
Kenneth Burns is WHYY’s New Jersey reporter. He joined the station in 2018 as an anchor. He also contributed stories and won a 2020 Keystone Media Award for one of them.
Prior to WHYY, he covered city government and urban issues for WYPR in Baltimore, his first stop in public media. His coverage of the Freddie Gray police trials won a 2017 National Headliner Award. Burns began his career shortly after high school as an intern and later news assistant at WTOP in Washington, D.C. He would go on to work for several commercial broadcasting outlets as a reporter, anchor, and producer in the D.C. and Baltimore metro areas.
The native Marylander and recently adopted New Jerseyan is a graduate of Towson University and Anne Arundel Community College.
More from the Contributor
Burlington County breaks ground on its first emergency shelter
The new shelter to help those with emergency housing needs will take 16–20 months to build.
4 months ago
Listen 1:01Key takeaways from the Van Drew–Salerno debate in New Jersey
The Republican incumbent and Democratic challenger in New Jersey’s 2nd Congressional District debated issues for an hour in an empty auditorium at Stockton University.
4 months ago
Six candidates are running for New Jersey’s U.S. Senate seat vacated by Bob Menendez after his bribery conviction.
4 months ago
Listen 1:40Here’s what you need to know about New Jersey’s current drought status
The Garden State has been dry since “a lot of rain” fell in August. Officials are asking people to conserve water voluntarily.
4 months ago
Race to watch: What voters need to know about N.J.’s 3rd Congressional District candidates
With Congressman Andy Kim giving up his seat to run for Senate, four people are vying for the seat in the Democratic-leaning 3rd District.
4 months ago
Republican incumbent Jeff Van Drew is seeking a fourth term in Congress. Democrat Joe Salerno and the Green Party's Thomas Cannavo stand in his way.
4 months ago
Listen 2:40The Green Party’s Robin Brownfield and Republican Teddy Liddell are challenging Democratic incumbent Donald Norcross, who is seeking a sixth Congressional term.
4 months ago
Listen 2:08Princeton professor highlights protest investigation as university celebrates her award
Dr. Ruha Benjamin said Princeton University excluded her statements referencing an investigation into a protest last spring from an article about her MacArthur fellowship.
5 months ago
Who are the Camden school board president and vice president?
Board vice president N’Namdee Nelson was elevated following the resignation of Wasim Muhammad.
5 months ago
Listen 0:58Comparing and contrasting NABJ’s conversations with Trump and Harris
WHYY reporter and NABJ member P. Kenneth Burns attended both conversations featuring former President Trump and Vice President Harris.
5 months ago
Listen 4:23Atlantic City mayor and wife formally indicted on child abuse charges
Accusations against Mayor Marty Small Sr. and La’Quetta Small for abusing their daughter went before the grand jury.
5 months ago
Listen 0:57A.C. principal indicted on more charges for not reporting alleged abuse of the mayor’s daughter
Atlantic City High School Principal Constance Days-Chapman oversaw the mayor’s re-election campaign and is chair of the city’s Democratic committee.
6 months ago