Donovan Aldridge graduated from the University of Delaware and was a photography intern with The News Journal. Donovan studied Spanish and Latin American Studies while also working as a reporter for the university newspaper, The Review. Donovan’s internship was funded through the Delaware Community Foundation and his mentor and writing coach was Larry Nagengast.
Alexis Atherly is a 2020 graduate of Delaware State University with a degree in mass communications and interned with Coastal Point. Alexis is from Clayton, DE and has worked as an intern writer for T.D. Financial Group, in addition to writing articles for Delaware State University’s newspaper, The Hornet. Alexis’ internship was funded by Delaware Humanities. Her mentor was Krys’tal Griffin of the News Journal (and a 2021 MDDC intern) and her coach was Paul Milton.
Matt Cohen graduated this spring from Indiana University, and he calls Bethesda, Maryland home; Matt interned with The Baltimore Sun. His drive for industry success had led him to internships throughout the country, including Florida and Oregon. He is a recipient of the MDDC High School Journalist of the Year award. Matt’s internship was funded by The Delaplaine Foundation. His mentor was Alex Pyles of the University of Maryland and his coach was Rick Hutzell.
Brian Jeffries is a 2022 graduate of Morgan State University and hails from Glen Burnie, MD. Brian interned with The Capital. While serving in the Navy, Brian honed his writing and photography skills, and he graduated with a degree in multimedia journalism. He was awarded the Russell Egnor Photographer of the Year Award in the Navy for 2013. His internship was funded by The Delaplaine Foundation. Brian’s mentor was Darel LaPrade of Delaware State News and his coach was Ed Waldman.
Siera Jones is a 2022 graduate of Norfolk State University, with a degree in mass communications. She interned at The News Journal through funding provided by Delaware Humanities. Siera aspires to work in sports journalism. Siera’s mentor was Denise Rolark Barnes of the Washington Informer and her coach was Rick Hutzell.
Konner Metz is a rising junior at the University of Delaware majoring in media communications, and he interned at the Delaware State News. Funding for Konner’s internship was provided by Delaware Humanities. He is currently the managing sports editor of the University paper The Review, and also does sports commentary for WVUD. His mentor was Laura Walter of Delaware State News and his coach was Ed Waldman.
Kirit Minhas is a Georgetown student who interned with Delaware State News. Funding for his internship was provided by Delaware Community Foundation. His mentor and coach was Larry Nagengast.
Nene Narh-Mensah is a rising senior at the University of Maryland majoring in journalism. He interned with Maryland Matters through funding provided by Delaware Humanities. His mentor was Lauren Lumpkin of the Washington Post and his coach was Paul Milton.
Khushboo Rathore is a rising junior at the University of Maryland double majoring in journalism and information sciences. She interned at the Frederick News-Post as the Frederick News-Post Jeremy Arias Intern through funding provided by the Nutting Foundation. Her mentor was Samantha Subin of CNBC.com and her coach was Rick Hutzell.
Emma Reilly is a rising senior at Washington College and hails from Williamsburg, VA. She interned with the Delaware Business Times. She is currently a staff writer and editor for The Elm, Washington College’s student newspaper. Funding for her internship was provided by Delaware Humanities. Her mentor was Steven Overly of Politico, and her coach was Ed Waldman.
Jacob Shindel is a rising junior at Towson University who interned with The Daily Record through funding provided by the Gannett Foundation. He is currently an associate editor with Towson’s The Towerlight, and he’s on track to continue providing newsroom leadership. Jake’s mentor was Jack Hogan, an MDDC intern in 2021, now at the Frederick News Post, and his coach was Paul Milton.
Kara Thompson is a rising junior at the University of Maryland, where she is majoring in journalism. Kara will be interning with The AFRO, through funding provided by the Gannett Foundation. Kara currently writes and edits for several UMD publications, including Her Campus and Stories Beneath the Shell. Her mentor was Jillian Atelsek of the Frederick News-Post and her coach was Paul Milton.
Nicholas Wolcott is a rising junior at the University of Maryland and interned at the Herald-Mail. Nicholas is currently a sports beat reporter for The Diamondback and WMUC and aspires to go into sports journalism. Funding for his internship was provided by The Delaplaine Foundation. His mentor was Lindsay Weber of the Morning Call and his coach was Ed Waldman.
