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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Photojournalist hit by car outside Delaney Hall in Newark
The Delaney Hall immigration facility in Newark saw fresh tension Friday night after protesters confronted cars leaving the facility. There were also physical clashes with police, and a photojournalist was hit by a car amid the chaos. Video recorded by a freelance videographer showed the chaotic scenes in front of the center. In one video, protesters are seen physically putting…
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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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2 victims identified after suspected drunk driver plowed into Upper West Side sidewalk
Elvin Suarez, 61, is suspected of driving drunk when he lost control of his Mercedes-Benz SUV and struck multiple people on the sidewalk near West 109th Street and Amsterdam Avenue.
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2 dead, 3 hurt after drunk driver plows into men on sidewalk in Manhattan: Sources
Two people were killed after an out-of-control drunk driver hopped a curb and slammed into men sitting outside a barbershop in Morningside Heights, according to law enforcement sources. Police received a call around 6 p.m. of a driver who lost control of their vehicle and hit multiple people on the sidewalk near the intersection of West 109th Street and Amsterdam…
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Beloved NJ hot dog spot may have to close to make room for a Whole Foods
Journal Square hot spot Boulevard Drinks has been slinging hot dogs to customers for nearly 90 years. But the manager said the building’s new owner told them they have to 30 days to find a new place to call home, because a new development featuring a Whole Foods is looking to take its place.
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New video from inside NJ warehouse shows moment before town bursts into flames
A state of emergency remains in effect, and public schools are closed for a second straight day in a New Jersey township in the aftermath of a 12-alarm inferno that started in a mattress warehouse and spread for blocks. Multiple warehouses in the industrial area in Belleville caught fire. At least two homes did, too. The fire continued to smoulder…
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Nine arrested during anti-ICE protest outside Brooklyn hospital
At least nine people were arrested during an ICE protest outside the Wyckoff Heights Medical Center in Bushwick, Brooklyn this weekend. Police say hundreds of people gathered outside the hospital after learning a detainee was taken to the emergency room. The confrontation lasted some five hours and ended in part with four New York city Police officers pepper-sprayed but ICE….
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These Bergen County communities are on bear alert
No one was hurt and no damage was caused, but the rash of sightings in that area and neighboring towns has people watching carefully.
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‘Unbearable': Raging fire leaves 6 firefighters hurt, displaces residents in Astoria
According to the New York City Fire Department, six firefighters were injured in the five-alarm blaze. All injuries were considered non-life-threatening.
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Freight train derails in New Jersey, with more than a dozen cars off tracks: Officials
A freight train derailed in New Jersey, officials said, with around a dozen rail cars seen off the tracks and some having rolled onto the side. The derailment occurred just after 3 p.m. near Tonnelle Avenue in North Bergen, though it wasn’t immediately clear what may have caused it. In a statement, freight company CSX said 13 of the cars…
