Jim Baldridge

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Jim Baldridge is an American newscaster.

Baldridge joined the staff of WHIO-TV in Dayton, Ohio as a reporter in 1972 and became its lead anchor in 1979. He remains at the station today and is perhaps one of the most durable local news anchors on any station in the United States. Among the events he covered was the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. He was also the host of WHIO's coverage of the Dayton International Air Show, which was also been syndicated to other stations. WHIO has not broadcasted the Dayton Air Show since the 100th anniversary of flight celebration.

Baldridge was raised in Lima and attended Shawnee Local High School.

Jim Baldridge, Newscenter 7's co-anchor at 5, 5:30, 6, and 11 pm, has been covering news in the Dayton area for more than 40 years. He started at WCIT radio in Lima, Ohio, in 1964 as a senior in high school. Before finding his home at WHIO, Jim worked for several other broadcast stations in the Dayton-Springfield area (including WIZE under the pseudonym "Gregg Baldwin") and served a hitch in the Army with the United States Armed Forces Radio and Television Service in the Pacific.

He is a graduate of Wright State University and Sinclair Community College.

Joining WHIO-TV in 1972 as a general assignment reporter, Jim Baldridge covered everything from the police beat to city hall and regional government. In 1977 Jim began anchoring with Dayton broadcast legend Don Wayne, whom he had grown-up watching. Today Jim anchors with Cheryl McHenry and Letitia Perry, rounding out the most accomplished anchor team in the Miami Valley. During his years at WHIO Jim Baldridge has traveled the world to cover stories important to the Dayton area. Special assignments have taken him to China, Vietnam, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Japan, Colombia, and through out Europe -- including Berlin as the infamous Wall came down. He's also covered major stories in the USA such as the San Francisco earthquake and the Oklahoma City bombing as well as many presidential nominating conventions and campaign activities.

Jim Baldridge has an abiding interest in aviation -- a natural thing for someone who grew up around the homes of the Wright Brothers and Neil Armstrong. He has anchored Dayton Air Show broadcasts since 1975. Since the mid 1980's, WHIO-TV's coverage of the air show has been broadcast by hundreds of stations nationwide and in several foreign countries.

Jim has received many awards for his work in broadcast journalism. He has been honored by the Society of Professional Journalists, the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (the "Emmy" Awards), The Aviation and Space Writers Association, the National Association of Television Program Executives, and many local organizations. Sinclair Community College presented him with its Alumni Association Service Award and Shawnee High School presented him with its Distinguished Alumni Award in 1989.

Jim and his wife Sue live in Centerville. They have two grown children.