Emily Andersen is a watchdog and investigative reporter at Suncoast Searchlight, where she covers public safety, immigration, social services and other issues affecting residents across Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties. Her reporting combines public records and data with on-the-ground reporting that centers the people affected by government policies and decisions.

Before joining Searchlight, Emily covered criminal justice, public safety and social services for The Gazette in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. A Spanish-speaking reporter, she also extensively covered immigration enforcement in Iowa. Her work has earned multiple statewide investigative reporting awards.