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 Zohran Mamdani's impact to be tested in key congressional races
Early voting has already started in the city, and while Mayor Zohran Mamdani is not on the ballot, he could be a deciding factor in several key congressional races.
Mayor Mamdani opens door to larger Knicks watch parties at Madison Square Garden
In an exclusive interview with Eyewitness News, Mayor Mamdani opened the door to larger watch parties at Madison Square Garden.
NYPD has taken 2,000 guns off the streets so far this year
The NYPD announced it has taken more than 2,000 guns off the streets of New York City so far this year.
See the traffic changes coming to NYC during World Cup match days
The city plans to make 42nd Street a World Cup busway on match days and the streets around Penn Station will be closed to cars to prevent congestion.
Defying tradition, Mayor Mamdani will not march in Israel Day Parade this weekend
The mayor will not march in this weekend's Israel Day parade, saying that he's made his views on the Israeli government "abundantly clear."
Trump Administration pledges billions for new Penn Station
The Trump Administration and Amtrak have come up with an $8 billion plan to overhaul Penn Station.
Tenants, landlords react as New York City board raises rent freeze possibility
This year, the Rent Guidelines Board's first vote, called for a 0-2% rent hike for one-year leases, and a 0-4% for two-year leases.
Police release surveillance video after spree of antisemitic graffiti found across Queens
Police have released surveillance video of their suspects, who are wanted for multiple hate crime criminal mischief incidents.
Community demands action after spree of antisemitic graffiti found across Queens
A rally took place Tuesday evening outside a synagogue in Forest Hills that was defaced during the hate-fueled rampage on Monday morning.
ICE raid at hospital in Bushwick sparks questions over NYPD's involvement
An ICE raid at a hospital in Brooklyn has sparked outrage and questions about whether NYPD officers helped ICE agents.