On December 30th, 2022 Barbara Walters passed away at 93 years old due to dementia. Barbara Walters was a phenomenal journalist acknowledged as a talented host on shows such as The Today Show, The ABC Evening News, 20/20, and the show she created, The View. 

Barbara Walters’ journalism career began in the early 1960s when she worked for The Today Show. Walters started off as a writer and segment producer of women’s interest stories, gaining popularity and receiving more airtime in 1974. This gave her the reputable title: the First U.S. Female News Anchor. 

The View was a show created to highlight women in journalism. It consisted of women discussing controversial topics like politics and entertainment scandals. The View consists of 26 seasons and more seasons will be produced in the coming years. 

During Barbara Walters’ early years of co-hosting alongside Harry Reasoner on ABC Evening News, she was a victim of gender discrimination. Walters was quick to leave the show in 1978, lasting two years.

Shortly after, Walters hosted a different news show, 20/20, famous for its annual feature, “Barbara Walters’ 10 Most Fascinating People”. Different from the previous shows she hosted, 20/20 was designed to be a show with topics the audience can easily relate to; the show focused more on human interest rather than politics. Barbara Walters opened the show with the iconic line, “I’m Barbara Walters and this is 20/20,” becoming a popular catchphrase among fans.

Walters interviewed various public figures like Taylor Swift, Donald Trump, Miley Cyrus, and Ellen DeGeneres. She was able to do what most journalists could not: asking questions addressing the viewer’s main interests. She was bold, incredibly hard working and goal-driven. 

All of America and especially the media industry will remember her bold personality and her diligent work ethic, along with her capability to execute responsibilities as a news reporter and journalist.