The Baltimore Banner was named the Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Press Association’s News Organization of the Year for 2023 after sweeping its top awards, winning 11 Best of Show awards and winning 41 others for its reporting, visuals and multimedia storytelling.

The Banner earned top honors for general website excellence and was awarded the James S. Keat Freedom of Information Award, which recognized The Banner for its “wide-ranging portfolio of substantive projects that used public records in reporting.”

“I’m thrilled that we’re being recognized for our investigations, feature reporting, photos and social media,” said The Banner’s editor in chief Kimi Yoshino. “The more people who are exposed to our journalism, the more they see the depth of the talent we have in our newsroom. And to win news organization of the year is just icing on the cake.”

The press association’s annual contest recognizes print and online journalism by outlets across the region. This year, the contest featured more than 1,500 submissions across 86 categories.

The Baltimore Banner thanks its sponsors. Become one.

Other top honors went to news designer and illustrator Laila Milevski, who was named Designer of the Year for what judges said was her “unique and fun style that goes far beyond presentation into the realm of visual storytelling.”

“Her work in comics and photo illustration is extraordinary,” judges wrote. “I think Laila is one of the best people doing this kind of work today. The Banner is very lucky to have her.”

Data journalist Greg Morton was named Editorial Rookie of the Year, which is awarded to a journalist who has been in the field for fewer than 18 months. Judges cited his “sophisticated, in-depth writing” along with his data analysis skills “that made his work exemplary.”

The Banner’s advertising and events team also took home a first place award for Best Event, for the organization’s inaugural Impact Maryland conference. The daylong event brought together the region’s most influential leaders for discussions about some of Maryland’s biggest challenges.

“In less than two years, The Banner has built a powerful newsroom serving Baltimore and greater Maryland,” said Bob Cohn, The Banner’s chief executive who joined the new organization in February. “These awards honor the breadth of our coverage and reflect the hard work and high standards of our journalists. And while we are, of course, very happy to be recognized, we know we’re just getting started.”

The Baltimore Banner thanks its sponsors. Become one.

Top awards

Best of Show awards

Zuri Berry

zuri.berry@thebaltimorebanner.com

Zuri Berry

Zuri Berry is the digital strategy editor for The Baltimore Banner. Before The Banner, he served 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.

More from Zuri Berry

Spirit Airlines adds flights to four new markets from BWI

Two killed, including child, in Baltimore crash involving four cars

More From The Banner

Maryland hospitals took money from poor patients. Why haven’t they paid them back?

Joanna Meade reads aloud love letters from the 1920's in the sun room of her home on February 27, 2024. The letters were found inside of a wall during a renovation.

Secret in the walls: Hidden letters reveal love, lust, scandal in 1920s Baltimore society

Illustration shows black geometric fragments falling from the sky, partially obscuring the faint outline of Key Bridge central span. In the background a sunrise starts to illuminate the darkness.

Grieving my brother and the Key Bridge

Sheila Dixon, a ‘filthy’ street and residents who want politicians to put up or shut up