Longtime Columbia TV news anchor honored with lifetime achievement award
Longtime Columbia broadcaster J.R. Berry received a top award from the South Carolina Broadcasters Association on Thursday honoring his 45 years in news.
Berry received the prestigious Masters Award presented to those “who have made significant contributions to broadcasting” in the state and those who “personify high broadcast industry standards within their communities.”
Berry joined Columbia’s CBS affiliate WLTX in 1990 after working for his hometown radio station in Sumter. He also briefly anchored the morning newscast for Columbia radio station WVOC in the early ‘90s.
During his time at WLTX, Berry has been recognized by the Associated Press and the Radio Television Digital News Association, which bestows the prestigious Edward R Murrow awards for broadcasters annually.
Berry is known for his community service in addition to delivering the news. He has two children and 10 grandchildren.
“In his spare time, you can usually find him involved in a community event or out on the golf course,” according to a press release announcing his award.
You can catch Berry anchoring weekday newscasts on WLTX at 6 p.m., 7 p.m., and 11 p.m.
Columbia-area broadcasters have been recognized with the Masters Award for the past two years, with Gamecock Radio Network’s Tommy Suggs winning in 2020 and WCOS-FM’s Jonathon Rush winning in 2019.
WYFF’s Geoff Hart in Greenville also received the Masters Award on Thursday.
