Heather Senison
Heather Senison is an accomplished journalist and content director whose career has spanned crime reporting, politics, real estate, architecture, interior design, and personal finance. Growing up in Queens, she attended a renowned Manhattan performing arts high school before earning her degree from SUNY Albany, where she received an award for her investigative reporting on illegal asbestos abatement in campus dorms.
She began her career as a beat reporter before becoming an editor at Manhattan’s then-largest daily newspaper, amNewYork. Her bylines have since appeared in American Banker, The Real Deal, Newsday, and the New York Post, establishing her as a respected voice in real estate and design journalism. Drawing from her experience in the newsroom, Heather also built a second career as a content director, blending storytelling expertise with strategic messaging. She credits each profession with sharpening her skills in the other. In 2023, her reporting on a North Fork oyster farm and the East End’s affordable housing crisis was featured in a New York Times special Hamptons section that won a NAREE Gold Award.
Heather’s passion for real estate and finance stems from her grandparents, who developed a dozen investment properties on Long Island. Inspired by their legacy, she purchased a foreclosure in the Hudson Valley in 2020, restoring it largely by hand with the help of her husband, Mike. The couple married in their home, where they now raise two young boys alongside their oversized rescue dog.
Outside of her professional work, Heather finds joy in music, literature, outdoor adventures, and cooking. Whether reporting, editing, or creating content, she brings curiosity, creativity, and dedication to every endeavor.
• University at Albany - BA
• New York Press Club
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my hard work, tenacity, and multitasking skills. I started my career as a news reporter while still attending college nearly 20 years ago and have pursued writing and editing in various forms since. In 2016, my father was diagnosed with stage IV cancer while I was pregnant with my first child. I soon found myself balancing my career with being the primary caretaker for a baby and a sick parent. These challenges inspired me to pursue freelance work — a career path I truly love for the flexibility, independence and creativity it provides. My dad always wanted me to write for The New York Times and in 2023, not long after he passed away, I had my first story published for the paper. It landed on the cover of a Real Estate special section that received a Gold Award from the National Association of Real Estate Editors.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Lean in when you can and step back when you need to.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
There are many paths to the career and life that you want. For example, I accepted a job as a real estate and business editor early in my career despite not feeling fully prepared for the role, but I've been able to shape the career I dreamed of from there. Take the opportunities that come your way and narrow your focus as your journey progresses.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Treating others with kindness and respect, no matter what, prioritizing my household, and maintaining my boundaries. And accepting that life is a learning process.
Locations
Heather Senison Media
Carmel, NY 10512
New York Times
620 8th Avenue, New York, NY, 10018