ANNA HIGHFIELD
London
Summary
Ambitious multimedia journalist with a flair for in-depth analysis and visual storytelling
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
Work history
Editor
Inside Housing Management
2025.04 - Current
- Responsible for commissioning, writing, and editing all content across Inside Housing Management (a new trade title for social housing staff, part of Inside Housing). This includes news, features, comment, CPD, explainers, and a unique Housing Agony Aunt column which I launched in 2026.
- Initiate and execute long-term data-led investigations, including an investigation into assaults on frontline housing staff (2025) and an investigation into social housing allocations (2026), producing strong visuals including graphs and graphics to lead the stories.
- Work closely with Inside Housing's arts editor to curate a visually striking website, including commissioning illustrators and making key design decisions on features, videos, and campaign content.
- Manage both freelance and in-house journalists, commissioning and collaborating on stories and editing with meticulous attention to detail.
- Regularly represent Inside Housing Management as a chair, panellist and speaker at major conferences including Homes UK and Housing conference.
- Host an award-winning podcast covering core social housing issues including managing anti-social behaviour, improving tenancy sustainment, and preparing for policy and regulatory changes.
- Led Inside Housing's highly visual 'Housing Management Matters' campaign throughout 2025, generating sector-wide momentum for getting more recognition and career opportunities for frontline housing staff.
- Led Inside Housing Management's 'IHM30' awards in 2026, collaborating with marketing, arts, editorial teams, and external judges and stakeholders to ensure its success.
Senior News Reporter
Architects' Journal (emap)
2023.03 - Current
- Produced high-quality daily news and monthly news features for Architects and Built Environment Professionals, including in-depth features on building safety, climate adaptation, and sector innovators.
- Took charge of the visual elements of these stories, including producing graphs and graphics, liaising closely with the arts editor on graphics and illustrations (including sketching ideas) for both online and print, and commissioning illustrators.
- Commissioned the monthly cartoonist, generating news-led themes and ideas for him to work with.
- Curated a highly visual daily newsletter for Architects' Journal (AJ) subscribers, selecting, editing and optimising content and delivering it within tight deadlines.
- Maintained a strong network of sources, gathering fresh insights and perspectives to inform all of my content.
- Secured interviews with well-known industry and media figures, including Grand Designs presenter Kevin McCloud and Bill Baker, the engineer who designed the Burj Khalifa.
- Collaborated closely with the editorial team, acting as stand-in news editor when appropriate, liaising with sub-editors, and steering editorial strategy and campaigns.
- Highly commended for best new journalist in the International Building Press Awards (IBPs) 2023.
Senior cost of Living Reporter
MyLondon (Reach Plc)
2022.09 - 2023.03
- Solely led MyLondon's multimedia coverage of cost of living - including articles, videos, and social media content - and coordinated it within Reach Plc's wider publication strategy.
- Liaised with local and national policymakers to facilitate practical resolutions for interviewees.
- Used search data and audience metrics to steer decisions on fresh stories, headlines, and standfirsts, adapting to different audiences.
- Broke exclusive stories about the cost of living crisis as it developed, with several published by Reach Plc's national publications including The Mirror.
Senior News Reporter
MyLondon (Reach Plc)
2022.06 - 2022.09
- Collaborated in a breaking news team, coordinating live blogs on national stories including the Epsom College triple killing, the London wildfires, and Sarah Everard's kidnapping and murder.
- Broke regular human interest-led exclusives about housing issues and inequalities across London, liaising with in-house lawyers to ensure stories were legally defensible.
- Produced some of the site's most-read articles and routinely hit 1 million monthly page views.
- Created, edited and produced photo and video content for TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook.
News Reporter
MyLondon (Reach Plc)
2021.01 - 2022.06
- Pitched and wrote a minimum of five articles per day including regional and national news, news features, and op-eds, working to tight digital deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Covered court stories, reported from scenes, and broke exclusive human interest stories on immigration, housing and homelessness.
Contributor
Vocal Girls Music
2020.04 - 2021.01
- Worked solo to pitch and write regular news features, including securing an exclusive interview with House singer Kah-Lo on how Black Lives Matter changed the music industry.
Contributor
Novara Media
2020.04 - 2020.10
- Pitched and wrote an exclusive article exposing Covid-19 risk to hundreds of vulnerable people in the UK immigration detention system.
- Pitched and wrote an article highlighting risks to UK food security post-Brexit.
News Reporter
Sheffield Star Newspaper
2020.01 - 2020.01
- Curated vox pops on a controversial emerging transport story, alongside news desk responsibilities.
News Reporter
Shropshire Star Newspaper
2019.09 - 2019.09
- Covered regional community news and collaborated with a senior reporter to cover a major inquest.
Architectural Assistant
MawsonKerr Sustainable Architects
Newcastle upon Tyne
2018.09 - 2019.07
- Worked on sustainability-led housing projects and acted as an ambassador for my company at various media events, including as a panellist for a BBC creative careers event.
Education
Masters & NCTJ - Journalism (Distinction)
Sheffield University
2020-10
BSc(Hons) - Architecture (2:1, 79%)
Cardiff University
2018-06
References
Richard Waite - News Editor, Architects' Journal
Richard.Waite@emap.com
Andy Worden - Senior Editor, Reach Plc (Former Editor, MyLondon)
Andy.Worden@reachplc.com
Timeline
Editor
Inside Housing Management
2025.04 - Current
Senior News Reporter
Architects' Journal (emap)
2023.03 - Current
Senior cost of Living Reporter
MyLondon (Reach Plc)
2022.09 - 2023.03
Senior News Reporter
MyLondon (Reach Plc)
2022.06 - 2022.09
News Reporter
MyLondon (Reach Plc)
2021.01 - 2022.06
Contributor
Vocal Girls Music
2020.04 - 2021.01
Contributor
Novara Media
2020.04 - 2020.10
News Reporter
Sheffield Star Newspaper
2020.01 - 2020.01
News Reporter
Shropshire Star Newspaper
2019.09 - 2019.09
Architectural Assistant
MawsonKerr Sustainable Architects
2018.09 - 2019.07
Masters & NCTJ - Journalism (Distinction)
Sheffield University
BSc(Hons) - Architecture (2:1, 79%)
Cardiff University