Journalist Barbara Walters, who was the first woman to present an evening newscast in the United States, died this Friday at the age of 93, reported ABC News, for which she worked for many years.
Walters was the winner of 12 Emmy Awards and interviewed the presidents of the United States, from Richard Nixon to Donald Trump, as well as international leaders such as Fidel Castro, Mohamar el Gaddafi or Vladimir Putin.
As reported by the American news network, the renowned journalist joined ABC in 1976, thus becoming the first woman to host an evening news program in the United States, and after three years she became the co-anchor of “20/20” and in 1997, “The View”.
Several industry personalities have mourned Walters’ passing, including Bob Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company, parent company of ABC News, who praised the professional as someone who broke barriers.
“Barbara was a true legend, a trailblazer not just for women in journalism but for journalism itself. She was a one-of-a-kind reporter who landed many of the most important interviews of our time, from heads of state to the biggest celebrities and sports icons. I had the pleasure of calling Barbara a colleague of hers for over three decades, but more importantly, I was able to call her a dear friend of hers. She will be missed by all of us at The Walt Disney Company and send our deepest condolences to her daughter, Jacqueline,” Iger said.
Barbara made her last appearance as a co-host on “The View” in 2014, but she continued to executive produce the show and have a few interviews and specials for ABC News.
“I don’t want to appear on another show or climb another mountain,” he said at the time. “Instead, I want to sit in a sunny field and admire very talented women, and okay, some men too, who will take my place,” she emphasized.
According to the historical memory of the American network, in its first broadcast on October 4, 1976, Walters, along with co-anchor Harry Reasoner, conducted an exclusive interview with Earl Butz, who had just resigned as President Gerald Ford’s Secretary of Agriculture. after it was revealed that he told a racist joke.
For several years she hosted an annual Oscars special, in which she interviewed some nominees and was known for getting them to reveal deeply personal information and even cry on air.
Another interesting fact that ABC points out is that part of its New York headquarters was renamed the “Barbara Walters Building” in May 2014.
So far the causes of her death are unknown, however, the chain reported that the renowned journalist died at her home.