This just it (and ending 2022 in a somber note, but I digress, more on that later),
Renown journalist Barbara Walters has died on December 30th, 2022. She was 93 years old. In a world of news, dominated by all male demographic, Ms. Walters was trailblazer that broke the glass ceiling when it comes to female journalists.
Originally an independent journalist and writer, previously working with CBS and WPIX-11 in New York, Ms. Walters first gig was in NBC, at the Today Show in 1961 as a writer and researcher. When Frank McGee, the original host of Today, passed away in 1971, she became the first female co-host of the Today Show, among other things.
Years later, she joined ABC as co-anchor of the ABC Evening News (later renamed ABC World News Tonight) alongside Harry Reasoner from 1976 to 1978. It was not until 1979, she became the co-host of the longest running news magazine show on ABC, known as 20/20, alongside her former NBC turned ABC colleague, Hugh Downs. I remember watching 20/20 all the time back then in the 80s and into the 90s, especially in how the show starts, with Barbara saying the iconic line, "And this is 20/20".
Ms. Walters in her long, hardworking career, interviewed everyone, from actors, to musicians, sports athletes, politicians including current and former presidents and yes, she even interviewed some of most vile, evil people on Earth. It takes a brave journalist to ask the hard-hitting questions to those who have no soul and still live to talk about it. Courageous to the end. Her interviews were so big, it couldn't be on 20/20, so from time to time, she does it on her own special, The Barbara Walters Special. Barbara Walters was as popular as all the co-hosts of Good Morning America combined.
The news wasn't the only thing was involved in. On August 11th, 1997, she co-created, and co-executive produced The View alongside Bill Geddie. The View was a daytime talk show, where the majority of hosts were all female, talking about Hot Topics of the day and having interviews with famous people at the same time. Ms. Walters stated while talking about The View, that this show is a forum for women of "different generations, backgrounds and views", hence the name, The View.
Ms. Walters retired from both 20/20 and The View in 2004 and 2014 respectively and ended her career full time in 2016.
Barbara Walters changed the landscape of journalism forever. If it wasn't for her, there wouldn't be others like Joan Lunden, Meredith Viera, Tamron Hall, Savannah Guthrie, Connie Chung, Lisa Ling, Hoda Kotb, Robin Roberts and so many more that I can't put a full list on. Now, she is now with the other famed journalists like her former 20/20 co-host Hugh Downs, Peter Jennings, and the great Walter Cronkite.
As we end 2022, I say this. Let this New Year be without any more sudden deaths, sudden passings, overall bad stuff and start anew with so much good that needs to be done. And as long as we remember those who have passed and all the good they have done, they will never truly be gone. And this pioneer lady journalist is no different. Thank you for all the memories, especially all the times around Friday nights back in the 80s and 90s. Godspeed, Barbara Walters. Don't be a stranger.
(TAPS plays)
Barbara Jill Walters
(September 25th, 1929 - December 30th, 2022)
This has been a Retro Rebellion Special Report. See you in 2023.
