THE CITY serves the people of New York through independent journalism that holds the powerful to , deepens democratic participation and helps make sense of the greatest city in the world.
Impact
We want our journalism to result in better outcomes for the people of New York.
That means wrongdoing is called out and halted, that better policies are implemented and that resources are more effectively and fairly allocated. THE CITY’s investigative reporting has resulted in criminal indictments, political resignations and ethics inquiries. It has inspired new laws, influenced budget choices and reversed injustices. Below, you’ll find some of the latest examples of ways our reporting has made a positive impact on New York and the people who live and work here. Read about more of our recent impact here.
FEATURED IMPACT
De Blasio Reaches $330K Settlement With Conflicts Board Over Use of NYPD During 2020 Presidential Run
The ex-mayor is on the hook to make quarterly payments to the City of New York for the next four years after taking an NYPD detail on the campaign trail.Following THE CITY’s Trail, Campaign Board Escalates Eric Adams Fraud Probe
Undeterred by the Trump istration’s derailing of the mayor’s criminal case, the NYC Campaign Finance Board again denies him reelection matching funds. It’s also examining events where our investigations surfaced fundraising sleight-of-hand.Trump Org’s Bid to Run Wollman Rink Gets Growing Pushback From Manhattan Reps
After THE CITY revealed City Hall snubbed a $120 million gift to upgrade the Central Park facility, 19 elected officials urge Mayor Eric Adams to reconsider and put his solicitation for operators on ice.Read more about our recent impact here.
Awards
2025
The Deadline Club Awards
Winner, Radio or Audio Feature Reporting, Jordan Gass-Poore, Samantha Maldonado, Harry Siegel, Hazard NYC
Finalist, Newspaper or Digital Beat Reporting, Rosalind Adams, New York’s Cannabis Legalization Disaster
New York Press Club
Winner, Crime Reporting – NYC Metro, Yoav Gonen and Haidee Chu, More Than a Car Crash a Day as NYPD Escalates Risky Vehicle Pursuits
Winner, Political Reporting – NYC Metro, Katie Honan, Yoav Gonen, Greg Smith, Gwynne Hogan, Samantha Maldonado, Adams’ istration Shatters
Best in Business Awards (The Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing)
Winner, Retail Reporting, Rosalind Adams, New York’s Cannabis Legalization Disaster
2024
Online News Association
Finalist, Excellence in AI Innovation, We Asked AI to Map Our Stories. Here Are the Results.
Edward R. Murrow Awards
Winner, Excellence in Video, Yoav Gonen and Jeff Basinger, Videos Show NYPD Chiefs Intervened Before Voiding of Ex-Cop’s Gun Arrest
New York Press Club
Winner, Business Reporting – NYC Metro, Rosalind Adams, Big Cannabis Comes to New York
Silurians Press Club Awards
Winner, Investigative Reporting for articles on Rikers Island, the NYPD and mayoral campaign finances — Bianca Pallaro, Haidee Chu, April Xu, Katie Honan, Tom Robbins, George Joseph, Reuven Blau and Yoav Gonen
Winner, Breaking News Photography, Ben Fractenberg
Winner, Digital Online Video Reporting, Yoav Gonen and Jeff Basinger, Videos Show NYPD Chiefs Intervened Before Voiding of Ex-Cop’s Gun Arrest
Merit Award, Business and Financial Reporting, Rosalind Adams, Big Cannabis Comes to New York
Merit Award, Minority Affairs Reporting, George Joseph and Samantha Maldonado, The Deed Finders
The Deadline Club Awards
Finalist, Newspaper or Digital Local News Reporting – George Joseph, Bianca Pallaro, Yoav Gonen, Haidee Chu, April Xu (Documented), Katie Honan and Tom Robbins; Eric Adams Straw Donors Exposed
Finalist, The Mosaic Award – George Joseph, LGBTQ Unit Collapses at Rikers
Finalist, Digital Video Reporting – Yoav Gonen, Jeff Basinger; Videos Show NYPD Chiefs Intervened Before Voiding of Ex-Cop’s Gun Arrest
Finalist, Digital Innovation – Abigail Kramer, Sam Rabiyah, Suhail Bhat, Amy Zimmer (Chalkbeat), Scott Klein, Mental Health in NYC Public Schools
The Toner Prizes for Excellence in Political Reporting
Honorable mention, Toner Prize for Excellence in Local Political Reporting – George Joseph, Bianca Pallaro, Haidee Chu, Tom Robbins, Yoav Gonen, April Xu, and Katie Honan
- New Questions Arise Over Adams Donors: One Says She Was Reimbursed, Others Say They Never Gave
- Adams Campaign Repeatedly Ignored Regulators’ Demands to Identify ers Behind $300,000 in Contributions
- Mayor’s Asian Affairs Liaison Raised Big Money—and Big Questions About Her Conduct
- Department of Investigation Opens Inquiry into a Key Adams Aide, Winnie Greco
Best in Business Awards (The Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing)
Winner, 2023 Best in Business Awards for economy reporting in the small news division – Greg David, “Covering the NYC Economy“
2023
Front Page Awards (Newswomen’s Club of New York)
Winner, Front Page Award for Journalist of the Year – Gwynne Hogan, igrant Influx
Winner, Front Page Award for Specialized Reporting in Education – Abigail Kramer, Public Schools Are NYC’s Main Youth Mental Health System. Where Kids Land Often Depends on What Their Parents Can Pay.
