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 proposes $112 billion executive budget; critics say it's too 'frugal'
Over $100 billion is the new fiscal year budget proposed by New York City Mayor Eric Adams, but it's the additional $1 billion he's hanging on to, just in case, that his critics are not pleased with.
NYPD battles gangs, illegal guns and scooters, calling them 'a dangerous combination'
Mopeds, scooters and motorcycles have become the getaway vehicle of choice in the city, making for what NYPD officials call, "a dangerous combination."
Massive cargo ship leaving Staten Island stalls near Bayonne Bridge
Qingdao is a 1,000-foot long container ship. It somehow lost its propulsion shortly after it got underway, preventing its captain from controlling it.
NYPD busting its budget by nearly $100 million on overtime spending
NYPD says overtime costs have surged amid calls for deployments in the subway system and details for demonstrations.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams unbowed despite mounting allegations, sex assault lawsuit
Mayor Eric Adams is speaking out for the first time since a bombshell new lawsuit was filed.
Questions persist after Brooklyn synagogue demolished: 'Just unforgivable'
Activists who spent years struggling to save the historic synagogue can't believe it's gone.
Mayor Eric Adams says increased subway security is the new normal
The mayor said he is grateful for the state's support, but he would prefer to have New York City officers patrolling the underground.
Whoopi Goldberg to Gov. Hochul about congestion pricing: 'What is the point?'
Whoopi Goldberg was the voice of the people during 'The View' commercial break on Wednesday, asking Gov. Hochul why drivers are paying for congestion that was created by bike lanes the city itself is not prepared for.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams touts all-time jobs record, but gap remains in Black community
The mayor credits his administration's efforts to empower small businesses and to spread the word about job openings, but he admits there's more work to do.
Extra police deployment underway in subways to combat recent rise of crimes
The deployment comes after Gov. Kathy Hochul revealed her five-point plan to bring additional state resources to bear on combatting subway crime in New York City.