Oprah WinfreyOprah Winfrey

Mandi McCoyMandi McCoy

History of JournalismHistory of Journalism

05-07-0705-07-07

OprahOprah Born January 29, 1954 in Born January 29, 1954 in

Kosciusko, MississippiKosciusko, Mississippi Raised by her Raised by her

grandmother on a farmgrandmother on a farm Suffered sexual abuse Suffered sexual abuse

from a number of male from a number of male relativesrelatives

Moved to Nashville, TN Moved to Nashville, TN to live with her father, to live with her father, Vernon, a barber and Vernon, a barber and businessmanbusinessman

Attended TSU in 1971Attended TSU in 1971

An Early JournalistAn Early Journalist At the age of 17, began At the age of 17, began

working at WVOL radio working at WVOL radio in Nashvillein Nashville

At 19 years old, she At 19 years old, she became youngest person became youngest person and 1and 1stst African-American African-American woman to anchor the woman to anchor the news at WTVF-TVnews at WTVF-TV

Co-anchor the Co-anchor the Six O-Six O-Clock News Clock News in Baltimorein Baltimore

Co-host of local talk Co-host of local talk show, show, People Are People Are TalkingTalking

The Rise of the The Rise of the Oprah Oprah Winfrey ShowWinfrey Show

In 1984, moved to In 1984, moved to Chicago to host WLS-Chicago to host WLS-TV’s morning show, TV’s morning show, A.M. ChicagoA.M. Chicago

After a month on air, After a month on air, began surpassing began surpassing ratings of her major ratings of her major competitor, Phil competitor, Phil DonahueDonahue

Launched Launched The Oprah The Oprah Winfrey Show Winfrey Show on on Sept. 8, 1986Sept. 8, 1986

HARPO Productions, Inc.HARPO Productions, Inc.

Oprah establishes Oprah establishes own syndicated own syndicated production production company in 1988company in 1988

In October 1988, In October 1988, she became the she became the first woman in first woman in history to own and history to own and produce her own produce her own talk show talk show

Resisting the TrashResisting the Trash

Oprah’s MissionOprah’s Mission ““Originally, our goal was to uplift, enlighten, Originally, our goal was to uplift, enlighten,

encourage and entertain through the medium of encourage and entertain through the medium of television. Now, our mission for television. Now, our mission for The Oprah Winfrey The Oprah Winfrey ShowShow is to use television to transform people’s lives, is to use television to transform people’s lives, to make viewers see themselves differently and to to make viewers see themselves differently and to bring happiness and a sense of fulfillment into every bring happiness and a sense of fulfillment into every home.” home.” Oprah WinfreyOprah Winfrey

Honorary AchievementsHonorary Achievements TimeTime magazine- 100 Most Influential People magazine- 100 Most Influential People

in the Worldin the World TimeTime magazine- 100 Most Influential People magazine- 100 Most Influential People

of the 20of the 20thth Century Century NewsweekNewsweek- Most Important Person in Books - Most Important Person in Books

and Mediaand Media LifeLife magazine- Voted most influential woman magazine- Voted most influential woman

and influential black person of her generationand influential black person of her generation Bob Hope Humanitarian AwardBob Hope Humanitarian Award Lifetime Achievement Award from the Lifetime Achievement Award from the

National Academy of Television Arts and National Academy of Television Arts and SciencesSciences

Forbes Forbes magazine- published in 2003, first magazine- published in 2003, first African-American woman to become a African-American woman to become a billionairebillionaire

Received more than 40 daytime Emmy Received more than 40 daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Talk Show and Awards for Outstanding Talk Show and Outstanding Talk Show HostOutstanding Talk Show Host

Oprah’s Angel NetworkOprah’s Angel Network – has raised $50 million – has raised $50 million to date; est. “Use Your Life Award” in April 2000 to date; est. “Use Your Life Award” in April 2000

Oprah.comOprah.com – started in October 1995 – started in October 1995 Oprah’s Book ClubOprah’s Book Club – on-air reading club – on-air reading club

established September 17, 1996 established September 17, 1996

““I want to get the country excited about reading I want to get the country excited about reading again!”again!” Oprah WinfreyOprah Winfrey

Philanthropist and Online Philanthropist and Online LeaderLeader

Cont. PhilanthropistCont. Philanthropist Dec. 2002- Oprah Winfrey Foundation expanded to Dec. 2002- Oprah Winfrey Foundation expanded to

global humanitarian efforts to South Africaglobal humanitarian efforts to South Africa Jan. 2007- establishes The Oprah Winfrey Jan. 2007- establishes The Oprah Winfrey

Leadership Academy Foundation which Leadership Academy Foundation which contributed to $40 million toward creation and contributed to $40 million toward creation and opening of Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for opening of Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South AfricaGirls in South Africa

Oprah and HARPO Oprah and HARPO Productions, Inc.Productions, Inc.

Magazine Creator/Editorial Director/AuthorMagazine Creator/Editorial Director/Author O, The Oprah Magazine- O, The Oprah Magazine- April 2000, international version April 2000, international version

to to

South Africa launched April 2002South Africa launched April 2002 O at Home- O at Home- newsstand-only quarterly magazine launched newsstand-only quarterly magazine launched

in in 20042004 Co-authored five booksCo-authored five books

Satellite Radio ProgrammerSatellite Radio Programmer XM Satellite Radio channel, XM Satellite Radio channel, Oprah and Friends Oprah and Friends launched launched

Sept. 2006Sept. 2006 Broadway ProducerBroadway Producer

The Color PurpleThe Color Purple, December 1, 2005 at the Broadway , December 1, 2005 at the Broadway Theatre in NYCTheatre in NYC

Television Program CreatorTelevision Program Creator Dr. Phil- Sept. 2002Dr. Phil- Sept. 2002 Rachael Ray- Sept. 2006Rachael Ray- Sept. 2006

Works CitedWorks Cited Academy of Achievement. “Oprah Academy of Achievement. “Oprah

Winfrey”. 06 May 2007 Winfrey”. 06 May 2007 http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/pagehttp://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/win0bio-1/win0bio-1

Oprah Winfrey’s BiographyOprah Winfrey’s Biography. About Oprah. . About Oprah. 06 May 2007 06 May 2007 http://www.oprah.com/about/press/about_http://www.oprah.com/about/press/about_press_bio.jhtmlpress_bio.jhtml

The Oprah Winfrey Show Fact SheetThe Oprah Winfrey Show Fact Sheet. . About Oprah. 06 May 2007 About Oprah. 06 May 2007 http://www.oprah.com/about/press/about_http://www.oprah.com/about/press/about_press_owsfaq.jhtmlpress_owsfaq.jhtml