Online News Association
Winner, Digital Video Storytelling, Medium Form, Small/Medium Newsroom – Yoav Gonen, Videos Show NYPD Chiefs Intervened Before Voiding of Ex-Cop’s Gun Arrest
Silurians Press Club
Medallion, Business and Financial Reporting – Greg David, “Is Manhattan’s Back-to-the-Office Moment Finally Here?”
New York Press Club
Political Reporting NYC Metro – George Joseph, Yoav Gonen “Uncovering Alleged Signature Forgery by Brooklyn Democratic Party to Suppress Political Rivals”
Podcast NYC Metro – Samantha Maldonado, Kendra Pierre-Louis, Harry Siegel “FAQ NYC | Sandy Was Just the Start. Is New York City Building Resiliently Enough for What’s Coming Next?”
Business Reporting NYC Metro – Greg David, “Is Manhattan’s Back-to-the-Office Moment Finally Here?”
The Deadline Club Awards
Winner, Science, Technology, Medical or Environmental Reporting – Abigail Kramer, “Crisis Point: How New York Wrecked Mental Health Care for Kids” THE CITY and ProPublica
Finalist, Newspaper or Digital Spot News Reporting – Claudia Irizarry-Aponte, Greg Smith, “Deadly Bronx Blaze Prompts Scrutiny of Open Door That Spread Smoke”
Finalist, Reporting by Independent Digital Media – Abigail Kramer, “Crisis Point: How New York Wrecked Mental Health Care for Kids” THE CITY and ProPublica
2022
Front Page Awards (The Newswomen’s Club of New York)
Winner, Local Reporting / Breaking News category – Claudia Irizarry Aponte, “Deadly Bronx Blaze Prompts Scrutiny of Open Door That Spread Smoke”
American Journalism Online Awards (New York University)
Best Data Visualization – Alyssa Katz, Will Welch; “Meet Your Mayor”
Edward R. Murrow Awards
2022 Regional Murrow Award Winner for Hard News – Greg B. Smith, “Failure to Thrive: NYC’s $100 Million ‘Diversion Centers’ for Mentally Ill Sit Empty or Barely Used”
New York Press Club
Business Reporting NYC Metro (Internet)- Greg David, “New York in Job Hunt as City Seeks Economic Comeback from Covid”
Crime Reporting NYC Metro (Internet) – Yoav Gonen, Gabriele Sandoval, Greg B. Smith, “Misconduct Unbecoming: The NYPD’s Lack of Discipline”
Edward R. Murrow Award
2022 Regional Murrow Award Winner/National Finalist: Living Downstream: The Environmental Justice Podcast Season Two, featuring PODCAST: Struggling to Breathe in The Bronx in Age of COVID
Izzy Award (Park Center of Independent Media at Ithaca College)
Outstanding Achievement in Independent Media: Greg B. Smith, The Toll of NYCHA’s Lead Lies: A Brooklyn Girl Poisoned as Officials Covered Up Danger
Sidney Hillman Foundation
The Sidney Award: Josefa Velasquez, Meet Christian Smalls and Derrick Palmer, the DIY Duo Behind the Amazon Labor Union’s Guerrilla Bid to Make History
Silurians Press Club
Merit Prize for Breaking News Category: Coverage of Andrew Cuomo’s resignation. Winning stories:
- Cuomo Resigns After Harassment Findings Obliterate , Leaving Legacy of Ambition and Aggression
- Cuomo’s Triumphs and Unfinished Business as He Quits Under a Cloud – THE CITY
- Many of Cuomo’s Big Transit Projects Remain Divisive, Incomplete – THE CITY
- Who is Kathy Hochul? Meet New York’s Incoming, History-Making Governor
- Cuomo’s Exit Could Kick Off Game of Political Musical Chairs for Governor’s Seat and More
Deadline Club
Finalist, Best Feature Photo: Ben Fractenberg, THE CITY, “Survivors”
Finalist, The Les Payne Award for Coverage on Communities of Color: Claudia Irizarry Aponte and Josefa Velazquez, THE CITY, “The Deliveristas’ Long Journey to Justice”
Finalist, Best Digital Innovation: Staff, THE CITY, “Meet Your Mayor”
Apple Awards (College Media Association)
Best Multimedia Package: Seeking Mercy, co-published with NYCity News Service, Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY, Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY
New York Press Photographers Association
Exhibit Award: Ben Fractenberg, THE CITY, “Survivors”
Front Page Awards (The Newswomen’s Club of New York)
