Last Updated on October 27, 2025 by Author
Profile
Jody Barr Biography
Jody Barr is an American working in the field of journalism as the chief investigative reporter for WJZY FOX Charlotte. He came to Charlotte in June 2021, after spending 4 years in Austin, Texas, as an investigative reporter for KXAN.
Jody Barr Height
Barr stands at a rough height of 5 feet and 7 inches.
Jody Barr Age
Barr was born on September 9th, but keeps his exact birthdate and year away from the limelight; thus, his exact age is unknown. Barr annually celebrates his birthday on September 9th, as suggested by his Facebook post on September 6, 2019, captioned “…We were still in our 20s, about 6 months from turning the big 3-oh when this picture was taken. Her birthday is 3 days before mine…Today, she turns the big 4-oh.”
Personal Life
Jody Barr Relatives and Family
Barr was raised in Hartsville, South Carolina, alongside his younger brother, Chris. Chris passed away at the age of 30 because of a house fire at his home in Hartsville in January 2012. On January 20, 2016, he posted a photo of himself and Chris on his Facebook account and wrote a tribute to him in remembrance and raised awareness about smoke detectors. Regardless, he keeps more information regarding his family and relatives away from the public eye. However, we will update this information once it’s available to the public.
Jody Barr Spouse and Children
Barr tied the knot with Alison Furia on June 27, 2010, in downtown Columbia. On June 27, 2023, he posted their wedding photo on his Facebook account and captioned “13 years ago today on a 103 degree Saturday in downtown Columbia we said ”I do.” It all started in Hartsville, then we moved to Columbia…” The couple began dating in 2009 and has two daughters named Nora and Evelyn.
Evelyn was born on July 5, 2012, and is 13 years old. On July 5, 2023, he posted Evelyn on his Facebook account and captioned “…Now here we are 11 years later and we’re celebrating another birthday for our Evelyn. There are still times when “I love you” still doesn’t quite sum it up.”
Nora was born on November 4, 2015, and is 9 years old. On November 4, 2016, she posted Nora on his Facebook account and captioned “HAPPY 1st!!!!!!!: Hard to believe it’s already been a full year since I became a two-time dad…NORA TURNS ONE FRIDAY AND IT’S GONNA BE A PARTY! (After work, of course.)”
Alison was born on September 6, 1979, and is 46 years old. On September 6, 2019, he posted a photo of them on his Facebook account and captioned “…This is the first picture Mrs. Barr and I took together after we started dating way back in 2009…Today, she turns the big 4-oh. She’s still just as pretty as the day I laid eyes on her…Happy birthday Alison…love ya, girl.”
Barr enjoys being with his wife and two daughters when he has time to spare. He also enjoys welding, running down the next news investigation, working on his ’67 GMC and ’51 Chevrolet trucks, and spending time racing at local tracks in the Carolinas with his Kelley Racing family.
Jody Barr Education
Barr received his diploma from Hartsville High School in 1997 before enrolling at the University of South Carolina’s Journalism School in 2002. In 2005, he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Electronic Journalism and Mass Communication, as well as Political Science.
Professional Life
Jody Barr Career
Barr works as the chief investigative reporter for WJZY FOX Charlotte. The Hartsville native considers this a return home to the Carolinas. While serving Queen City News, he received several Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards for his investigation across the Carolinas. He also earned a National Edward R. Morrow Award for his reporting in Marlboro County that prompted the indictment of the sitting sheriff.
Barr won an Emmy for ‘Cash Grab,’ where he looked into how North Carolina police officers and federal agents team up to take money from air travelers who are never charged with a crime. He is passionate about shedding light on government corruption and government officials who squander taxpayer dollars and always welcomes tips.
After finishing his undergraduate studies, he secured his first reporting job in the Myrtle Beach-Florence market in 2006. In this capacity, he worked at WBTW’s Lumberton, North Carolina bureau. Months later, he was promoted to work as the senior reporter and investigator for WBTW’s headquarters in Myrtle Beach.
During his tenure in Myrtle Beach, Barr broke investigations into the attempted cover-up of a distemper outbreak at the Horry County Animal Shelter that led to dozens of dogs being euthanized, even after being adopted by families. He also looked into the state’s failures to ensure sex offenders were traceable after they were released from prison.
Barr moved to Columbia from Myrtle Beach in June 2009 and joined WIS TV. At WIS, he worked as an investigative reporter, where he spearheaded the station’s investigative unit. Additionally, he worked as Raycom Media’s State House reporter. In this role, he turned in reports for stations in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia. Additionally, he conducted over 100 investigations into public corruption involving state and local officials.
Barr received the 2013 South Carolina Association of Broadcasters Reporter of the Year Award. That same year, the organization granted him its Best Investigative Reporter Award for his investigative series. In the series, he exposed a sheriff, a senator, and a Lexington City Councilman’s links to an illegal video gaming ring operating out of Lexington County.
Barr looked into the then-SC House Speaker Bobby Harrell’s campaign finance spending. His investigation prompted the former Speaker to resign from office in 2016 and plead guilty to six counts of abusing campaign funds for his personal profit. In June 2014, he was promoted to lead Raycom Media’s investigative endeavors at WIS TV’s sister station in Cincinnati. He spent his three years there, exposing dozens of government waste and investigating corruption. Also, he shed light on a county sheriff’s fiasco to gain evidence in the state’s biggest unsolved murder investigation, where eight members of a family were killed in a single night.
Barr’s work in Ohio uncovered a welding firm’s use of dishonest welding certifications on taxpayer-funded construction projects, a fire chief’s falsification of fire and CPR training records, and the city of Cincinnati’s fiasco to gather $13 million in taxpayer loans from businesses that never paid back the loans.
Barr accepted an investigative reporter position at Nexstar’s NBC affiliate in Austin, Texas, in July 2017. His first investigation there exposed 60 cities’ failure to abide by state law before placing red-light cameras and using the cameras to collect over $500 million in fines. As a result of his investigation, the Texas legislature imposed a nationwide red light camera ban during the 2019 session. One month later, the governor signed the ban bill into law.
While in Texas, Barr exposed the chair of the Texas Railroad Commission’s financial relations to energy companies. His investigation exposed mineral interests pertaining to the chairwoman, Christy Craddick, and her father, Rep. Tom Craddick, on oil wells; the duo profited financially. He and his team won the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., in 2019 for the investigation.
Barr won two Emmy Awards, several Headliners Foundation Awards, and a Society of Professional Journalists First Amendment Award. Moreover, he was a finalist for the Investigative Reporters and Editors Medalist. He also won an Edward R. Murrow Award in 2020 for shedding light on how Texas police officers accused of crimes use their badges to evade prison.
Before launching his news career, Barr was a chassis fabricator and welder. In this capacity, he built Late Model Stock Cars at two racing shops in Florence, South Carolina. In 2003 and 2004, he worked on a NASCAR Busch Series team based in Timmonsville. Between 1998 and 2008, he owned and raced street stocks, including building his own late model stock car. Further, he raced at local asphalt tracks in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, and Georgia.
Jody Barr Net Worth
Barr has garnered a net worth ranging from $1 million to $6 million during his successful career as a journalist.
Jody Barr Salary
Barr receives an approximate annual salary of $110, 000 which he earns working as the chief investigative reporter for WJZY FOX Charlotte.
Jody Barr Social Media
Barr has active social media platforms, i.e., Facebook and X(previously Twitter). He has a following of over 39K on Facebook and a following of over 7.5K on X.
