Many jobs, The Baltimore Banner

The Baltimore Banner, a non-profit digital news source that launched in June, is building a sports staff and needs to make 10 additional hires.

Our job board now has listings covering eight roles:

• Deputy sports editor
• Sports columnist
• Ravens reporter (2)
• Orioles reporter (2)
• Sports enterprise/business
• Sports breaking news reporter

We're also going to be looking for a High school sports editor and a Sports engagement editor in the near future.

Will do my best to answer any questions here.

 

I wish you guys luck, but I've been a bit disappointed with the product so far. The Banner had a chance to start something from scratch, following none of the "old rules." It's 100 percent digital and yet I feel like I'm reading a print newspaper cerca 1992.

Then there's this: https://www.thebaltimorebanner.com/...y-from-the-editor-QJMCRULXQZH57HLF43SPE6TM7U/

Yes, it's an absurd and over-the-top apology for what was an extremely tepid column, and a strong indication that absolutely no dissent from orthodoxy will be allowed at The Banner. But beyond that, I wondered: Why in the world does an all-digital outlet founded in 2022 still need "opinion pages" like it's a 1980s-era newspaper? You have permission to not do it the way it's always been done, why not use it?

 

I believe non-profit is the best way forward for journalism. Good luck.

 

Korman is one of the better editors I’ve had in terms of encouraging someone to follow a story and not shooting down any ideas, even if they are daft. That experience was 20 years ago, when he was SE at the Daily Collegian. Even then he had a knack for being supportive while also pushing you to do better work. I’m envious of whoever gets these gigs. Good luck.

 

Well, I mostly meant that I'd answer questions about the job openings but I'll give this a go.

The people who you believe are setting this "orthodoxy" we're afraid to dissent from aren't happy with us, either, and certainly wouldn't claim that we're following in line.

As for why we have opinion pages ... I don't think it's any more complicated than: We feel like having a place where issues can be discussed in 600-word columns is of value to the community, and readers enjoy them. We asked our audience what they wanted from a news outlet, and strong, nuanced opinion writing -- even the kind that does not reinforce a reader's pre-existing notions -- was high on the list.

But, nobody knows better than we do that we have a lot of work to do and that we're going to make mistakes and that we put up the flag that we don't need to follow the rules while, too often, we follow the rules. We're working on it. We talk about these issues every day. Hope you'll stick with us.

 

Failures are man’s portal into discovery. If you’re pissing off crusty old folks on this message board you’re doing something right.

 

Hello @Chris_Korman . I had a few questions that I sent to your inbox earlier this week. Don't know if you saw them or not.