Senior journalism lecturer at @merrillcollege at UMD and a documentary filmmaker. Current documentary is about the Baltimore Banner and journalism. First documentary, Queen of the Capital is on Tubi! linktr.ee/jdavidsburghttps://bsky.app/profile/lot1films.comhttps://bsky.app/profile/lot1films.com/post/3mrvsi75wxc2ithe fundraiser's paradox: As a doc filmmaker, you need money to afford help, you need help to raise money. how I used Claude to get unstuck: https://open.substack.com/pub/lot1/p/fundraisers-paradox?r=2smny&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true31 Jul 2026 01:28 +0000at://did:plc:lozabhn27e5qs7dcev5zug4e/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrvsi75wxc2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/lot1films.com/post/3mptji36qe224July 4 is about the ideals of our country and the best it can be. I’ve spent my career believing #documentaries and #journalism can help get us there. Here’s a list of documentaries. Almost one for each amendment in the Bill of Rights. Did I miss anything? https://open.substack.com/pub/lot1/p/one-documentary-per-amendment-almost?r=2smny&utm_medium=ios04 Jul 2026 16:51 +0000at://did:plc:lozabhn27e5qs7dcev5zug4e/app.bsky.feed.post/3mptji36qe224https://bsky.app/profile/lot1films.com/post/3mpdxguexfc2wEight years ago this week, five journalists were killed at the Capital Gazette. Rob Hiaasen had donated to my first film just months before. He wrote back two words: “Art lives.” I think about that every time I pick up a camera. https://substack.com/@lot1/note/c-281430088?r=2smny&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action28 Jun 2026 12:19 +0000at://did:plc:lozabhn27e5qs7dcev5zug4e/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpdxguexfc2whttps://bsky.app/profile/lot1films.com/post/3mndzytfct22chttps://open.substack.com/pub/lot1/p/in-my-blood?r=2smny03 Jun 2026 02:14 +0000at://did:plc:lozabhn27e5qs7dcev5zug4e/app.bsky.feed.post/3mndzytfct22chttps://bsky.app/profile/lot1films.com/post/3mncqlzoesk2pMy dad covered Vietnam for NBC. I made a #documentary about a #Baltimore startup news organization. This week's substack post is about how those two things connect. https://lot1.substack.com/p/in-my-blood?r=2smny&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&triedRedirect=true02 Jun 2026 13:53 +0000at://did:plc:lozabhn27e5qs7dcev5zug4e/app.bsky.feed.post/3mncqlzoesk2phttps://bsky.app/profile/lot1films.com/post/3mmtmgdss2s2iPost-production isn't just editing. I'm still conducting interviews, filming B-roll at 5am, and riding the light rail for footage. A look at what 'finishing' a #documentary actually looks like: https://open.substack.com/pub/lot1/p/pickup-interviews?r=2smny&utm_medium=ios27 May 2026 13:29 +0000at://did:plc:lozabhn27e5qs7dcev5zug4e/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmtmgdss2s2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/lot1films.com/post/3mdyvevmzpk2l“It’s just hard to watch this discourse and the amount of money that [Amazon MGM] poured in while all of our other funding sources are drying up.” The ‘Melania’ #documentary cost $75 million. It’s made $7 million so far. https://www.ms.now/news/melania-documentary-box-office04 Feb 2026 03:05 +0000at://did:plc:lozabhn27e5qs7dcev5zug4e/app.bsky.feed.post/3mdyvevmzpk2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/lot1films.com/post/3mdv6iwgaoc2pAs a doc filmmaker, one of the most frustrating things about the $75 mil #Melaniadocumentary price tag is at the same time, watching the government dismantle normal funding sources for independent docs, especially the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.02 Feb 2026 15:38 +0000at://did:plc:lozabhn27e5qs7dcev5zug4e/app.bsky.feed.post/3mdv6iwgaoc2phttps://bsky.app/profile/lot1films.com/post/3mct6mkomwk2vIs Daniel Radcliffe playing me in this show?!20 Jan 2026 03:10 +0000at://did:plc:lozabhn27e5qs7dcev5zug4e/app.bsky.feed.post/3mct6mkomwk2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/lot1films.com/post/3mbslzzom4s2c18 years ago, the #Ravens announced a new coach. I was freelancing at WBAL-TV so my photojournalist and I ran out to ESPN Zone to talk to fans. It's crazy to see what the fans said about #Harbaugh then. I just dug up my old story.07 Jan 2026 04:12 +0000at://did:plc:lozabhn27e5qs7dcev5zug4e/app.bsky.feed.post/3mbslzzom4s2chttps://bsky.app/profile/lot1films.com/post/3madz4rpp6k2sWoke up super early for these! These are screengrabs of locator shots for my upcoming documentary about The #Baltimore Banner. A Banner Year is in post production right now. More updates soon! #documentary #filmmaking19 Dec 2025 15:31 +0000at://did:plc:lozabhn27e5qs7dcev5zug4e/app.bsky.feed.post/3madz4rpp6k2shttps://bsky.app/profile/lot1films.com/post/3m6rzrqbjxk2sHow streaming elevated (and ruined) documentaries. Fascinating read: https://open.substack.com/pub/statsignificant/p/how-streaming-elevated-and-ruined?r=2smny&utm_medium=ios29 Nov 2025 18:30 +0000at://did:plc:lozabhn27e5qs7dcev5zug4e/app.bsky.feed.post/3m6rzrqbjxk2shttps://bsky.app/profile/lot1films.com/post/3m6ryglsbks2s🎥New