One of NY1 News’ greatest strengths is our team of reporters. Collectively, they give New Yorkers a comprehensive look at what is happening in New York City.

Unlike most television stations, NY1 assigns its reporters using the beat system often found at newspapers. NY1 News beats are either geographical or topical: the geographic beats include each of the five boroughs, while the topical beats include health, technology, mass transit, law enforcement, entertainment, neighborhoods, education and business.

The political beat is one of NY1’s strongest, with five reporters assigned fulltime to the comings and goings at City Hall, and one reporter based in the state capital in Albany.

NY1’s reporters all have a connection to New York City. They were born here, lived here or went to school here. They live in the neighborhoods that they cover. They also shoot their own stories, and have become a familiar sight to New Yorkers as they arrive on the scene toting their camera, tripods and batteries.

In adopting the beat system, NY1 was determined to get away from the "rip and read" type of journalism often seen on television news. NY1 beat reporters are expected to find their own stories, and are given the time to develop leads. As a result, NY1 is much more than sensational stories or crime news. Some local TV news stations believe in the slogan "if it bleeds it leads," but not NY1.