Barbara Walters was a legendary broadcaster and powerful advocate for women in television news. She broke gender stereotypes and proved herself an invaluable asset to the industry. During her career, she won numerous awards and accolades, and left behind a legacy of inspiring generations of women.
April 13, 2023
April 13, 2023
Born in Boston in 1926, Walters was the daughter of a nightclub singer and an entrepreneur. She got her start in entertainment early, performing as part of her mother’s act while growing up in Miami. After graduating college, she began her career in journalism in the 1950s as a writer for an NBC-affiliated station in Miami, then later as an anchor and reporter for WNBC-TV in New York.
In 1961, in what would become her signature move, Walters shifted from the field to the anchor desk, becoming one of the first female broadcast news anchors in network television history. Over the following years, she established a reputation for being an impartial, sharp interviewer— earning her the nickname “the grande dame of TV journalism.”
In 1976, Walters signed with ABC News and became their first female co-anchor for the evening news, then the top-rated program in the country. Despite heavy criticism that came from powerful media figures, she broke gender stereotypes and proved herself an invaluable asset to the team.
In the early 1990s, Walters joined the daytime talk show The View, which she co-created, becoming the first female producer in the entire history of television. During her time at the show, Barbara would go on to win numerous prestigious awards and accolades, including seven Emmys, a Lifetime Achievement Award, and a spot in the Television Hall of Fame.
For many, Barbara Walters will always be remembered as a pioneering journalist and passionate advocate for women in media. She will undoubtedly be remembered for her groundbreaking broadcasts, turning points in television history, and the influence she had on generations of women who saw in her a role model for ambition, creativity and courage.
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