In a recent small survey, that was taken by Danielle Markham, Kim Free, Julie Bonaventura, and Kate Kasprzyk in Boston, Massachusetts, people were asked who their favorite journalist was. Much to our surprise the majority of women named were people such as Jenny Jones and Oprah Winfrey. Very few named the actual "hardcore" journalists such as Jane Pauley, Barbara Walters, and Katie Couric. It is through journalists such as these three that the news is reported to us in a professional and informational way.

Jane Pauley, who can be seen as the principal anchor on "Dateline NBC" and as the anchor of "Time and Again" on MSNBC, has been a broadcaster since 1972. She graduated from Indiana University in Bloomington, where she majored in Political Science. She went on from there to several different anchoring jobs. She has been honored numerous times, with an Emmy, a Gabriel Award, and the American Women in Radio and Television Award, for her work in Broadcast Journalism. It was through these experiences that she was able to work her way up in the field, becoming one of the most respected anchors on NBC.

Barbara Walters, who is known for her exclusive interviews with prominent world figures, is a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College. Early on in her career she was a writer for CBS News. She worked and appeared on NBC's "Today Show" for 15 years. She began as a writer and then was promoted to a reporter-at-large. In 1974, she became the programs first female co-host. In 1976, Barbara Walters began working for ABC News in 1976, becoming the first woman to co-host the network news. She currently holds the position as co-host and producer of ABC Daytime's "The View," ABC News Correspondent & Co-anchor of ABC News' Magazine "20/20," "The Barbara Walters Specials," and a contributor to ABC News "Turning Point." Not surprisingly, Barbara Walters has received much national recognition for her work over the years. In the past few years she was: inducted into the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences' Hall of Fame; honored with the Lowell Thomas Award for a career in Journalism excellence by Marist College; honored with the President's Award by the Oversees Press Club; saluted by the American Museum of the Moving Image; Lifetime Achievement Award by the International Women's Media Foundation; Lifetime Achievement Award by the Women's Project and Productions; and honored by the Museum of Television and Radio. She has had numerous interviews. The list of people that she has talked to includes every American President since Richard Nixon, Fidel Castro, General Colin Powell, Greg Louganis, Christopher Darden, Robert Shapiro, and many others. It is because of her memorable interviews and great talent that she has become one of the most acclaimed journalists on television.

Katie Couric graduated from the University of Virginia with a degree in American Studies. In 1984, she began her career as a general-assignment reporter. It was during this job that she wrote and produced an award winning series on child pornography. Her success continued in 1990 when she was general-assignment reporter with WRC-TV, the NBC Television Station in Washington D.C. Here she won an Emmy and an Associated Press award for a story about a dating service for the handicapped. A year later she began to co-anchor the "Today Show." When Katie Couric started the job, ratings for the show were at an all time low, but within a few weeks the ratings went up. Within a year ratings had increased 20%, while other morning shows, either decreased or stayed the same. In addition to the "Today Show," she serves as a contributing Anchor for "Dateline NBC" and "Internight." It is through her impressive reporting and interviews that one can see her superior journalistic skills.

These three women have changed the face of journalism. Their impressive news coverage, interviews, smiles, and obvious love of the work that they do so well makes them "hardcore" journalists.