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Journo Heros: "Today Girl"



Barbara Walters

Barbara Walters PhotoAfter reviewing 100 Outstanding Journalists in the United States in the last 100 years, I decided to research Barbara Walters who was a popular news anchor, television producer, and journalist. My main reason for choosing Barbara Walters was because she was one of the first women to break the gender barriers in the world of journalism. Barbara Walters is a pioneer for women entering the world of new broadcasting by becoming the first women to co anchor on a major news network evening program.

Background

Journalist Barbara Walters was born on September 25th,  1929 in Boston, Massachusetts. She landed her first job as an assistant at WRCA-TV, now WNBC. Eventually she moved to CBS where she wrote for the networks Morning Show. She continued to improve and began writing for NBCs Today Show. Walters began to start interviewing and after viewing First Lady, Jacqueline Kennedy, she gained a lot of attention and established a name for herself. Soon after she became a the first female co-anchor on the Today Show for 11 years. She was also the first women to earn a seven figure pay in journalism, her nickname soon became "Today Girl".

In 1997, Barbara Walters she premiered a mid-morning talk show that many know today, The View. In 2013 she retired however she continues to be a co-executive producer and co-host on the show.

Personality Journalism  

Barbara Walters is known for her interviewing style, which consisted of maneuvered questions that often caught people off-guard and revealed uncommon honest answers. Barbara redefined the art of personality journalism. She was known for being the first to interview those who the public want to here from. For example, Barbara was the first to to interview Christopher Reeve, who was a famous actor, after a horse-riding accident that left him paralyzed. She was often criticized for displaying personal emotion in order to pump up ratings. 

What made Barbara so much different than other journalists was that she allowed us to see the personalities of the people she would interview. Soon after the 9/11 attacks, she traveled to Saudi Arabia to interview Osama Bin Ladens brother and others Saudi middle class men and women. These interviews presented a different picture of the Saudi population and it effected how the world viewed them. 

Awards:

Overseas Press Club's highest award, President's Award, induction into the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame,; the Lowell Thomas Award for a career in journalism excellence, Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Women's Media Foundation, Muse Award from New York Women in Film and Television,  Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and 34 daytime and primetime Emmy Awards.






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