N.J. Burkett
He has reported on everything from war and diplomacy to crime and politics; from aviation disasters to natural disasters, race relations and police misconduct.
On September 11, 2001, after the two jets struck the World Trade Center, N.J. and his photographer narrowly escaped the subsequent collapse of the South Tower. Their work was later seen on television news broadcasts across the nation and around the world and is on permanent exhibit at the Newseum in Washington, DC.
N.J. spent nearly three months covering the war in Iraq in 2003, and the military build-up that preceded it. He covered the terrorist bombings in Madrid (2004) and London (2005), as well as the war between Israel and Hezbollah in Southern Lebanon (2006), the Israeli-Hamas War in Gaza (2009-10) as well as three Israeli national elections and the death of Palestinian leader, Yasir Arafat (2004). N.J. witnessed the historic Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip (2005) and chronicled the Palestinian popular uprising, known as the Intifadeh, in a series of overseas assignments from 2000-2004.
He was the only local New York television news correspondent to report from Japan after the historic 9.0 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear accident in 2011, and the first among his colleagues to report from Haiti after the earthquake there, in 2010.
In New York, N.J. has been one of WABC-TV's lead reporters for many of the region's biggest stories, from Superstorm Sandy to the crash of TWA Flight 800, the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School and landmark police misconduct trials. When a growing number of homeless New Yorkers complained that the city's municipal shelters were unsafe, N.J. went undercover for several weeks in the winter of 2001, disguised as a homeless man. He and an undercover photographer slept in New York's most notorious men's shelter.
N. J.'s work has been honored with several of the most prestigious awards in American television news. He is a two-time winner of the coveted Edward R. Murrow Award from the Radio Television Digital News Association (formerly the RTNDA) and a four-time Emmy Award winner, including the Emmy for Outstanding On-Camera Achievement in 2003 and 2007. N.J. has received fifteen Emmy Nominations.
He shared the George Foster Peabody Award and the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award with his colleagues at ABC News for his reporting on the September 11th terrorist attacks. In 2008, he was presented with the Allen B. DuMont Broadcaster of the Year Award by Montclair State University for his "significant contributions to the field of broadcasting."
N.J. is the First Vice Chairman of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, and a former Trustee and past President of the Academy's flagship chapter in New York.
His full name is Newton Jones Burkett. Before joining WABC-TV, N. J. was a correspondent for WFSB-TV, the CBS station in Hartford, CT., from 1986-1989. He holds a B.A. in Political Science and a Master's in International Affairs, both from Columbia University.
N.J's Stories
Local congressmen blast NYC's congestion pricing plan, MTA jabs back
In the public relations battle over congestion pricing, both sides are determined to seize the offensive.
City Council hold hearing on encryption of NYPD radio broadcasts
"There are ways to protect against the things police are worried about while still maintaining access to this information," said State Sen. Michael Gianaris.
Critics fire back at Mayor Eric Adams amid news of budget cuts
Adams' critics say tax revenues are up, the city's economy, including tourism, is coming back since the pandemic, and that these cuts, particularly to education, are draconian and unjustified.
USS New York crew among those counting down to NYC Veterans Day Parade
The crew of USS New York, which is docked at Pier 88 in the shadow of the World Trade Center site, will join thousands of veterans and active duty personnel.
NYC students to rally, walk out of class in protest of Israel-Hamas war
On Tuesday night, there was a march from Manhattan to Brooklyn exactly one month after Hamas' attacks on Israel.
NYC Mayor Adams says 'everything is on the table' in migrant crisis
Mayor Eric Adams is determined to avoid migrant tent cities on the streets and in public parks as seen in other cities.
Former station cleaner named to run Long Island Rail Road
He takes over the nation's largest commuter railroad after Catherine Rinaldi, who has served as both Metro North President and LIRR interim president for the past 18 months, announced she stepped down last month from her LIRR role to focus solely on Metro North.
Local security expert describes being in Israel when Hamas assault began
Two men from the Tri-State got home Monday, but were in Israel for a security seminar when the Hamas assault began.
Robot to help patrol Times Square subway station
The K5 Autonomous Security Robot is equipped with cameras to send live video and other intelligence back to the Police Department.
Former NYC Buildings Commissioner Eric Ulrich indicted on bribery charges
Ulrich is named in five separate indictments spanning two years, while he was a New York City councilman, an advisor to Mayor Adams and city Buildings Commissioner.