Christine Zhu is a rising junior at the University of Maryland where she is studying journalism and Spanish. She interned at Bethesda Beat through funding provide by the Gannett Foundation. Christine is currently a staff writer for The Diamondback and a social media editor for Stories Beneath the Shell. Her mentor was Marissa Horn of Bloomberg Industry Group and her coach was Rick Hutzell.
By Rebecca Snyder Executive Director, MDDC Press Association Governor Wes Moore’s veto of SB 459 is a disappointing and misguided decision that overlooks both the capabilities of Maryland’s local news organizations and the urgent need to strengthen the state’s local information infrastructure. The legislation was straightforward and practical: require Maryland state agencies to prioritize local news organizations (print, digital, radio and broadcast) for a portion of their advertising spending. It was revenue-neutral. It did not create a new tax, a new program, or a new bureaucracy. It simply ensured that more Maryland advertising dollars stayed in Maryland communities. Lawmakers across the political spectrum understood that value. SB 459 passed unanimously in the Senate and with overwhelming bipartisan support in the House. Legislators from both parties recognized a simple truth: local news matters. In vetoing the bill, Governor Moore expressed concerns about costs and suggested that Maryland’s local news organizations could not effectively deliver advertising to the audiences state agencies need to reach. That rationale fundamentally misunderstands today’s local media landscape. Maryland’s local news organizations include digital-first outlets, public media organizations, commercial broadcasters, radio stations, community publications, and multimedia news platforms serving audiences across every region of the state. Many operate full service advertising agencies that can place any type of advertising needed, including national platforms. 0020Collectively, they provide sophisticated advertising and communications services that rival — and often outperform — national platforms when it comes to reaching Maryland audiences. Our members regularly execute highly targeted advertising campaigns using digital audience segmentation, programmatic advertising, email marketing, video, social amplification, sponsorships, direct mail, broadcast, radio, and event-based outreach. They work with businesses, nonprofits, healthcare organizations, universities, tourism agencies, and government entities every day to connect messages with precisely the audiences they intend to reach. In fact, local media outlets often have a far deeper understanding of Maryland communities than national advertising platforms ever could. That matters because this debate is about more than advertising dollars. It is about whether Maryland will invest in the civic infrastructure that keeps communities informed and connected. Local journalism remains one of the few institutions dedicated to covering school boards, county governments, public safety, elections, housing, economic development, and the daily issues that shape residents’ lives. When local news organizations disappear, communities lose accountability, civic participation declines, and misinformation fills the vacuum. SB 459 recognized that state government advertising can serve two purposes at once: effectively communicate with Maryland residents and strengthen the trusted local institutions that help those residents stay informed. The bill also acknowledged another important reality: local media outlets are often best positioned to reach underserved communities. Community publications, local radio stations, ethnic media outlets, and regional digital publishers have built trust with audiences that are frequently overlooked by large national advertising buys. Supporting local media is not only smart economic policy; it is smart communications policy. And economically, the argument is equally compelling. Every year, Maryland spends taxpayer dollars on advertising campaigns intended to reach Maryland residents. SB 459 simply sought to ensure that more of those dollars circulate through Maryland businesses, support Maryland jobs, and strengthen Maryland-based organizations rather than flowing almost entirely to out-of-state tech platforms and national advertising networks. That is not protectionism. It is common sense. Other jurisdictions across the country have already adopted similar approaches because they recognize that government advertising dollars can help sustain local media ecosystems without expanding government spending. Maryland had the opportunity to join them with a balanced, bipartisan solution. Instead, the Governor chose to veto it. We respect Governor Moore’s commitment to innovation and economic growth. But on this issue, the administration appears to have underestimated both the sophistication and the reach of Maryland’s local media organizations. This conversation should not end with a veto. Marylanders benefit when they have access to strong local journalism. Communities benefit when trusted local outlets remain financially sustainable. And taxpayers benefit when state communications are delivered through organizations that understand Maryland audiences and communities. Support for local news should not be partisan. The General Assembly understood that. Maryland residents understand that. We hope the administration will reconsider its view of what local media can accomplish and recognize that investing in Maryland journalism is also an investment in Maryland communities.
