NJ PBS has named Rob Nelson, an industry veteran who was born in New Jersey and lives in Maplewood, as the face of its new franchise.
The station announced Monday that Nelson will anchor its new nightly newscast, NJ PBS News with Rob Nelson, when the program launches Oct. 1, at Montclair State University.
Nelson brings 25 years in print, local television and national broadcast journalism, spending much of his career in New York City before moving south in recent years, most recently anchoring Scripps News’ morning broadcast out of Atlanta.
Nelson was selected over a number of candidates for the role, including longtime NJ Spotlight journalists Briana Vannozzi, who has anchored the current nightly newscast since 2020, and Joanna Gagis. It is unclear if either will join the new team.
“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.”
The hire comes as Montclair State University’s College of Communication and Media takes full control of NJ PBS programming and the daily newscast Oct. 1, following its selection as the new operator of New Jersey’s public television stations on July 1.
Omnika Thompson, who was named NJ PBS News director last week, said Nelson is a great fit for the role.
“Rob is an extraordinary journalist with deep New Jersey roots and experience at every level of the news business,” she said. “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 began his career as a reporter at The Times-Picayune in New Orleans, covering education, crime and politics, including the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. He moved into television in 2007, joining WWL-TV in New Orleans as an anchor and reporter and later serving two years as president of the New Orleans Press Club.
He joined ABC News in New York in 2010 as co-anchor of World News Now and America This Morning, anchoring coverage of major breaking news events including the killing of Osama bin Laden, the 2011 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, including coverage of the arrest of Boston mobster Whitey Bulger, the murder case against former New England Patriots player Aaron Hernandez, and Nelson Mandela’s hospitalization shortly before his death.
Starting in 2014, Nelson spent six years at WABC-TV, ABC’s flagship New York City station, as weekend morning co-anchor and a general assignment reporter, covering hundreds of stories across the metro area. He was also dispatched to cover major national stories, 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 national cable news startup based in Chicago, anchoring 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 2021-24, he anchored mornings at Scripps News in Atlanta, reporting from the ground during the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primaries and covering 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 v. Wade.
Nelson attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on a full academic scholarship, graduating in 2000 with degrees in journalism and political science. He also served as editor-in-chief of The Daily Tar Heel.
Ashlee Smith, NJ PBS general manager, thanked the outgoing team for keeping the broadcast running through the transition.
“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,” she said. “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.”
