Over the last four years, The Banner has made ambitious investigative reporting a cornerstone of its work, seeking to serve the public interest with journalism that makes a difference in people’s lives. On the strength of that work, The Banner is announcing the creation of the Investigations Hub, an initiative that will bring dedicated resources and new energy to accountability reporting across Maryland. Since launching in 2022, The Banner has pursued investigations that expose wrongdoing, uncover systemic failures and help Marylanders better understand the institutions and decisions shaping their lives.

That work has earned national recognition, including the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Local Reporting and finalist honors for another Pulitzer Prize in 2026, making The Banner one of the youngest news organizations to receive such recognition. The Investigations Hub will build on that foundation by creating a collaborative center for ambitious accountability journalism, led by a new narrative and projects editor and anchored by two investigative reporters and The Banner’s four-person data team. Journalists from across the newsroom will also contribute to projects as their expertise is needed.

“The Banner’s Pulitzer Prize-winning reporting demonstrates the impact accountability journalism can have on communities,” said Audrey Cooper, editor in chief of The Banner. “Our readers count on us to ask difficult questions, follow the facts wherever they lead and help them understand how decisions are made. The Investigations Hub allows us to bring even greater focus and resources to that work.”

The initiative builds on reporting that has already had a significant impact across Maryland. The Banner’s Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation into Baltimore’s opioid crisis exposed systemic failures in the response to overdose deaths, while reporting that was named a 2026 Pulitzer Prize finalist revealed how transportation failures and other barriers kept thousands of Baltimore City students from getting to school on time. Other investigations have prompted public accountability and made a direct difference in people’s lives. The Banner’s reporting contributed to increased scrutiny of major development decisions in Prince George’s County and led to the resignation of Planning Board Chair Darryl Barnes. Coverage during the search for missing 9-year-old Baltimore resident Tristan King also helped raise public awareness and contributed to his safe return.

This kind of journalism requires sustained time, expertise and resources. Major accountability projects can involve months of reporting, public records requests, data analysis, legal review and collaboration among reporters, editors, photographers, data journalists and subject matter experts before a single story is published. The Investigations Hub will support work across a range of issues, including government accountability, public spending, education, public health, criminal justice, housing, environmental issues and other matters of significant public interest.

The Hub was established through a $250,000 founding gift from Matt Firor and Margot Wolman, whose support will strengthen The Banner’s ability to pursue in-depth investigations and public service reporting across the state. “We are proud to support The Banner’s Investigations Hub and the important role it will play in bringing rigorous investigative reporting to Maryland,” said Firor and Wolman. “Reliable information and accountability are essential to the health of our communities, our state, and our democracy. At a time when those values face increasing challenges, The Banner’s commitment to traditional, fact-based reporting is more important than ever.”

The launch comes as local news organizations across the country face growing financial and operational pressures, making sustained investment in accountability reporting increasingly difficult. For The Banner, the Investigations Hub represents a commitment to building on its body of work and expanding its ability to pursue stories that demand time, persistence and deep reporting.

“We launched The Banner because Maryland deserves a strong, independent local news organization,” Cooper said. “As we celebrate four years of growth and impact, the Investigations Hub is an investment in the kind of journalism that can hold institutions accountable, strengthen communities and make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.”