May 8, 2026
May 8, 2026
Reporters, editors and other media professionals gather for conference and awards program remotely and in person (5/8/26 - Annapolis, MD) – Members and supporters of the Maryland | Delaware | DC Press Association came together this week to highlight news with integrity and excellence in journalism by recognizing the winners of the Contest, which celebrates print and online work completed in 2025 . The contest, governed by the Association’s Editorial and Advertising Committees, admitted over 1,594 entries among 86 categories . There are six divisions in the contest, which group member publications into categories governed by total audience numbers, combining print and digital readership. One Best in Show award is given in each category across all divisions. These entries were judged by news media professionals at the Florida State Press Association. There are several top awards given across all divisions to the publication. These include the James S. Keat Freedom of Information Award for demonstrating use of public information act requests in its reporting, Courage in Journalism, honors acts of courage in journalism and strength in adversity while uncovering truth, and Best Moves, which highlights the most important thing MDDC member organizations did in 2025. The contest also honors top personnel in design and sales and honors new journalists. Members of the MDDC Press Foundation board of directors and journalism academics judged the top awards and the video audience voted on the Best Moves. New for 2025 was the A-Mark Prize for Investigative Journalism, which provides first, second and third place cash prizes for work in Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia. The capstone award, one per division, is News Organization of the Year. The Banner won the James S. Keat Freedom of Information Award for a wide-ranging portfolio of substantive projects that used public records in reporting. From investigations into child deaths from abuse and neglect to reporting on public officials’ use of Google Chat that auto deletes messages after 24 hours, Banner reporters were persistent in their pursuit of public records. Their groundbreaking investigation into the public transit times endured by Baltimore City’s schoolchildren was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. The award is named for Jim Keat, a retired editor and foreign correspondent for the Baltimore Sun, who was a long-time advocate for public information access. Keat is also a member of the MDDC Newspaper Hall of Fame. Read more . The Star Democrat was awarded the Best Move of 2025 for its new daily emailed newsletter which combined strong data analytics and local content to create a useful product with clear revenue gains. The winner was determined by audience vote. Read more . The Association recognized a new journalist with the Rookie of the Year award. This award honors a new journalist with less than 18 months' experience in the field. Six nominations were received from five member publications. Nick Stonesifer of Spotlight Delaware is the 2025 Rookie of the Year for his “well researched, well written and important work” teamed with a drive and determination to use public records in his reporting. Read more . Gabriella Ferraro O’Brien won Designer of the Year , which honors a body of work over the contest cycle. O’Brien’s portfolio of work was noteworthy for her “impressive submission of imaginative and creative design with sophisticated use of white space that allows for typographic hierarchy. The variety of typefaces, font sizes, typeface weights, and colors contribute to the hierarchy while the page designs feel unified.” Read more . The Baltimore Beat (baltimorebeat.com) and Baltimore Fishbowl (baltimorefishbowl.com) share Best of Show for MDDC’s Website of General Excellence category, which honors a news organization’s ability to connect with readers through social media and engagement, and local news coverage. The judges noted “Baltimore Beat stands out with bold, hyper-local links that are interesting and useful.” “Baltimore Fishbowl’s presentation offers a wonderful array of information with attractive, user-friendly design.” The award was judged by journalism instructors at Loyola University of Maryland. Read more. The News Organization of the Year awards represent the best publication in each division. These awards are chosen based on the points accumulated for first and second prizes in each category. The Baltimore Banner won the award in Division A; The Frederick News-Post was named News Organization of the Year for Division B; and Catholic Review won in Division C. Baltimore Beat and Spotlight Delaware shared the award in Division D; Coastal Point was named News Organization of the Year for Division E; and Morning Star Publications won in Division F. For a full listing of winners and their award-winning work, view our presentation episodes at https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRxzvJD4IXLBvNkmcUfFUogmBCw35XKUa&si=EAww-G0KFMx6V67w ### ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Maryland | Delaware | DC Press Association is a vibrant, influential association representing over 100 member news media organizations in our region. We believe a strong news media is central to a strong and open society. We help our members succeed through advocacy efforts, revenue generation, professional development and industry recognition. Learn more at www.mddcpress.com .
