On June 28, 2018, Jarrod Ramos attacked the Capital Gazette newsroom in Annapolis. Armed with a shotgun and explosives, he opened fire, killing five members of the Capital’s editorial staff. It remains the deadliest workplace shooting in Maryland history.
Thomas Marquardt, the then-publisher and editor of the newspaper, remains severely traumatized to this day by this senseless act of violence. Still, unlike countless others who survive such an event, Tom’s career as a journalist provided him with unique skills and motivation to dig deeper, find better answers for this unforgivable act of terror. Years of research have finally resulted in the publication of Pressed to Kill: Inside Newspapers’ Worst Mass Murder.
Beyond the sometimes cathartic effects of writing the book to address his own lingering trauma from that tragic day, Tom is also on a mission to use the book to put a spotlight on workplace violence and what businesses and their owners can do to help protect their employees.
The Spy spoke with Tom last week about this book in advance of his conversation with Spy publisher Dave Wheelan and For All Seasons CEO Beth Anne Dorman on August 6th, as part of the Leadership Maryland Alumni gathering at the Waterfowl Building.
This video is approximately eight minutes in length. To purchase Pressed to Kill please go here.
Leadership Maryland Alumni Engagement Speaker Forum
August 6 at 6:30 p.m
Waterfowl Festival Building (40 S. Harrison St., Easton)
In Conversation with author Tom Marquardt with Beth Anne Dorman, President & CEO of For All Seasons
Free and open to the public.
Register at leadershipmd.org.
Café-style seating with complimentary non-alcoholic beverages provided by Saucy Salamander Catering.
Venue sponsored by Deena Kilmon, Executive Director, Waterfowl Festival.
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I kinda “grew up” in the Annapolis from 10 to 20 but then grew more so in Talbot Co. post 20. In both places, I had sport of disparaging the newspaper and used to think — ‘How in the World did those same people write about such hum-drum stuff ?” I wish I could recall the name of the ever-present sports writer who was there for at least 40 years. But NO MORE !! The innocence or “the music” or whatever one wants to call it …DIED …and it did so in so so many ways when an angry man burst into The Capital and ended lives and with it, the mostly sweet news and memories of what had been. I have said many times since and quite seriously so, “Let’s bring back the Star Dem when all it did was make announcement like this, ‘Mrs. Smith of Trappe had 5 friends in for lunch last Tuesday and each and all had a marvelous time talking about their children and pets. A Tomato aspic with cucumber sandwiches (crust removed) was served, with iced tea”.
Outstanding!