Barbara Walters tired of celebrity interviews

Reuters ^ | December 6, 2007 | Doina Chiacu

[george76]

Barbara Walters, famed for celebrity television interviews that often draw on-screen tears, says she's tired of Britney, Paris and the tabloid trend she helped create.

Walters, a pioneering journalist who became the first female U.S. network news anchor 30 years ago, has interviewed every U.S. president since Richard Nixon and other heads of state. More recently, she has been credited and criticized for soft interviews that elevated celebrity news above all else.

Now, before her annual show, "The 10 Most Fascinating People," airing on ABC on Thursday, the 78-year-old television journalist said she wants to focus on other topics.

"I am not going after the tabloid stuff, I don't do it,"

Walters, whose interviews with Michael Jackson and former White House intern Monica Lewinsky drew huge audiences, makes no apologies for the "personality journalism" she forged.

"We began to do more and more celebrities and we were criticized," she said. "And now ... every program does it."

It's the ratings, stupid.

[george76]

ht JAMES TARANTO

[ShadowDancer]

Instead, expect to see former President Bill Clinton, Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez, two founders of the Internet network "My Space," and controversial radio host Don Imus.

Well, there's balanced interviewing.

[khnyny]

Barbara Walter’s is an arrogant hag whose shelf life has long expired. I just wish she would shut up and stop whining.:)

[Gay State Conservative]

“If you were a twee,what twee would you be?” Hard hitting journalism’s always been the name of *her* game!

[SamAdams76]

Damn. I didn’t even know she was still alive.

[Karliner]

Damn I didn't know she was still alive

Found this: Barbara Walters Live in New York

[SunkenCiv]

Heh, *she* is...

[napscoordinator]

78-year-old television journalist

Wow! She looks good for her age!!!! I can’t believe that she is 78!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!