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BIOGRAPHY
Barbara Walters was born in Boston, Massachusetts to Lou and Dena Walters. Her father was a nightclub owner and theatrical producer. After graduating from Sarah Lawrence College with her B.A., she continued her studies with the intention of receiving a master's degree in education. She planned to become a teacher. However, she had already begun writing news releases for WNBT in New York, and she pursued a career in broadcasting. Early in her career she became the youngest producer with WNBC-TV, a local station in New York. She was hired as a writer for NBC's TODAY show and ended up being a cohost thirteen years later. She won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Hostess for the show. Two years later she became the first woman to deliver the ABC EVENING NEWS and began the BARBARA WALTERS SPECIAL. That year she became the highest paid television journalist with a million dollar contract.
Walters developed a reputation for landing first-time television interviews with leading personalities and controversial figures. She is known for her straightforward questioning and the ability to obtain candid answers. She has interview every American president since Richard Nixon. She made history early in her career by arranging the first joint interview with Egypt's president, Anwar Sadat, and Israel's Prime Minister, Menachem Begin. She published a book in 1970 entitled HOW TO TALK TO PRACTICALLY ANYBODY ABOUT PRACTICALLY ANYTHING.
Walters is currently the anchor of 20/20, co-host and producer of ABC's THE VIEW, and a contributor of TURNING POINT.
CHRONOLOGY
1931 She was born in Boston, Massachusetts. (September 25)
1952 She began writing news releases for WNBT in New York.
1953 She received her B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College.
1955 She worked as a gofer at the "CBS Morning Show."
1961 She was hired as a writer for NBC's TODAY show.
1963 She married Lee Guber. (December 8)
1964 She became a reporter for TODAY.
1970 HOW TO TALK TO PRACTICALLY ANYBODY ABOUT PRACTICALLY ANYTHING was published.
1971 She became a moderator of the talk show "Not for Women Only."
1974 She became co-host of the TODAY show; She won an Emmy for Outstanding Hostess for TODAY.
1975 She received the International Radio and Television Society Broadcaster of the Year Award.
1976 She became an anchor of the "ABC Evening News."; She and Lee Guber divorced.; She began her BARBARA WALTERS SPECIAL.
1977 She arranged a joint interview with Egypt's President Anwar Sadat and Israel's Prime Minister Menachem Begin.
1979 She won an Emmy for Outstanding News and Documentaries, Program and Program Segments for a special edition of NIGHTLINE.; She became a correspondent for 20/20.
1980 She won an Emmy for Outstanding News and Documentaries Interview Program for the BARBARA WALTERS SPECIAL.
1981 She began her annual pre-Oscars interview show.
1984 She became co-host of 20/20.
1990 She was inducted into the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences' Hall of Fame.
1991 She received the International Women's Media Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award.
1996 She received the George Foster Peabody Award for her interview with Christopher Reeve.
1997 She became co-executive producer and co-host of "The View."
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