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
Mayor Eric Adams urges President-elect Donald Trump to 'fix the border'
New York Mayor Eric Adams says he does not support mass deportations but made clear Tuesday in a press conference, that the immigration system is broken.
New York City migrant crisis easing, but shelter system could take years to stabilize
The migrant crisis is beginning to ease in New York City, and the number of shelters is decreasing, but officials say it could still take years for the shelter system to go back to normal.
Newborn twins' double murder remains unsolved after four years
In November 2020, newborn twin boys were beaten to death and dumped in a bloody heap behind a building in the Bronx.
Fear grips New York City's immigrant communities over Trump's promise of mass deportations
Immigrants like Yatziri Tovar are taking Donald Trump at his word that he will carry out his campaign promise to use immigration agents to round up and deport mass numbers of undocumented immigrants.
A train service to the Rockaways to shut down for 4 months starting in January
The A train is a lifeline for people who live, work and go to school in the Rockaways, but beginning in January, a section of it will be shut down for crucial repairs from Jan. 17 to May 19.
NYPD stepping up use of drones to crack down on subway surfing and save lives
The NYPD is stepping up its airstrikes, launching more surveillance drones in the skies over two city subway lines.
Mayor Eric Adams spars with City Hall press corps over cryptic Trump support
Mayor Adams urged both campaigns and their supporters to cool the heated rhetoric at a Q&A on Tuesday.
New York City Transit names Demetrius Crichlow new president amid budget concerns
Demetrius Crichlow takes over the city's network of subways and buses at critical time.
Mayor Eric Adams dismisses Donald Trump questions as 'waste of time'
With the presidential election just two weeks away, Mayor Eric Adams faced questions about his relationship with both candidates, days after Donald Trump compared his legal problems to those of the mayor.
LIRR conductors suing transit agency, claiming lack of protection from on-the-job attacks
Transit union leaders say assaults against their members have increased in confrontations with riders at end of the line stations.