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
NYPD steps up patrols to intercept drones over 2026 US Open
As players and coaches prepare for the U.S. Open, the New York Police Department is rolling out an extensive security operation for the tournament, including new authority to counter unauthorized drones.
Mamdani administration sues City Council; Says $10K teacher assistant bonus is illegal
Many of these teacher assistants called paraprofessionals help care for public school students in special education or with disabilities, and they are among the lowest-paid city employees.
NYC Council members assail rollout of new pied-à-terre tax
Members slammed Mayor Mamdani and his administration for skipping the meeting.
Critics accuse Mamdani of betraying his policing pledge for 'quality of life' crimes
Community activists are calling on Mayor Zohran Mamdani to push the NYPD to scale back on arrests for so-called 'quality of life crimes.'
11 arrested in New York in alleged international marriage fraud scheme
The marriages allegedly included an odd prenuptial clause.
Rabbis voice concerns over Mayor Mamdani's Israel messaging in private meeting
The rabbis claim the mayor's stance on Israeli policy in Gaza and his calls to arrest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are contributing to anti-Jewish hate crimes.
Boat disaster near Liberty Island puts illegal charter boats under scrutiny
The captain of the boat that capsized near Liberty Island was hit with federal charges on Monday, and authorities are looking into whether the vessel was operating an illegal charter.
NYC property owners express anger and confusion over rollout of Mamdani's 'pied-à-terre tax'
Many NYC property owners are angry and confused after they received a notice from the city stating they may owe Mayor Mamdani's 'pied-à-terre tax.'
Mayor Mamdani on defensive over judicial appointments committee
Mayor Mamdani is pushing back against criticism over his choices on who will advise him on judicial appointments.
Community frustrated over Jewish representation noticeably missing from Mamdani's advisory committee
The mayor appointed a City Hall advisory committee to recommend judicial appointments, an 18-member panel that reflects the broad diversity of New York-except that it doesn't have a single Jewish member.