Barbara Walters: A Comprehensive Look at a Pioneering Journalists Life

The life of renowned journalist Barbara Walters is explored in a new documentary titled "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything," produced by Brian Grazer and Ron Howard's Imagine Documentaries and premiered on Hulu on Monday. The film delves beyond the headlines of her career as a broadcaster to delve into her childhood, her drive, and the personal and professional relationships that shaped her life. Director Jackie Jesko tells The Hollywood Reporter that the film aims to understand all angles of Walters' life, not just her record-breaking television career in which she interviewed dictators, celebrities, and various other people with equal skill and publicity. The documentary also explores who Walters was, what made her tick, and her greater contribution to the industry. The documentary uses footage from ABC News archives, where Walters became the highest-paid news anchor in 1976 and ended her career in 2016 following her final act as creator and co-host of "The View" from 1997 to 2014. It also features interviews with prominent women journalists such as Katie Couric, Oprah Winfrey, and Connie Chung, detailing Walters' climb through the news ranks, the sexism and inner feelings of inferiority she battled, as well as her lasting impact in media following her death on December 30, 2022, at the age of 93. Jesko talks about piecing together Walters' career and personal life for the doc, which premiered on Hulu Monday. She mentions that a lot of journalists, especially women, were clamoring to tell Walters' story, but she was chosen due to her experience working at ABC News for 10 years and her knowledge of how important Walters was to the news industry. The documentary features interviews with various people who knew Walters, including Oprah Winfrey who shared how Walters impacted her decision not to have children. The film also touches on Walters' childhood, motherhood, and romantic relationships. However, it does not include her daughter Jacqueline, who was approached but did not want to participate. One of the most surprising aspects of the documentary is the revelation about Walters' childhood. She grew up in a nightclub environment where her father was a showman and she met famous people at a young age. Her father lost everything when she was in her early twenties, and she felt like she had to save her whole family financially. This experience propelled her entire life. The documentary also touches on the changing landscape of media with the rise of social media and the decline of traditional television news interviews. Jesko mentions that while there are more ways to get information now, there is a lack of trust in the news media and a lot of debate about which channel can be trusted. Overall, "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything" is a comprehensive look at the life of a pioneering journalist who made a significant impact on the industry. The documentary is now streaming on Hulu and is a must-watch for anyone interested in journalism and the media.