Checkey Beckford is an Emmy® Award-winning reporter for NBC 4 New York. She covers breaking news and general assignment stories, appearing weekdays at 5 PM, 6 PM and 11 PM.
Beckford’s reporting was a key component of NBC 4 New York’s award-winning COVID-19 coverage, honored in January, 2021 with the prestigious Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award for “creat(ing) a 360 view in real time of the coronavirus pandemic, with courageous and thorough reporting on the virus’s explosion in New York City.” The duPont has long been recognized as the broadcast, documentary and on-line equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize, also awarded by Columbia University.
Her commitment to journalistic excellence has been recognized with two New York Emmys® for her coverage of the 2017 Tribeca terrorist attacks. She was also presented with ESSENCE Magazine’s “Essential Heroes Award,” recognizing her coverage of 2020’s COVID-19 outbreak.
Throughout her time at NBC 4, Beckford has covered many of the region’s most memorable news stories. In addition to the Tribeca attacks, Beckford provided breaking news coverage of Superstorm Sandy in 2012, New York City’s Ebola scare in 2014, the deadly Metro-North crash in Valhalla in 2015, the twin murders of NYPD Officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos in 2015.
Checkey Beckford joined NBC 4 New York as a general assignment reporter in October 2012 from KOVR CBS13 in Sacramento, CA where she served as a live reporter for dayside newscasts. She began her career at WPTV in West Palm Beach, Florida, where she was hired as an associate producer. Here, Beckford was promoted twice in one year to weekend morning producer and then weekday morning producer.
Prior to joining KOVR CBS13, Beckford was a live reporter for WICD/WICS in Champaign/Springfield, IL where she shot, wrote and edited multiple stories for the 5 p.m., 6 p.m., and 10 p.m. newscasts.
Beckford grew up in Westchester County after emigrating from Jamaica when she was five. She attended Florida Atlantic University, where she received her bachelor’s degree in Communications with Minors in Political Science and Sociology.
In her spare time, Beckford enjoys mentoring teenagers who aspire to go to college and begin careers in journalism. She resides with her family in New Jersey.
The Latest
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Man accused of midair racist outburst loses job after duct-tape flight to New Jersey
Two men from New Jersey who helped restrain the man accused of being unruly and violent share details from the unusual midair outburst.
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NJ restaurant apologizes for ‘unfortunate' birthday message on woman's dessert
A woman who has used a wheelchair since she was 2 says a birthday celebration with friends and family took a disturbing turn when their Hudson waterfront restaurant in New Jersey dropped off dessert. Antonia Sinibaldi was celebrating her 29th birthday at Blu on the Hudson in Weehawken when she says she and her cousin ordered the same apple cinnamon...
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10-year-old boy drowns in New Jersey river, sister lives, and another child is missing
The search for a 10-year-old girl missing in the Passaic River after ending up in the water with two other kids continues Thursday, hours after another 10-year-old’s body was found 50 feet from where he went in.
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WNBC crew removed from news vehicle as state police tear gases Delaney Hall protesters
News 4’s Checkey Beckford and her photojournalists were ordered out of their marked news vehicle during a class between New Jersey State Police and Delaney Hall protesters.
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Initially praised for trying to save neighbor, N.J. man now charged in her murder
A New Jersey man who was hailed a hero for seemingly trying to rescue his neighbor from her burning home is now accused in her murder, according to investigators.
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NY teacher and baseball coach benched after homophobic tirade caught on camera
The Flushing teacher and youth baseball coach is facing consequences after a video surfaced from a road rage incident earlier this month.
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‘Tragic accident': No charges in NJ 7-year-old's deadly fall from 21st floor apartment
The death of a 7-year-old boy who fell 21 stories from a New Jersey apartment building has been called a “tragic accident” and no charges are expected, according to law enforcement.
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7-year-old boy dead from reported 21-floor fall out of New Jersey building
A 7-year-old child was killed after falling 21 stories from an apartment building in New Jersey, officials and witnesses told NBC New York. The young boy fell from an apartment complex on Anderson Avenue in Fort Lee around 5:30 p.m., according to authorities, who said the investigation is still in its early stages. A man walking by the complex around…
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Helicopter team pulls off dramatic rescue of stranded NJ firefighters in Passaic River
Two firefighters stranded in the rushing waters of a New Jersey river were lifted roughly 100 feet to safety Wednesday afternoon during a dramatic rescue caught on camera. Those first responders need saving themselves after plunging over the falls as Dundee Dam in Clifton, and into the Passaic River below. After an ordeal that lasted several hours, the firefighters were…
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Child among 3 shot in deadly New Jersey drive-by shooting
Officials in New Jersey are on the hunt for a black sedan last seen leaving the scene of a deadly drive-by shooting late Monday. Three people inside a parked car along Salem Avenue in Elizabeth were shot before 9 p.m., city officials reported. Police responded to the vehicle to find two adult victims and an injured child. A not yet…
