Sam Perez
Sam Perez is a weekend morning anchor, traffic anchor, and multi-skilled journalist at WBIR 10News in Knoxville, Tennessee.
She was named the 2024 South Carolina Reporter of the Year after covering major statewide stories including the Alex Murdaugh trial, legislative updates, and high-profile sporting events.
She’s also the author of Deviate From Denial: Erasing the Stigma of Addiction and Recovery Through Inspirational Stories.
Her journalism career didn’t slow down after the book.
It accelerated.
Modern Author Program
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“People showed out for me in a way I couldn’t have imagined.”
—Sam Perez
What Changed?
Writing a book was always “in the back of her mind.”
But she wasn’t serious about it.
Until she was.
The project became a deep dive into addiction, recovery, and the people closest to her story.
Through the writing process, Sam gained something unexpected:
Humility.
“I learned about myself and my own thoughts and kind of got to challenge some of my own perceptions.”
That depth sharpened her voice as a journalist.
It made her reporting stronger.
More empathetic.
More human.
Sam expected support.
She didn’t expect the level of support she received.
“People showed out in a way I couldn’t have imagined.”
Pre-orders.
Encouragement.
Community.
That momentum built confidence, credibility, and visibility. Since publishing:
• Named 2024 South Carolina Reporter of the Year
• Elevated into a major anchor role
• Expanded her authority on addiction and recovery storytelling