The Ida B. Wells Award Honoring Exceptional Coverage of Communities of Color: Josefa Velasquez and Claudia Irizarry Aponte THE CITY, “The Deliveristas’ Long Journey to Justice”
Breaking News: Josefa Velasquez, The City, “Cuomo Resigns After Harassment Findings Obliterate , Leaving Legacy of Ambition and Aggression”
Investigative Reporting: Eileen Grench, The City, “Juvenile Justice in New York City”
Medicine/Health/Fitness: Josefa Velasquez, The City, “Outsiders Get Vaccinated at Washington Heights Armory Cuomo Touted as Combating COVID ‘Inequity’”
Politics: Ann Choi, Christine Chung, Samantha Maldonado, The City, “How Garcia, Wiley and Morales Gave Their Male Mayoral Rivals a Run for Their Money”
2021
EPPY Awards (Editor & Publisher)
Best use of social media/crowdsourcing (fewer than 1 million unique visitors) – THE CITY, Columbia Journalism School & Newmark Journalism School at CUNY for “Missing Them Memorial Events”
Best use of data/infographics (fewer than 1 million unique visitors) – Meet Your Mayor
Best collaborative investigative/enterprise reporting (fewer than 1 million unique visitors) – NYC Nursing Home Gave Dozens of Veterans Experimental COVID-19 Treatment
Finalist, Best investigative/enterprise feature (fewer than 1 million unique visitors) – How New York Bungled Pandemic Medical Supply Purchase
Finalist, Best online-only news (fewer than 1 million unique visitors)
Finalist, Best business reporting (fewer than 1 million unique visitors) – New York in Job Hunt as City Seeks Economic Comeback from COVID
Finalist, Best innovation project on a website (fewer than 1 million unique visitors) – Meet Your Mayor
Finalist, Best news or event feature (fewer than 1 million unique visitors) – Claudia Irizarry Aponte and Josefa Velasquez for “Deliveristas”
Edward R. Murrow Award (Radio Television Digital News Association)
Feature Reporting Award – How Los Deliveristas Unidos Banded Together
Online Journalism Awards (Online News Association)
Knight Award for Public Service – Missing Them, a COVID-19 Memorial and ability Journalism Project
Excellence in Newsletters (Single Newsletter) – Civic Newsroom Newsletter
Finalist, Excellence in Newsletters (Portfolio) – THE CITY Newsletters
Nonprofit News Awards (INN)
Breaking Barriers Award – The Deliveristas’ Long Journey to Justice
Finalist, Startup of the Year
Finalist, Community Champion Award – MISSING THEM Memorial Events
Finalist, Insight Award for Explanatory Journalism – Meet Your Mayor tool
The Society of Professional Journalists
Sunshine Award: The Complaint Files the NYPD Doesn’t Want You to See: co-published by ProPublica
New York Press Club
Special Event Reporting: With Columbia Journalism School and the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY – MISSING THEM
One Hundred Black Men of New York
Leadership Through Local Journalism Award: Jere Hester, Founding Editor in chief
Silurians Press Club
Merit Award for Business and Financial Reporting: “Small Businesses Battle for Survival Amid the Pandemic”
Merit Award for Investigative Reporting: “How New York City Bungled the Purchase of Life-Saving Medical Supplies During the Covid-19 Pandemic”
Merit Award for Breaking News Photography: Racial Justice Demonstrations
News Leaders Association
Punch Sulzberger Innovator of the Year Award: With Columbia Journalism School and the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY – MISSING THEM
The Sidney Hillman Foundation
Award for Social Justice Reporting: Allison Dikanovic for developing THE CITY’s rent and eviction-focused newsletters while a student at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY
Livingston Awards Finalists
Finalist for Local Reporting – Ann Choi, Rachel Holiday Smith and Will Welch: “Inside New York City’s Housing Lotteries”
Finalist for Local Reporting: Eileen Grench: “Education, iPads, and Child Welfare Workers in the Age of Covid”
2020
National LION Publishers Awards
Collaboration of the Year – Special education reporting with Chalkbeat.
