Berkson was born to a Jewish family[1] in Chicago, Illinois, the son of immigrants who fled persecution in Russia.

[1] He started his career as reporter for the Chicago Herald-Examiner[5] and worked his way through the ranks eventually becoming general manager of the International News Service[2][3] where he worked at their news bureaus in Rome and Paris.

[2][3] Berkson served as chairman of the newspaper committee for Brotherhood Week, the national observance sponsored by the National Conference of Christians and Jews.

[2] Berkson married twice; he had a daughter, Barbara Berkson Coady (d. 1996), with his first wife, journalist Jane Eads (1901–1992), whom he met at the Chicago Herald-Examiner.

[1][5][6] In 1936, he married fashion publicist Eleanor Lambert (1903–2003); they had one son, poet Bill Berkson (1939–2016).