Trailblazing US news anchor Barbara Walters dies | US News

Pioneering TV news journalist Barbara Walters has died aged 93.

Her death was announced by her network ABC on air on Friday night.

Ms Walters made headlines in 1976 as the first female network news anchor, with an unprecedented-at-the-time $1m annual salary.

During more than three decades at ABC, and before that at NBC, she became known for securing exclusive interviews with the famous and powerful.

Ms Walters was the first female co-host of Today, the hugely successful US daily news and magazine show, the first evening news anchorwoman in broadcast history and a co-creator and co-host of topical chat show The View.

She died on Friday evening at her home in New York, ABC News announced.

Television personalities Oprah Winfrey (C) and Barbara Walters (L) pose for photographers with singer Diana Ross (R) at the launch party for "O, The Oprah Magazine" in New York, April 17. The magazine, which debuts nationwide on April 19, addresses all aspects of a woman's life, ranging from her inner well-being to relationships, fashion, home design books and food. BR
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With Oprah Winfrey and Diana Ross in 2000

Robert Iger, CEO of Disney, owner of ABC, confirmed her death, describing it as “sad news”.

He said Ms Walters was a “true legend,” a “one-of-a-kind reporter” and “a pioneer not just for women in journalism but for journalism itself”.

Monica Lewinsky (R) poses with television personality Barbara Walters in a publicity photograph for the ABC News program 20/20 on which Ms. Lewinsky is interviewed by Ms Walters. The program airs on ABC March 3.
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Monica Lewinsky was interviewed by Ms Walters about her relationship with US President Bill Clinton. It became the most-watched episode of primetime show 20/20

In a broadcast career spanning five decades, Ms Walters interviewed an array of world leaders, including Cuba’s Fidel
Castro, Britain’s Margaret Thatcher, Libyan ruler Muammar Gaddafi, Saddam Hussein of Iraq and every US president and first lady since Richard and Pat Nixon.

Actor Michael Douglas and television journalist Barbara Walters pose for photographers before they presented the honors to Media Mogul David Geffen and Joan Tisch at a concert to benefit the Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) at New York's Carnegie Hall January 22. Geffen and Tisch were honored for their leadership in the fight against AIDS and their support of GMHC. AIDS BENEFIT
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With actor Michael Douglas

She earned 12 Emmy awards, 11 of those while at ABC News.

She is survived by her only daughter, Jacqueline Danforth.

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