EMILY SWANSON / NYC-based journalist

In August 2022, I moved from Minneapolis to NYC to attend the CUNY Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism. Prior to becoming a reporter, I had long careers as a high school English teacher and restaurant chef.

My reporting career has taken me all around NYC streets, community and government meetings and courts, for quick-turn stories as well as impactful investigative work.

Now, as one of two staff reporters with the Bronx Times under Schneps Media, I cover the entire borough in terms of housing, politics, legislation, arts, development, nonprofit work, crime and courts, schools, food and more. With more eyes on the Bronx than ever, our work at the Bronx Times is rapidly growing in readership and prominence.

My own body of work for the paper — more than 700 stories, from quick turn to long form — has been cited in federal court and linked by major outlets, including the New York Times. We are now working on a yearlong series, Our Forgotten Borough, tackling the biggest issues affecting the Bronx today. I’ve also written several pieces for amNewYork (also under Schneps Media), covering daily news and longform explainers for an affordable housing series.

I also create posts and videos for the Bronx Times’ Instagram account, which has more than doubled its following since mid-2025.

My Bronx reporting career first began at the J-school, where I wrote for the CUNY-run outlet, the Mott Haven Herald.

Also while in school, I interned with The City Reporter (formerly called THE CITY) and researched violations at New York City’s daycares for a news package that won a national 2024 Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Mark of Excellence Best in Show award. Another news package I worked on, South Bronx Businesses Battle Back, won a first-place SPJ Mark of Excellence award.

I have several other bylines covering national daily news for The Guardian US. You can see those stories here.

I live in the South Bronx neighborhood of Port Morris. Outside of work, I enjoy photography, cooking and watching the Yankees, Liberty, Knicks, and my hometown team, the Minnesota Timberwolves.