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Connie Chung Reflects on Her Friendship with Barbara Walters at Lifetime Achievement Award Ceremony

Chung celebrated her late colleague, asserting that Walters “deserved her queendom”

Connie Chung, now 78, recounted her experiences with the legendary journalist Barbara Walters during a recent ceremony in New York City on April 23, where she received the Silurians Press Club’s 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award.

Before joining ABC News, both Chung and Walters had already carved out significant reputations at competing networks; Chung had anchored influential shows on NBC and CBS.

Reflecting on her bond with Walters, who passed away at the age of 93 in 2022, Chung expressed a mix of admiration and apprehension. “I respected Barbara. It was intimidating to be at ABC News because she was such a formidable presence,” Chung shared. She transitioned to ABC News in 1997 after her tenure on CBS Evening News.

Chung reminisced about the early days at ABC News, noting, “Initially, she was nurturing and supportive. But once we were working in the same space, it felt undeniably competitive.”

The dynamics at ABC News were intense, as Walters and Diane Sawyer were often in direct competition for prominent roles. “We women were given a limited opportunity, leading to a rivalry for that small space,” Chung stated. “The male counterparts held a vast array of positions, allowing them to thrive more easily.”

Chung expected a collaborative atmosphere among women in the industry, suggesting, “I had hoped we could unite against our male colleagues, but the reality turned out to be quite different as Barbara and Diane were often figuratively firing shots at one another.”

Despite the competitive atmosphere, Chung affirmed Walters’ right to her accomplishments, stating, “Walters truly earned her place at the top.”

They shared numerous parallels in their careers. “Barbara was the first woman to co-anchor a network newscast with a male partner, Harry Reasoner,” Chung noted, reflecting on their similar paths. “I followed as the first female co-anchor at CBS alongside Dan Rather, who, like Reasoner, had little regard for our contributions.”

Both journalists faced unique challenges in their careers as women. Chung added, “Barbara became her family’s main provider after financial setbacks, while I also took on that role after my father retired in the 1970s. Our journeys were intertwined in many ways.”

Chung, along with her husband Maury Povich, adopted a son in 1995. The pair also co-hosted Weekends with Maury and Connie on MSNBC in 2006, following Chung’s tenure on Connie Chung Tonight at CNN.

During the ceremony, Chung shared how Povich encouraged her to write her memoir, Connie. “He insisted, ‘You have an important story,’ and I dismissed it at first. But then he told me, ‘You’re the Jackie Robinson of news.’ ”

As Chung continues to reflect on her storied career, her insights not only honor her late friend but also highlight the evolving landscape for women in journalism.

Source
people.com