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
MTA moves forward with plans to install platform doors in three subway stations
The three stations set to be outfitted with these gates include the 7 train at Times Square, the L train at 3rd Avenue and the E train at Sutphin Boulevard/Archer Avenue in Queens.
Man accused of killing mugger in Queens arraigned on 26 gun charges, bail doubled
Bail was set at $50,000 for Charles Foehner during his arraignment before a new judge in Queens Criminal Court Friday morning.
Queens man hit dozens of weapon charges after shooting suspect who allegedly tried to rob him
Police say Charles Foehner has been charged with 25 counts of criminal possession of a weapon after he claims he shot a would-be mugger to death.
City Council proposes legislation to make it easier for homeless to get permanent housing
The New York City Council voted on Thursday afternoon to make it faster and easier for the homeless to transition into permanent housing.
Yemeni grocery store owner attacked in possible bias crime in Brooklyn
The bodega owner says men burst into the store and attacked him mercilessly, while shouting vulgar, anti-Arab slurs.
Critics call for end to Penn Station redesign as developer admits plan no longer viable
Activists testified at a State Senate hearing, demanding that lawmakers scrap the project and start over.
$2,500 reward out for suspects after employee punched in face at Bronx supermarket
The manager says the woman became enraged after she had returned bottles and was forced to wait on line to cash them in.
Exclusive: NYC Mayor Eric Adams' subway safety program, 1 year later
Eyewitness News Reporter N.J. Burkett rode the subway exclusively with the mayor to see firsthand what kind of changes - if any - have resulted.
MTA reporting record high on-time buses, subways and trains
In January, subways were on-time 85% of the time while the LIRR ran on-time 96% of the time and a near-perfect 97% for Metro-North.
NYC Council confronts the problem of unlicensed smoke shops
Among the top concerns: many of these stores are illegally selling marijuana along with other products.