Barbara Walters, who in 1976 became the first woman to anchor one of the daily network television news shows, announced late Sunday that she will retire next year. Walters, 83, began her career in TV journalism in 1961 at NBC's morning news and entertainment program "The Today Show." Fifteen years later she moved to rival ABC to co-host the influential "Evening News," a first for a female journalist.

Barbara Walters, who in 1976 became the first woman to anchor one of the daily network television news shows, announced late Sunday that she will retire next year. Walters, 83, began her career in TV journalism in 1961 at NBC's morning news and entertainment program "The Today Show." Fifteen years later she moved to rival ABC to co-host the influential "Evening News," a first for a female journalist.

Celebrated US journalist Barbara Walters, as famous for blazing trails for women in TV news as she is for her political and celebrity interviews, officially announced Monday her retirement next year. "In the summer of 2014, a year from now, I plan to retire from appearing on television at all," Walters, 83, announced on "The View," the late-morning talk show she co-hosts on ABC television. "It has been an absolutely joyful, rewarding, challenging, fascinating and occasionally bumpy ride. I wouldn't change a thing," she said.

Barbara Walters, who in 1976 became the first woman to anchor one of the daily network television news shows, announced late Sunday that she will retire next year. Walters, 83, began her career in TV journalism in 1961 at NBC's morning news and entertainment program "The Today Show." Fifteen years later she moved to rival ABC to co-host the influential "Evening News," a first for a female journalist.