Hi!
Alanna Delfino-Kopania is a professional visual storyteller and editor based in the Baltimore–Washington, D.C. region. A proud Baltimore native, she’s passionate about capturing stories that reflect and uplift her community. At the University of Maryland’s Philip Merrill College of Journalism, Alanna leads the News Videography courses and plays a key role in shaping the college’s visual journalism curriculum. In fall 2024, she launched and now teaches a cinematography and video production course for Merrill’s new Documentary Master’s program. The following spring, she introduced “Zooming In: Advanced Visual Storytelling,” a Capitol News Service capstone course for upperclassmen and graduate students. Alanna also serves as faculty advisor for UMD’s chapter of the Video Consortium and is a dedicated mentor to aspiring visual journalists.
Alanna’s work is nationally and locally recognized. She’s the NPPA’s 2017 and 2018 East Top Photographer of the Year and a top five finalist for their prestigious National Television News Ernie Crisp Photographer of the Year. She’s earned over a dozen regional Emmy awards from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and is the Chesapeake AP Broadcasters Association's 2020 Outstanding News Photographer.
Alanna co-produced the feature documentary Queen of the Capital, which premiered at the 2020 Slamdance Film Festival and was later acquired by Starz. She is currently directing her own documentary, now in production, that explores the representation of doulas and highlights their vital role in birth experiences across Maryland. The film is expected to complete production in Summer 2026.
Alanna co-produced the feature documentary Queen of the Capital, which premiered at the 2020 Slamdance Film Festival and was later acquired by Starz. She is currently directing her documentary, now in production, that explores the representation of doulas and highlights their vital role in birth experiences across Maryland. The film is expected to complete production in Summer 2026. Shock: Inside a Year of Violence” in 2018. That same year, Alanna traveled to Puerto Rico, where she captured stories from the town of Yabucoa one year after the deadly Hurricane Maria. She was able to document stories of survivors as they received a new water infiltration system, which gave their entire neighborhood fresh water. Alanna was part of Sinclair’s Full Measure team, which produced stories in remembrance of the Vietnam War. While there, she witnessed Vietnam's turning over to the U.S. the remains of servicemen who had been missing in action for over 50 years.
In 2020, Alanna joined Tegna’s National Verify team as a multimedia photojournalist, marking her entry into national news. She produced long-form, data-driven stories and created video content for the team’s daily fact-checking segments. Her coverage spanned a wide range of topics, including politics, high-profile court cases, presidential elections, social issues, education, technology, health, and sports. In 2022, Alanna and her team produced the award-winning digital documentary Nobody Talks About It: The Rise in Youth Suicide. The project explored the alarming increase in youth suicides across the United States, combining in-depth research with interviews from child psychiatrists, parents, and school counselors. The film examined the rise in youth mental health disorders, the effects of increased screen time, barriers to accessing mental health care, and the urgent need for more open conversations about suicide risk and warning signs. The documentary earned second place in the Anthem Awards, part of the national Webby Awards.
Alanna is a passionate speaker, a supportive team leader, and a mentor to storytellers across the country. She is a leader and faculty member of the News workshop in Norman, Oklahoma, and she is a community organizer for Video Consortium's local Baltimore hub. Alanna has been invited to speak at other events and organizations such as NPPA’s Educational Committee, NATAS National Capital Chesapeake Bay Chapter, Kentucky News Photographers Association, NPPA’s Women in Visual Journalism Conference, Sound of Life Conference, RTDNA’s National Conference, and the Society of Professional Journalists FaceTime with the Pros.
Alanna can thrive in any environment. She has – and continues to – produce stories with strong natural sounds and powerful visuals that give voice to communities. She does this work passionately, whether she is working for local or national outlets, whether she is working as a solo journalist or with a team, or whether she is mentoring the next generation of journalists on the same path to excellence.
This August, Alanna and her husband, Tom, are getting ready to welcome their baby boy—and she can’t wait to capture every magical, messy, unforgettable moment of his childhood.
