On December 30, 2022, legendary journalist Barbara Walters passed away at the age of 93. Walters was most known for her unique and effective techniques when conducting TV interviews. Her big break began as a “Today Girl” on NBC’s Today Show, and she expanded that role to become a regular on the show. Walters was eventually named a co-host of the show with Hugh Downs and received an Emmy in 1974 for her work in journalism.

Walters went on to start her own shows later in her career, her most memorable being The Barbara Walters Special, in which she conducted many exclusive interviews with popular figures ranging from Fidel Castro to Richard Nixon for almost 40 years. These specials gained heavy traction with audiences due to Walters’ effective interviewing tactics, including specific questions that initiated the interviewee’s genuine, honest response. She was able to guide her interviewee into giving authentic and often revealing answers through her provocative questioning, a factor that made her show extremely appealing. With these remarkable skills, Walters received an Emmy Award for Best Interviewer in 1982.

Barbara Walters is an inspiration to many female student journalists. When she started out as the “Today Girl,” the position was known to be a pretty face making small talk with guests. Walters didn’t let that role define her, however, and instead shaped it into what she wanted it to be. Her drive and determination allowed her to excel in an industry that attempted to hold her back, and she showed that there was much more to her than a pretty face. If her success on the Today Show wasn’t proof enough of her skill, the Barbara Walters Specials certainly were. Time and time again she was able to draw out revealing information from her interviewees in a way that very few journalists are able to replicate. 

Walters’ work not only impacts the news channels that she worked for, but her legacy lives on as an inspiration for all aspiring journalists. Amateur and experienced journalists alike can take inspiration from Walters and her ability to break boundaries and defy the social norm to share the truth and spread the news to the world. Even small, student-run organizations like WordsWorth can use Barbara Walters as a guiding light during times of uncertainty in the journalism world as we seek to deliver the unbiased and unfiltered truth.

Sources for research:

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0326459/ 

https://people.com/tv/barbara-walters-most-memorable-interviews/