Whitford, who joined City Limits as Senior Housing Reporter in February, will continue to report for the news site’s core housing beat and will serve as editor for its series on NYCHA, launched earlier this year to provide in-depth coverage of the nation’s largest public housing system. 

City Limits, an award-winning nonprofit newsroom that’s been covering New York City for nearly half a century, announced Thursday the promotion of reporter Emma Whitford to Deputy Editor. In her new role, Whitford will spearhead the organization’s hard-hitting housing and homelessness coverage.

Whitford, who joined City Limits as Senior Housing Reporter in February, will continue to report for the news site’s core housing beat and will serve as editor for its series on NYCHA, launched earlier this year to provide in-depth coverage of the nation’s largest public housing system.

The move will further solidify City Limits’ commitment to covering housing and homelessness policy at a crucial moment for New York City, as leaders grapple with an ongoing affordability crisis, record-high shelter population and deteriorating conditions at NYCHA.

Before joining City Limits, Whitford was a senior reporter for Law360, where she covered housing and real estate, including reporting on New York housing courts and the state’s handling of its pandemic rent relief program. Whitford was previously a reporter at Gothamist and has freelanced extensively, with bylines in the New York Daily News, The Intercept, Curbed, TIME, Documented NY and the Queens Daily Eagle.

Founded in 1976, City Limits provides comprehensive coverage of city policy with a focus on housing, homelessness, land use, immigration, climate resiliency and more. The newsroom will celebrate its 47th anniversary this fall.

In addition to award-winning reporting, City Limits has since 2015 operated CLARIFY, a paid journalism training program for New York City high school students. The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by reader donations, advertising sponsorships, and foundation grants.