News 12 Brooklyn stands as a vital source of local news and information for residents across New York City’s most populous borough. Since its launch in 2005, this 24-hour cable news channel has delivered breaking news, weather updates, traffic reports, and community stories that matter most to Brooklynites.
As part of the larger News 12 Networks family, News 12 Brooklyn offers comprehensive coverage through multiple platforms including television, web streaming, and mobile apps. The channel’s commitment to hyperlocal journalism has made it an essential resource for nearly 2.6 million Brooklyn residents who rely on timely, accurate reporting about their neighborhoods, schools, businesses, and local government.
The History of News 12 Brooklyn
News 12 Brooklyn emerged as a dedicated local news channel in 2005 as part of Cablevision’s expansion of its News 12 Networks franchise. The channel established its headquarters at 1 MetroTech Center in Downtown Brooklyn to serve the borough’s diverse communities.
Founding and Early Years
News 12 Brooklyn launched its first broadcast on December 15, 2005, reaching 490,000 cable subscribers across Brooklyn. The station introduced a core team of 12 reporters, 8 videographers, and 15 production staff members to deliver round-the-clock coverage. Early programming included 30-minute newscasts at the top of each hour, complemented by weather updates every 15 minutes.
- Launch of News12.com/brooklyn with live streaming capabilities
- Introduction of the News 12 mobile app in 2011
- Integration of social media platforms including Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram
- Implementation of user-generated content submission tools in 2015
- Development of the News 12 GO streaming service in 2020
Digital Platform Milestones | Year | Initial User Base |
---|---|---|
Website Launch | 2009 | 50,000 monthly visitors |
Mobile App | 2011 | 25,000 downloads |
News 12 GO | 2020 | 100,000 subscribers |
News Coverage and Programming

News 12 Brooklyn delivers round-the-clock coverage through specialized segments targeting Brooklyn’s diverse neighborhoods. The channel’s programming structure focuses on hyperlocal content through three main categories.
Local News and Breaking Stories
News 12 Brooklyn produces 15 live newscasts daily, covering stories from Crown Heights Williamsburg Brighton Beach. The channel employs 12 field reporters who provide real-time coverage of community events political developments crime reports sports updates. Special segments include “Brooklyn Business Beat” highlighting local entrepreneurs “Education Matters” focusing on school district news “Brooklyn People” featuring notable residents making an impact in their communities.
Weather and Traffic Updates
The channel broadcasts weather forecasts every 10 minutes with detailed radar tracking transit conditions across Brooklyn’s neighborhoods. Three meteorologists provide specialized coverage during severe weather events snow emergencies coastal storms. Traffic updates run every 15 minutes during peak hours (6-10 AM 4-8 PM) monitoring conditions on major arteries including:
Route | Coverage Areas |
---|---|
BQE | Hamilton Ave to Kosciuszko Bridge |
Belt Parkway | Bay Ridge to JFK Airport |
Grand Army Plaza | All approaches monitored |
Manhattan Bridge | Brooklyn-side congestion |
- “Brooklyn Talks” – 30-minute community discussion forum
- “Restaurant Hunter” – Local cuisine exploration series
- “Push Pause” – Arts culture entertainment coverage
- “High School Sports Report” – Coverage of 45 Brooklyn schools
- “Power & Politics” – Weekly political roundtable
- “Brooklyn Viewpoints” – Community opinion platform
- “Money & Main Street” – Local business economy coverage
- “The East New York Project” – Neighborhood development series
Impact on Brooklyn Communities
News 12 Brooklyn’s coverage shapes local discourse through dedicated reporting on neighborhood-specific issues affecting Brooklyn’s 2.6 million residents. The channel’s hyperlocal approach creates measurable impacts on community awareness and civic engagement.
