MONTCLAIR, N.J. — NJ PBS has announced that veteran journalist and New Jersey native Rob Nelson will serve as anchor of its new daily newscast, NJ PBS News with Rob Nelson.
Nelson brings 25 years of experience in print, local television and national broadcast journalism to NJ PBS. A native of Mt. Laurel, New Jersey, he has reported and anchored for some of the nation's leading news organizations, including ABC News, WABC-TV in New York City, NewsNation and Scripps News.
The announcement comes as NJ PBS prepares for a new chapter under the leadership of the College of Communication and Media at Montclair State University. Montclair became the operator of New Jersey's public television stations on July 1, 2026, and the university assumes full control of NJ PBS programming and the daily newscast on Oct. 1, 2026.
“We are grateful to the team at NJ Spotlight News, including anchors Joanna Gagis and Briana Vannozzi, for their work shepherding the broadcast through this transition," said Ashlee Smith, NJ PBS General Manager. "They have ensured that New Jersey audiences continued to receive the trusted news and information they rely on while we prepared for the October 1 launch of NJ PBS News. We’re thankful for everything they’ve contributed and for the foundation they’ve helped create as we begin this next chapter.”
“Rob is an extraordinary journalist with deep New Jersey roots and experience at every level of the news business,” said Omnika Thompson, NJ PBS News Director. “He understands what it takes to cover breaking news, hold institutions accountable and connect with audiences. Just as importantly, he is coming home to New Jersey at an important moment for journalism and public media in our state. We are thrilled that he will be the face of this new chapter for NJ PBS News.”
Nelson said he is excited to return to his home state and help build a new daily news program focused on the people and communities of New Jersey.
“New Jersey is where my story began, and I am incredibly proud to be coming home to help tell the stories of this state,” Nelson said. “At a time when trusted local journalism is more important than ever, NJ PBS News with Rob Nelson will be committed to reporting that is thoughtful, independent and relevant to the lives of people across New Jersey. I can't wait to get started.”
Nelson began his journalism career as a reporter at The Times-Picayune in New Orleans, covering education, crime and politics. He also covered the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
In 2007, he transitioned to television news, joining WWL-TV in New Orleans as an anchor and reporter. During his time in the city, he also served as president of the New Orleans Press Club for two years.
Nelson joined ABC News in New York in 2010 as co-anchor of World News Now and America This Morning. He anchored coverage of major breaking news events, including the killing of Osama bin Laden, the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan and the 2012 movie theater massacre in Aurora, Colorado.
He was later promoted to correspondent, reporting for Good Morning America, World News Tonight and Nightline. His reporting included the arrest of Boston mobster Whitey Bulger, the murder case against former New England Patriots player Aaron Hernandez and Nelson Mandela's hospitalization in South Africa shortly before the former South African president's death.
Beginning in 2014, Nelson joined WABC-TV, ABC's flagship station in New York City, where he served as weekend morning co-anchor and a general assignment reporter for six years. He covered hundreds of stories across the New York metropolitan area and was dispatched to report on major national events, including the 2015 church massacre in Charleston, South Carolina; Pope Francis' visit to the United States; the killing of six police officers in Baton Rouge; and the New York Mets' World Series run.
In 2020, Nelson became one of the inaugural anchors at NewsNation, a startup national cable news network based in Chicago. He anchored coverage of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death, President Donald Trump's COVID-19 diagnosis, Election Night 2020, President Joe Biden's inauguration and the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
From 2021 to 2024, Nelson worked at Scripps News in Atlanta, anchoring its morning newscast and reporting from the ground during the Iowa caucuses, the New Hampshire primaries and both national political conventions ahead of the 2024 presidential election. He also anchored breaking news coverage of President Biden’s exit from the race and the overturning of Roe vs. Wade.
Nelson attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on a full academic scholarship and graduated in 2000 with degrees in journalism and political science. He also served as editor-in-chief of The Daily Tar Heel, one of the nation's most decorated college newspapers.
Nelson lives in Maplewood, New Jersey, with his wife, Jenny, and their two young sons.
Additional details about NJ PBS News with Rob Nelson, including its broadcast schedule, will be announced shortly.
Media Contact: Samantha Bennet, Director of Audience and Marketing, NJ PBS: bennets@montclair.edu