What do readers need to know? This question guides my day-to-day work as a reporter for the Baltimore County team at The Banner.

And there’s lots that readers need to know about this diverse county of 850,000 residents. The county faces a number of big issues that we’re paying attention to: data centers, zoning, housing and affordability. But there are also the very local ones, like why there’s a dangerous intersection on your street or a derelict boatyard at the end of it.

So what makes for a good story, and how do the four reporters who cover Baltimore County for The Banner go about their reporting?

We’re excited to give you a behind-the-notebook look at how we cover the county — both so you can get to know us and so we can get to know you and your neighborhoods.

Advertise with us

On Sept. 29, my colleagues — Sapna Bansil, Rona Kobell, and Céilí Doyle, along with our editor, Lisa Lednicer, and The Banner’s editor-in-chief, Audrey Cooper — and I will be at Manor Mill in Monkton for a panel discussion on how our stories come together. We’ll each pick a story and dive into how we reported and wrote it. The event runs from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. You can register for a free ticket here.

We’ll show you how we find, report and write Baltimore County stories that inform your community and hopefully change it for the better. The evening is also a chance for you to tell us what you think we should be paying attention to and writing about. And come with questions!

Sapna will talk about her reporting on the July bus crash in Pikesville and her chronicling of safety concerns along Reisterstown Road, which saw at least eight accidents near Old Court Road in the past year.

Rona and Céilí will discuss their story about Sarah David, the county’s incoming state’s attorney, and her relationship with Brooke Nevils, whose allegations of sexual assault against Matt Lauer forced him from TV’s highest perch. They explored how this relationship could guide David’s approach to sexual assault cases.

I will talk about my reporting on an ongoing dispute over music events at CAA Park in Catonsville and the questions raised after a judge ruled that concerts at The Vortex were prohibited under local zoning ordinances, but the concerts continued.

Many of the stories mentioned here came from conversations with our readers and people in the community. Join us to talk about more of them, and help us to keep covering what matters to you.