The Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism takes seriously the matter of establishing clear boundaries of engagement with regard to external funders and sponsors of the newsroom of The Baltimore Banner. Editorial oversight and direction of any funded project will take place independent of input from donors. No attempts may be made to direct or interfere with the editorial approach or decision-making around any funded project of The Baltimore Banner.
The Banner’s editor in chief and newsroom personnel alone determine both the broad areas of coverage and any priority areas for focused investigative reporting. Story selection is also the sole purview of the editor in chief, editors, and other newsroom personnel. Funders and sponsors will not have favored or privileged access to reporters and editors. Donor interaction will be limited to briefings on content coverage plans, written progress updates on donor-supported editorial initiatives, and invitations to events where journalists are speaking.
In the interest of transparency, funders of supported editorial coverage will be identified alongside or adjacent to the content their support has made possible.
For more information on the newsroom’s overall ethics policies, please click here.
The Baltimore Banner, together with its parent organization The Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism, is powered by charitable gifts from individuals and institutions as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
The Baltimore Banner strictly adheres to IRS regulations governing 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and has implemented additional policies to avoid actual or apparent conflicts of interest and ensure funders cannot exercise undue influence over news coverage. The Baltimore Banner is a member of the Institute for Nonprofit News, meaning it is regularly evaluated to ensure it meets a high standard of editorial integrity and transparency.
The Baltimore Banner is an independent newsroom dedicated to producing trustworthy local journalism. Preserving its editorial independence free from undue influence is the guiding principle of the following charitable gift acceptance policies. Both The Baltimore Banner and Venetoulis Institute share the same tax identification number and all charitable gifts made to either entity are subject to the following policies:
– The Baltimore Banner accepts contributions for unrestricted operational support and restricted gifts for project-based initiatives and broad areas of coverage that align with the predetermined priorities of The Banner’s editorial team. Examples of such coverage areas include health, criminal justice, education, and the arts.
– Funders are not informed about specific stories the newsroom is reporting nor do they have access to them prior to publication. They do not have privileged access to Banner journalists or newsroom leadership.
– The Baltimore Banner may accept anonymous gifts including those made through donor advised funds, but it reserves the right to decline any gift if Banner leadership believes it might influence the content or direction of coverage, create an actual or perceived conflict of interest, or pose a potential reputational risk.
– The Baltimore Banner will not accept anonymous gifts over $5,000 for restricted support of a specific project or coverage area if the identity of the funder is unknown to The Banner. Any restricted anonymous gift over $5,000 for which the funder’s identity is known to The Banner will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the CEO and editor in chief.
– All individual and institutional funders’ names will be publicly disclosed at least annually, except those who have asked to remain anonymous and who meet the previously stated criteria for anonymity. The number and giving level of anonymous funders will be disclosed at least annually, and the combined support of anonymous funders will never exceed 10% of total revenue.
– The Baltimore Banner does not accept charitable gifts from elected officials, per IRS regulations governing 501(c)(3) organizations.
– Any charitable gift of $1 million or more requires the approval of The Banner's Board of Directors to be accepted.
– These policies will be updated periodically, and the most recent version will be displayed on The Baltimore Banner’s website.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes. If the problem persists, please contact customer service at 443-843-0043 or customercare@thebaltimorebanner.com.