner, Regional Murrow and Emmy awards.
Finney and WBAL-TV received the National Headliner Award in 2023 for coverage in Howard County of an escaped prisoner, whom he helped authorities find and capture while working on the story.
“We are most grateful and proud of Mac’s commitment to mentoring and leading the next generation of journalists. Through nearly a decade of being WBAL-TV’s chief photographer, Mac has led our newsroom photographers to excellence in storytelling, including helping launch our aerial program with coverage from SKY 11,” Hearst Corp. Chief Operating Officer Jordan Wertlieb wrote in his letter in support of Finney’s nomination.
Past honorees include WBAL-TV alums Stan Stovall and Lisa Robinson, and journalists Sam Donaldson, Gordon Peterson, Judy Woodruff, Ted Koppel, Bob Schieffer, Maureen Bunyan and Jim Vance.
“The 2026 honorees join an impressive group of industry professionals who have helped shape the broadcast industry and continue to influence its future,” NCCB-NATAS said in a statement. “These leaders have inspired excellence and innovation in every communications discipline.”
Main photo via WBAL-TV
