US TV broadcaster Barbara Walters passes away at 93

After a career spanning 50 years, Barbara Walters, a pioneering US TV broadcaster, passed away at the age of 93. She joined ABC News in 1976. However, she became the first American woman to headline a network news programme.

She had 12 Emmy nominations. She was born in Boston in 1929, just before the Great Depression began. Also, she interviewed numerous musicians and pop culture icons. She also interviewed every US president, from Richard Nixon to Donald Trump.

In a statement on Friday night, publicist Cindi Berger claimed that a US TV broadcaster went away quietly in her home with loved ones. She made no mistakes in how she lived. Not just for female reporters but for all women, she paved the way.

Her career in journalism began in 1961 with NBC. At that time, the daughter of a booking agent for the entertainment industry rose to the position of segment producer for women’s interest stories.

She stood up through the ranks of the male-dominated industry. She became the first female co-host of a US news programme on NBC’s morning Today Show in 1974. However, she once more cracked the glass ceiling when she joined ABC’s nightly bulletin as the first female network news anchor. She is earning an astounding $1 million per year.

She accepted a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2000. With the last arrival on her daytime programme The View, she ended a 52-year career in 2014.

Both Oprah Winfrey and Hillary Clinton frequently appear on the Walters show. They joined her on the broadcast. The day has finally arrived, and she can’t believe it’s actually happening, Ms. Clinton said to Walters.

She conducted in-depth interviews with a wide range of foreign leaders throughout the course of her long career. This includes Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian and Cuban President Fidel Castro. A few months after, the popular revolt would eventually lead to a civil war in her country. She also spoke with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Credits: BBC