After more than two decades of shaping community conversation, the Ocean Pines Progress is entering a new chapter. Following the passing of our founder and publisher, my longtime colleague and friend, Tom Stauss, earlier this summer, I am stepping in to continue leading the publication we built together.
For so many in Ocean Pines, the Progress has been more than just a newspaper. It has been a watchdog, a chronicler, and a sounding board for the issues that matter most in this unique community. Tom’s keen editorial eye and unwavering commitment to accountability earned the paper both loyal readers and its fair share of critics. His passing has left a void, and I feel a deep responsibility to honor his legacy by carrying forward his vision.
Tom was the original and longest-serving publisher of new media in Ocean Pines. From the Independent to The Progress, he set the standard for what local journalism in this community could and should be. His legacy of fearless reporting and dedication to truth will continue.
Tom and I, along with a team of contributors, built this paper together from the ground up, and I intend to ensure the Progress remains the trusted, independent voice he always envisioned.
My professional relationship with Tom goes back more than 30 years. In 1992, fresh out of college, I joined him at the Ocean Pines Independent, a community paper he owned and published. It was my very first reporting job, and it set the foundation for my career. I was lucky to work with Tom so early because he modeled what community journalism should be — thorough, fearless, and committed to the people it serves.
Tom sold the Independent in 1999, but his passion for covering Ocean Pines never faded. Within a few years, he and I returned to publishing with the launch of the Ocean Pines Progress, designed to fill the gap for residents who wanted clear, fact-based reporting about the Ocean Pines Association and the greater community.
Around the same time, I also served as the OPA’s Public Relations Director. That role gave me firsthand experience in the complexities of community governance and communication. Having worked both as a reporter covering OPA and later as its spokesperson, I understood the challenges of telling the story of Ocean Pines. That dual perspective shaped how Tom and I approached the Progress.
From the very first issue, we staked our reputation on deep coverage of the OPA, bringing transparency to board decisions, budgets, and programs. Residents have come to depend on us for fact-based reporting in an environment where rumor and speculation often run wild. Tom believed this community deserved a paper that didn’t shy away from tough questions, and so do I.
In addition to my journalism roots, I’ve built a career in nonprofit management, serving as chief executive for several organizations in Maryland and Maine. That experience brings not only editorial expertise but also organizational leadership, fundraising, and community engagement skills that will help sustain the Progress into the future.
For me, stepping back into this role is both professional and personal. This isn’t just about keeping a newspaper alive. It’s about preserving Tom’s legacy and making sure the Progress continues to be a trusted voice for Ocean Pines residents. That’s what he wanted, and that’s what I want to deliver.
I know community journalism faces tough challenges today — shrinking advertising revenue, rising printing costs, and competition from social media. But I also see opportunities. People still crave reliable, well-sourced reporting, especially at the local level where decisions directly affect their lives. Social media is full of opinions, but what Tom built — and what I intend to continue — is reporting that separates fact from speculation. That’s not going out of style.
Tom was more than a publisher; he was an advocate for accountability and a sharp observer of the quirks of Ocean Pines politics. He could recite sections of OPA bylaws the way some people recite sports stats. He took it seriously because he believed residents deserved to understand how their community was being run.
Under my leadership, the Progress will continue its core mission: covering OPA governance, finances, and programs with depth and clarity. We will continue our established delivery within Ocean Pines and remain focused on in-depth coverage of Association matters.
At the same time, I want to broaden our reporting to shine more light on the people who make Ocean Pines special — the volunteers, the business owners, the neighbors who look out for one another. Tom’s strength was holding institutions accountable, and that will never change. But I also want to harken back to the original days of the Independent and balance that with stories that celebrate the spirit of this community. That may include more profiles, features on local history, and coverage of regional issues that affect Ocean Pines.
I also plan to explore digital expansion to meet readers where they are. Print is still valuable, but digital platforms are essential. The Progress has the opportunity to grow in both directions.
And I won’t be doing it alone. We have a team of local advertising sales, contributing writers, and photographers working with me to produce the paper each month. It will remain a true community effort — that’s what makes this publication special.
Three decades after first reporting on Ocean Pines, my connection to this community has come full circle. From covering it as my first job at the Independent, to serving as its PR director, to helping launching the Progress, I’ve chronicled its evolution from every angle.
Tom and I started this journey together, and now I’ll carry it forward. My hope is that when people pick up the Progress, they’ll feel the same sense of trust and connection they always did. That’s the best way I can honor Tom’s memory.
I have worked in or owned property in Ocean Pines for decades, and I look forward to returning to the community as both publisher and soon again as a neighbor. With me at the helm, the Progress will remain what it has always been — a vital, independent voice for a community that cares deeply about its future.
Rota Knott
Publisher/Editor
Rota Knott 
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