Hyperlocal Reporting Focus
News 12 Brooklyn’s reporters embed in specific neighborhoods to cover micro-local stories that affect daily life. The channel dedicates 40% of its coverage to highlighting community-level developments like zoning changes, small business initiatives, public school updates. Targeted reporting on areas such as Williamsburg, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Crown Heights brings attention to localized concerns including affordable housing projects, public transportation improvements, local infrastructure developments.
- Supporting small business initiatives during economic challenges
- Organizing disaster relief efforts after severe weather events
- Advocating for public safety improvements in high-risk areas
- Coordinating neighborhood beautification projects
- Promoting local cultural celebrations and festivals
News Team and Production
News 12 Brooklyn maintains a dedicated team of journalists, anchors, producers, and technical staff who deliver 24/7 local news coverage to Brooklyn residents. The diverse team operates from a state-of-the-art broadcast facility in Downtown Brooklyn.
Notable Anchors and Reporters
News 12 Brooklyn features experienced journalists who bring extensive knowledge of local affairs to their reporting:
- Asha McKenzie – Lead morning anchor covering breaking news from 5 AM to 10 AM
- Emily Lorsch – Evening news anchor specializing in political coverage and investigative reporting
- Kurt Semder – Chief meteorologist providing weather forecasts every 10 minutes
- Anthony Carlo – Senior field reporter focusing on crime and public safety stories
- Hannah Kliger – Community affairs reporter highlighting neighborhood initiatives
- Arnold Davick – Sports director covering local athletic events and professional teams
Behind-the-Scenes Operations
The production team consists of specialized professionals who ensure seamless broadcasts:
- 15 camera operators managing studio and field equipment
- 8 video editors processing daily footage and creating news packages
- 6 producers coordinating live broadcasts and segment planning
- 4 technical directors overseeing broadcast equipment and signal transmission
- 3 graphic designers creating visual elements for news stories
- 2 assignment desk editors managing news coverage logistics
Resource | Quantity |
---|---|
Live trucks | 6 |
Edit bays | 12 |
Studio cameras | 4 |
Control rooms | 2 |
Weather center | 1 |
Digital workstations | 25 |
Digital Presence and Accessibility
News 12 Brooklyn maintains a robust digital ecosystem that serves 850,000 monthly active users across multiple platforms. The channel’s digital transformation focuses on delivering real-time news updates through integrated web platforms mobile applications.
Website and Mobile App
News12.com receives 2.3 million page views monthly from Brooklyn residents seeking local news coverage. The mobile-responsive website features live streaming capabilities 24/7 news updates customized weather alerts based on zip codes. The News 12 mobile app, available on iOS Android platforms, includes push notifications for breaking news traffic alerts neighborhood-specific updates. Users access exclusive video content, interactive weather radar maps live traffic cameras through both platforms.
Social Media Integration
News 12 Brooklyn maintains active profiles across major social media platforms, reaching 275,000 followers combined. The channel posts 15-20 daily updates on Twitter (@News12BK) featuring breaking news alerts community announcements. Their Facebook page engages 150,000 followers through live video broadcasts community discussion threads neighborhood spotlights. Instagram (@news12brooklyn) showcases visual storytelling with 45,000 followers through photo galleries behind-the-scenes content reporter highlights. The channel’s YouTube channel hosts archived news segments special feature stories averaging 25,000 monthly views.
Platform | Follower Count | Daily Posts |
---|---|---|
85,000 | 15-20 | |
150,000 | 10-12 | |
45,000 | 8-10 | |
YouTube | 25,000 views/month | 3-5 |
Conclusion
News 12 Brooklyn stands as a vital pillar of local journalism serving Brooklyn’s diverse communities. Its commitment to hyperlocal coverage through multiple platforms ensures residents stay informed about crucial neighborhood developments weather updates and community initiatives.
The channel’s evolution from traditional broadcasting to digital platforms demonstrates its adaptability while maintaining its core mission of delivering accurate timely news. With a dedicated team of professionals and state-of-the-art facilities News 12 Brooklyn continues to shape local discourse and strengthen community bonds through comprehensive coverage that matters to Brooklyn residents.