Barbara Walters, A TV News Pioneer
How Barbara Walters carved her place in journalism globally.
Barbara Walters was a journalism pioneer breaking into an all-male anchors club as she became known as one of the best journalists who landed exclusive interviews from the least to the highest. Not only was she a pioneer, but she was also a trailblazer who became the first female co-host of NBC’s “Today” show in 1974. Her popularity grew in the newsmen-oriented business and she made history by becoming the first female co-host of NBC’s “Today” show and two years later became ABC New’s first female co-anchor.
She interviewed celebrities, world leaders, heads of state, leaders of regimes, sports icons, presidents, politicians, dictators, Dalai lama, shahs, and even everyday people. She had a meticulous approach that coaxed her guest to reveal their innermost secrets and deepest fears. With her presence, journalism got a new make-over with a female face added to the mix. While she had her insecurities and felt completely unwelcome in the news field, she persevered and stayed the course.
Through it all, she went on to become a power player at the ABC network becoming a co-host of the prime-time news magazine “20/20,” a post she held for a quarter-century. She created “The View,” the daytime talk show she co-hosted until 2014. The “Barbara Walters Specials,” made her most…