Update on my new #documentary “A Banner Year🔥 I included a fantastic sound bite from David Simon. He talks about where they got the idea of the policeman’s wake in the bar in “The Wire”. Spoiler: it didn’t originate with the police in real life. https://open.substack.com/pub/lot1/p/a-thankful-update?r=2smny&utm_medium=ios29 Nov 2025 18:05 +0000at://did:plc:lozabhn27e5qs7dcev5zug4e/app.bsky.feed.post/3m6ryglsbks2shttps://bsky.app/profile/lot1films.com/post/3m6p3iewdas2i🎥New Update on my new #documentary🔥 A lot happened this year! I included a fantastic sound bite from David Simon. He talks about where they got the idea of the policeman’s wake in the bar in “The Wire”. Spoiler: it didn’t originate with the police in real life https://open.substack.com/pub/lot1/p/a-thankful-update?r=2smny&utm_medium=ios28 Nov 2025 14:22 +0000at://did:plc:lozabhn27e5qs7dcev5zug4e/app.bsky.feed.post/3m6p3iewdas2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/lot1films.com/post/3m4buoyd4yc2iMore screenshots! I wanted to do this documentary to highlight the immense dedication journalists have in their quest for truth. From investigative teams to covering city elections, the public often doesn’t see the challenges journalists face just to hit publish.28 Oct 2025 21:26 +0000at://did:plc:lozabhn27e5qs7dcev5zug4e/app.bsky.feed.post/3m4buoyd4yc2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/lot1films.com/post/3m3nwuct3jk2z🎥 One of the most fascinating parts of filming A Banner Year was capturing the incredible skill of reporters as they navigated conversations with sources on and off the record. Watching journalists persuade their sources to share their stories was insightful.20 Oct 2025 23:11 +0000at://did:plc:lozabhn27e5qs7dcev5zug4e/app.bsky.feed.post/3m3nwuct3jk2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/lot1films.com/post/3m33k2xgnps2t🎥I’m still amazed at the incredible access the journalists granted me for A Banner Year. 📰✨ This documentary will show how quintessential journalism comes together and emphasizes the critical importance of the truth. From the Preakness to the Key Bridge collapse. #journalism #filmmaking13 Oct 2025 15:34 +0000at://did:plc:lozabhn27e5qs7dcev5zug4e/app.bsky.feed.post/3m33k2xgnps2thttps://bsky.app/profile/lot1films.com/post/3m2tnc3bslk2yI found some pictures of my dad, Lou Davis, reporting, including one with Walter Cronkite and one me! 📸 This is why my new documentary, A Banner Year, means so much. This project is deeply personal. My dad passed away in 2016 but his legacy lives on! 🎥📽️ #Documentary #Journalism #WalterCronkite10 Oct 2025 12:11 +0000at://did:plc:lozabhn27e5qs7dcev5zug4e/app.bsky.feed.post/3m2tnc3bslk2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/lot1films.com/post/3m2enwew7mc2bFrom late nights crunching out a story after the Key Bridge Collapse, to braving Preakness, our cameras followed The Baltimore Banner reporters on the biggest stories of last year. 🎥 Here are a few more screenshots from our #documentary about #journalism in #Baltimore, "A Banner Year."04 Oct 2025 13:12 +0000at://did:plc:lozabhn27e5qs7dcev5zug4e/app.bsky.feed.post/3m2enwew7mc2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/lot1films.com/post/3lzfddkk6b22aIn a week that has been a disaster for the #FirstAmendment, it's important to understand why it's so vital. My new #documentary in post production follows reporters at the Baltimore Banner. It is about how crucial and hard #journalism is. Here are a few screenshots.22 Sep 2025 02:10 +0000at://did:plc:lozabhn27e5qs7dcev5zug4e/app.bsky.feed.post/3lzfddkk6b22ahttps://bsky.app/profile/lot1films.com/post/3lxt44v3oas25A couple of screenshots from my documentary a Banner Year. We just started post production, thanks to the Saul Zaentz Innovation Fund. #documentary #documentaryfilmmaking #filmmaking02 Sep 2025 02:48 +0000at://did:plc:lozabhn27e5qs7dcev5zug4e/app.bsky.feed.post/3lxt44v3oas25https://bsky.app/profile/lot1films.com/post/3lxrriqll622tStarted post production on my #documentary this week! Read all about it. https://open.substack.com/pub/lot1/p/starting-the-edit?r=2smny&utm_medium=ios01 Sep 2025 14:05 +0000at://did:plc:lozabhn27e5qs7dcev5zug4e/app.bsky.feed.post/3lxrriqll622thttps://bsky.app/profile/lot1films.com/post/3lxkm3g6cgk22New update on my documentary A Banner Year! We officially started post production! Read all about It! https://open.substack.com/pub/lot1/p/starting-the-edit?r29 Aug 2025 17:39 +0000at://did:plc:lozabhn27e5qs7dcev5zug4e/app.bsky.feed.post/3lxkm3g6cgk22https://bsky.app/profile/lot1films.com/post/3lwq2j5pql22wSucked out by Super drag [contains quote post or other embedded content]19 Aug 2025 04:16 +0000at://did:plc:lozabhn27e5qs7dcev5zug4e/app.bsky.feed.post/3lwq2j5pql22whttps://bsky.app/profile/lot1films.com/post/3lwei5vfxdc2mI can’t help thinking of Bridesmaids when I see the #andjustlikethat thumbnail.14 Aug 2025 13:48 +0000at://did:plc:lozabhn27e5qs7dcev5zug4e/app.bsky.feed.post/3lwei5vfxdc2m