Dan Belson

Break daily stories on issues that affect Maryland’s legal community. Monitor state and federal courts for enticing storylines that readers can’t find anywhere else. Use court records and public information requests to develop impactful enterprise investigations.

Reported on public safety, courts, general assignment and breaking news for The Sun’s metro desk. Engaged with community members and used knowledge of public records to create meaningful, authoritative reporting on the local justice system. Received various Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Press association honors for public safety coverage; contributed to Key Bridge collapse reporting that won The Sun’s staff a National Headliner Award and Sigma Delta Chi Award.

Covered criminal justice and public safety news throughout Anne Arundel County for the Capital Gazette. Built strong enterprise and daily coverage using shoe-leather reporting and trauma-informed journalism approaches combined with strong sourcing in both the judiciary and law enforcement.

Reinvigorated interest in a weekly newspaper by engaging with its hyper-local audience, improving digital reach as well as editorial value by championing principled community journalism. Ruthlessly chased original stories while editing and assigning stringer work and curating digital/social platforms. Budgeted content for the print edition each week, laid out compelling page designs and restored reader-favorite columns.

Led coronavirus-related coverage as the pandemic progressed while delivering award-winning accountability reporting and criminal justice news from the courthouse.