Meet the New Faces of the NJ PBS Newsroom

The furniture hasn’t arrived yet, but Montclair’s newest newsroom is coming into view.

Inside the College of Communication and Media, workers are preparing NJ PBS’ new studio for its daily newscast. Through the windows, students, faculty and staff can watch the transformation unfold. Soon, they’ll have a view of a working newsroom, from behind-the-scenes preparations to the moment the team goes on air.

The space will house NJ PBS’ broadcast facilities and offices, bringing journalists, producers and public media staff into the everyday life of campus. The network’s new daily newscast, “NJ PBS News with Rob Nelson,” is scheduled to debut Oct. 1.

Montclair became the operator of New Jersey’s public television stations on July 1, 2026. Building its campus home is about more than getting a newsroom ready for air: It’s also about connecting public media with teaching, research and student learning.

“Being housed in the College of Communications and Media means we're not operating in isolation,” says Samantha Bennet, NJ PBS’ audience and marketing director. “We have access to professors and their research, students who are studying journalism and media – and it keeps us sharp and connected.”

For General Manager Ashlee Smith, the campus setting builds on public broadcasting’s educational purpose. “Being part of the University gives us an incredible opportunity to learn from one another and, together, help shape the future of public media.” 

Anchor Rob Nelson appears on a camera’s monitor as he prepares to record promos for NJ PBS. (Photo by University Photographer John J. LaRosa)

Meet the Team

From left: Ashlee Smith, General Manager, Omnika Thompson, news director; and Samantha Bennet, audience and marketing director. (Photo by University Photographer Mike Peters)

Meet some of the NJ PBS colleagues you may encounter on campus.

• Rob Nelson, anchor: A New Jersey native, Nelson will anchor “NJ PBS News with Rob Nelson.” He brings 25 years of experience in print, local television and national broadcast journalism, including roles at ABC News, WABC-TV, NewsNation and Scripps News.
• Ashlee Smith, general manager: Smith joins NJ PBS from WKAR Public Media at Michigan State University, where she served as senior director of content and education. She oversaw television production, radio news, classical music and education.
• Omnika Thompson, news director: Thompson brings more than three decades of journalism leadership, including a 31-year career at NBC News and MSNBC. A longtime Montclair mentor and collaborator, she has helped connect aspiring journalists with professional newsrooms.
• Samantha Bennet, audience and marketing director: Bennet will lead NJ PBS’ membership development, audience growth and marketing. She brings experience supporting local news organizations through roles at BlueLena, Meta and CBS local television stations.
• Deb Finan, programming director: Finan joins NJ PBS from a background in streaming news production and development. She previously served as head of development for MSNBC’s streaming channel, managing the day-of-air production team and working on breaking news and special event coverage.
• Brent Sanchez, digital content producer: Sanchez will expand NJ PBS’ digital and social media presence through original content and newsroom reporting. He brings seven years of digital media experience at Yahoo Finance, most recently as social media and graphics editor.

“These first hires bring the experience, imagination and commitment to public service we need to reach New Jersey residents across broadcast, digital and community platforms, and to deliver journalism and programming that reflect the breadth of voices across our state,” says Keith Strudler, dean of the College of Communication and Media.

The network’s new daily newscast, “NJ PBS News with Rob Nelson,” debuts on Oct. 1. (Photo by University Photographer John J. LaRosa)