N. J. Burkett

N. J. Burkett
Born Newton Jones Burkett, III
(1962-05-06) May 6, 1962
Orange, New Jersey, U.S.
Occupation Journalist
Notable credit(s) Senior Reporter for WABC-TV (1989–present)

Newton Jones Burkett, III (born May 6, 1962), known as N.J. Burkett, is a correspondent for WABC-TV, the largest ABC television station in the United States. He joined the Eyewitness News team in July 1989 from WFSB-TV in Hartford, Connecticut, where he had been a correspondent since 1986.

Early life and education

Burkett grew up in Elizabeth, New Jersey, though he describes the choice to use the initials "N.J." as arising from the efforts of his agent and a station president to make him seem less "aristocratic" and not a tribute to his home state.[1] He graduated from Elizabeth High School with the class of 1980 and attended Columbia University.[2]

Career

Burkett is best known for his coverage of the World Trade Center attacks of September 11, 2001 (he was located across from the plaza just as the South Tower collapsed), for which he shared or was awarded outright many prestigious honors, including the George Foster Peabody Award, the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award, the Edward R. Murrow Award, and the Emmy Award for Outstanding On-Camera Achievement from the New York Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. He holds a BA in political science and a master's in international affairs, both from Columbia University.[3]

In June 2016, Burkett was elected first vice chairman of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences by the academy's board of trustees. He served on the academy's executive Committee from 2014–2016 and as president of the academy's New York chapter from 2011–2015.

References

  1. ↑ Mason-Draffen, Carrie via Newsday. "What's in a name? At work, an initial reaction", Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, February 11, 2008. Accessed January 23, 2015. "Newton Jones Burkett III, a correspondent for New York's WABC-TV news station, became N.J. Burkett in a sort of Hollywood moment almost 19 years ago.... Mr. Burkett, who did grow up in Elizabeth, N.J., said he looked at the person dumbfounded and said, 'That's right – my mother named her son New Jersey.'"
  2. ↑ Harris, Doug. "Dateline: The World; Elizabeth Native, NJ (Newton Jones) Burkett of WABC News, writes the 'first draft of history'", Trinitas Hospital Healthy Edge, Fall 2008. Accessed January 23, 2015. "[Q] As a native of Elizabeth, what keeps the City close to your heart? [A] ...I was in the Elizabeth High School graduating class of 1980. I lived in Elizabeth for the first 18 years of my life until I left to go to Columbia University, but my parents still live there."
  3. ↑ "ABC Local Profile". Retrieved March 12, 2014.
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