12-05-2025
They like us; they really, really like us: Maryland Matters brings home awards
A flag waves on Maryland Avenue in Annapolis, near the State House. (Photo by Danielle E. Gaines/Maryland Matters)
The small but mighty staff of Maryland Matters again punched above its weight, bringing home seven first place and four second place awards from the Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association for our work in 2024.
And Thomas Ferraro, a commentary contributor who was competing as an independent journalist, won best of show in the public service category, outclassing all comers in the state for his series on 'Mounting homelessness in America.'
The awards were announced Friday. Maryland Matters competes in MDDC's Division C, against the likes of Easton, Salisbury, Carroll County, Cecil County, the Catholic Review and the Baltimore Fishbowl.
William J. Ford brought home a first in the breaking news category for his March story on the problem of long-running abuse of students at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, 'DOJ investigation finds deceased UMBC swimming and diving coach abused students on team.'
Will also won first place in the general news category for his look at the implementation of the hotly debated expansion of the reach of the Department of Juvenile Services, in 'New law extends Department of Juvenile Services' reach to children as young as 10.'
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In the state government category, Bryan P. Sears won first place by doing what he does best — relentlessly covering the machinery of politics and seeing the stories others don't. That led to his story on a loophole in campaign finance law that allowed the state treasurer to keep raising money when most other Annapolis lawmakers are prohibited from doing so, 'Davis vows to keep fundraising as treasurer,' which led to a change in the law in short order.
Daniel landed a first place in the diversity, equity and inclusion category for her look at the overlooked issue of Marylanders with disabilities who were accidentally kicked off Medicaid programs, and the struggles faced by advocates and family members to fix the problem, in her August story, ''Erroneous' disability waiver terminations stoke anger, confusion for family members.'
Maryland Matters founding editor Josh Kurtz won first place in the preelection coverage category for his story that connected all the dots of supporters for then-Sen. Sarah Elfreth in her ultimately successful fight in the wide-open Democratic primary for the 3rd District seat in Congress , 'One candidate, two campaigns.'
And Josh won first-place in the business reporting category for his wide-lens look at Senate Bill 1 — last year's energy reform measure du jour — in his pre-Sine Die storyo, 'The strange journey of Senate Bill 1.'
Will brought home another first place, in the education reporting category, for one story in his wall-to-wall coverage of the ambitious Blueprint for Maryland's Future. The winning entry looked at how teachers were coping with potential upheaval in the program as they prepared for the start of fall classes, in 'As school year begins, education reform plan faces a reckoning.'
Will's blanket Blueprint reporting won a second place in the continuing coverage category for his March story, 'Blueprint implementation continues: New plans reveal ongoing challenges for schools.' And he won second in the local news category for his look at the messy fallout of then-Prince George's Executive Angela Alsbrooks' election to the U.S. Senate, in 'Alsobrooks history win starts teh clock on cascading county elected vacancies.'
Dani brought home a second in th medical/science category for her step-back look at childhood vaccinations, that showed they are steadily falling, in her August story, 'More parents using religious exemptions to opt children out of school vaccinations.'
And Josh won second place in the local column/critical thinking category for a piece that came from his on-the-ground reporting from Milwaukee at the Republican National Convention, where reporters were frozen out of access to Maryland events and Maryland delegates, in 'What's missing from this Republican convention.'
We're already stockpiling stories for the 2025 contest, which will be announced next May. Keep reading until then.
