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
Willingboro residents celebrate their town’s first county park
Willingboro Lakes Park is the first Burlington County park to open in the township.
4 years ago
Teen, brother killed in Trenton shooting as city inches closer to homicide record
Trenton officials decried what they called “senseless violence” after a double shooting claimed the lives of 8-year-old Johnny Perez and 16-year-old Gustavo Perez.
4 years ago
Gov. Murphy signs N.J. prison reform bills; wants to sign more
As Gov. Phil Murphy signs bills aimed at reforming prisons, he’s calling on the legislature to consider the rest of the recommendations from a commission.
4 years ago
Kim and Richter make case for being the true voice of N.J.’s 3rd Congressional District
Republican David Richter says Democratic incumbent Andy Kim is no moderate. Kim says Richter is caught up in labels.
4 years ago
Listen 4:02
N.J. coronavirus recovery: As case numbers rise, officials are preparing for a second wave
As officials begin to stockpile PPE, medication and ventilators, they warn that the wave could be a “surge” if people don’t take precautions, including wearing masks.
4 years ago
Kim, Richter and Weber spar over veterans’ care in South Jersey candidate forum
The forum focused on issues, not personality. But all the candidates chimed in on how to best take care of veterans.
4 years ago
As homicides spike, Trenton mayor stands by police director
Mayor Reed Gusciora discusses the spike in city violence and how he gets along with the City Council.
4 years ago
Trenton mayor vetoes moving city election without voter input
The ordinance would have side-stepped an already approved referendum to ask if city elections should be moved from May to November.
4 years ago
N.J. coronavirus recovery: Menendez proposes 9/11-style commission on COVID response
The commission, modeled after the one that investigated 9/11, will examine the federal response to COVID-19 and explore ways to better prepare in the future.
4 years ago
One-stop shop for addiction recovery opens in Burlington County
The Recovery Center will begin with online sessions, but it offers a plethora of resources to help residents fight substance abuse.
4 years ago
Harriet Tubman Museum in Cape May, N.J. open for visitors
The ribbon-cutting happened 171 years after the Underground Railroad conductor first attempted to escape from slavery. It follows a virtual opening in June.
4 years ago
N.J. coronavirus recovery: Pleading with young people to take COVID-19 seriously
The warning from officials comes as COVID-19 cases for young people are on the rise and after a “drop” well exceeded the state’s limit for outdoor gatherings.
4 years ago