James Brooke (journalist)

James Bettner Brooke
Born	(1955-02-21) February 21, 1955 New York City, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Journalist, editor-in-chief
Years active	1970s–present
Known for	Editor-in-chief of Ukraine Business News; bureau chief roles at Voice of America, Bloomberg, The New York Times

James Bettner Brooke (born February 21, 1955, in New York City) is an American journalist currently serving as editor-in-chief of Ukraine Business News, a Kyiv-based subscription news platform published in English. His previous leadership roles include heading the English-language Khmer Times in Cambodia and acting as Bureau Chief for Russia and the former Soviet Union at Voice of America from 2010 to 2014, stationed in Moscow, where he produced the weekly blog Russia Watch. Brooke also held the position of Moscow Bureau Chief for Bloomberg and contributed for over two decades to The New York Times, reporting on markets across Japan, South Korea, Ivory Coast, and Brazil.

During his tenure at The New York Times, Brooke occupied several prominent positions such as:

• Assistant to Washington columnist James Reston between 1978 and 1980
• Metropolitan reporter from 1984 to 1986
• Bureau chief in Abidjan, Ivory Coast from 1986 to 1989
• Bureau chief in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil between 1989 and 1995
• Rocky Mountain bureau chief based in Denver from 1995 to 1999
• Canada bureau chief from 1999 until 2001
• East Asia correspondent stationed in Tokyo between 2001 and 2006

Brooke earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Latin American studies from Yale University and contributed as a stringer for United Press International during his academic years. In 1976, he attended Pontificia Universidade Catolica in Rio de Janeiro for one semester. As an engaged Yale alumnus, he presides over the Yale Club of Berkshire County and delivered a talk titled "What's Next for Ukraine?" at a 2025 Yale alumni gathering focused on the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War negotiations.

Prior to joining the Times as a reporter in 1984, Brooke served as South American correspondent for the Miami Herald and worked part-time at The Berkshire Eagle during 1977–78.