Why do we love Barbara?

Often cited as inspiration, mentor and role model by most women currently working in television news today, Barbara Walters is a true pioneer. In 1976 Barbara broke through the glass ceiling for women in network news with her then unheard of million dollar contract to co-anchor the ABC Evening News. But success was not handed to Barbara on a silver platter. She took her position as the "Today Girl"a; and turned it into a co-hosting gig through perseverance, talent and, hard work. She had to endure a less than welcoming co-host in Harry Reasoner and another host who had an agreement with the network that if there was a hard-news interview, he asked the first three questions before she could join in. Through it all, Barbara has become a world renowned interviewer and in addition to celebrities, has interviewed every president since Richard Nixon, world leaders including Fidel Castro and her historic joint interview with Egypt's President Anwar Sadat and Israel's Prime Minister Menachem Begin in November 1977. Not one to rest on her laurels, Barbara continues to co-anchor 20/20, hosts The Barbara Walters Specials, is a correspondent and co-anchor for ABCNews, and in 1997 launched the successful daytime talk show, The View of which she is co-host and co-executive producer.

Biography:

Born - September 25, 1931
Boston, Mass.

Achievements:

• Inducted into the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences' Hall of Fame "for being acknowledged worldwide as one of television's most respected interviewers and journalists" (1990)

• Received the Lowell Thomas Award for a career in journalism excellence by Marist College in 1990.

• Lifetime Achievement Award, International Women's Media Foundation (1991)

• Lifetime Achievement Award, Women's Project and Productions (1993)

• Lifetime Achievement Award, National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (2000)

• Awarded the Muse Award by the NY Women in Film and Television (1997)

• Creator, co-producer and co-host of The View, a daily talk show featuring four women hosts

• Joined ABCNEWS in 1976 as the first woman to co-host the network news.

• Co-host of NBC's Today for 15 years, longer than any other woman on the program.

• Has received honorary doctoral degrees from Ohio State University, Temple University, Marymount College, Wheaton College and Hofstra University

• Received the prestigious George Foster Peabody Award for her 1995 interview with Christopher Reeves following the riding accident that left him paralyzed from the neck down.

• Winner of six Emmy Awards: Best Host on a Talk Show, Today (1975); Emmy, Best Interviewer, The Barbara Walters Show(1982); four news and documentary Emmys as correspondent.

• Lifetime Achievement Award - Daytime Emmys (2000)