Online Journalism Awards
Finalist for “Excellence in Newsletters” – THE CITY SCOOP
American Planning Association Award
New York Metropolitan Chapter Award – For THE CITY’s coverage of communities underserved by other media outlets, particularly in the Bronx.
Editor & Publisher – EPPY Awards
Best Photojournalism on a Website less than 1 million unique monthly visitors – “Coronavirus in NYC” | THE CITY
Best News or Event Feature on a Website with less than 1 million unique monthly visitors – “Coronavirus in New York” | THE CITY
Best Use of Social Media/Crowd Sourcing on a Website with less than 1 million unique monthly visitors – “Chalkbeat and THE CITY” | THE CITY
Finalist for Best Use of Social Media/Crowd Sourcing on a Website with less than 1 million unique monthly visitors – The CITY for “The City’s Staff”
Finalist for Best Photojournalism on a Website less than 1 million unique monthly visitors – THE CITY for “Seeking Justice in New York”
Finalist for Best Innovation Project on a Website with less than 1 million unique monthly visitors – THE CITY for “Missing Them”
Finalist for Best Investigative/Enterprise Feature on a Website with less than 1 million unique monthly visitors – Who’s Policing You?
Finalist for Best Use of Data/Infographics on a Website with less than 1 million unique monthly visitors – The CITY for “Coronavirus Tracker”
Finalist for Best Collaborative Investigative/Enterprise Reporting on a Website less than 1 million unique monthly visitors – THE CITY for “Chalkbeat and THE CITY”
Finalist for Best Investigative/Enterprise Video on a Website with less than 1 million unique monthly visitors – THE CITY for “Flirting with Disaster: Flood Zones in New York City”
New York Press Club Journalism Awards
Nellie Bly Cub Reporter: Claudia Irizarry Aponte, THE CITY
Deadline Club Awards
Finalist for Newspaper or Digital Feature Reporting: Ese Olumhense, THE CITY, “20 Years After Killing of Amadou Diallo, What’s Changed”
Silurians Press Club Excellence in Journalism Awards
Commentary Medallion: Greg B. Smith, Josefa Velasquez, Yoav Gonen, THE CITY, The NYPD’s Mental Illness Breakdown
Feature News Photography Medallion: Ben Fractenberg, THE CITY, Homeless Face an Elusive Refuge In the Subway
Breaking News Merit Award: Christine Chung and Josefa Velasquez, THE CITY, Night in Queens
2019
New York Press Photographers Association
Excellence Award, 85th Annual Photography & Multimedia Contest, 2019 Year in Pictures and Multimedia Contest: Ben Fractenberg, THE CITY, Taking Flight
Editor & Publisher – EPPY Awards
Best Collaborative Investigative/Enterprise Feature: Mazin Sidahmed and Claudia Irizarry Aponte, Documented and THE CITY, On the Brink of Being Homeless in a “Sanctuary City”
Best News or Event Feature: A Solitary Death Sparks Prison Reform Push (some of our stories about Layleen Polanco)
Editor & Publisher – National Finalists
Best Investigative/Enterprise Feature on a Website with under 1 million unique monthly visitors: The de Blasio Files, THE CITY
Best News or Event Feature with under 1 million unique monthly visitors: A Solitary Death Sparks Prison Reform Push, THE CITY
Best Community Service with under 1 million unique monthly visitors: Broken Promises: NYC’s Public Housing Mess, THE CITY
The Newswomen’s Club Of New York, Inc. – Front Page Award
Local Reporting – Breaking News: Christine Chung, THE CITY, How Tiffany Cabán Went From Nowhere to the Verge of Victory
New York Association of Black Journalists Media AwardBest General Feature, Online Media: Ese Olumhense, THE CITY, 20 Years After the NYPD Killing of Amadou Diallo, His Mom Asks: What’s Changed?