Oprah Winfrey - The Story of an Entrepreneur

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Oprah's father encouraged her to participate in various competitions. Participation in such activities helped her develop her self-confidence and improved her communication skills. Oprah organized and directed a series of presentations (especially on God's Trombones written by James Weldon Johnson) at various local churches. Oprah used these presentations to raise funds to buy new robes for the youth choir of her church. She actively participated in Sunday church activities and spoke frequently in church. She also worked hard at her studies and, as a result, won scholarship to attend Tennessee State University, where she specialized in Speech Communications and Performing Arts. In 1971, at the age of 17, Oprah got her first broadcasting job. She worked as a part-time radio announcer for WVOL Radio Station (targeting mainly African Americans) in Nashville. In 1972, she won the 'Miss Black' Tennessee title. In 1973, after graduating from Tennessee State University, she joined WTVF-TV in Nashville as a reporter. In 1976, she joined WJZ-TV, a major affiliate of ABC,4 in Baltimore, as a news anchor. She worked in WJZ-TV until 1983. During her tenure at WJZ-TV she got a chance to host a talk show.5 She was the co-host for 'People Are Talking,' a popular talk show in those days.

In 1984, Oprah moved to WLS-TV Chicago (an affiliate of ABC) to host a local TV talk show, 'A.M. Chicago.' Oprah deviated from the general talk-show format, referred to as 'report-talk.' She introduced a new format, referred to as 'rapport-talk,' which involved back and forth conversation between the host and the audience. Oprah's show became an instant hit with women, mostly in the 30-50 age group. According to analysts, Oprah's show was a success because the conversational mode formed the basis of 'female bonding.' Many of the people in her audience felt that Oprah had made the talk show more personal and confessional. By the end of the year, the talk show became very successful. As a result of the show's success and Oprah's increasing popularity, the show was renamed the 'Oprah Winfrey Show' and its duration was increased from 30 minutes to one hour. In 1986, the show went national and became the country's number one talk show within one year of being nationally syndicated. During the mid-1980s, Oprah began her acting career with a role in Steven Spielberg's 'The Color Purple' (1985). For her performance in the movie, Oprah was nominated for the Oscar and Golden Globe Awards in the category of Best Supporting Actress. Her performance in her second movie, 'Native Son' (1986), also won applause from critics. Oprah's love for acting and her desire to offer quality entertainment led to the establishment of 'Harpo Productions Inc.' (Oprah spelt backwards). With Harpo, Oprah became the third woman, in US history to own a movie production studio (the pioneers were Mary Pickford and Lucille Ball). In October 1988, Harpo Productions acquired the ownership and production rights of 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' from ABC. This made Oprah the first woman in the history of TV to own and produce her own talk show.

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4] ABC, a subsidiary of Walt Disney Company, is one of the leading broadcasting companies in the US. It broadcasts through a network of more than 230 affiliate stations across the US. It also owns over 60 radio stations and 10 TV stations in all the major markets of the country.
5] ABC, a subsidiary of Walt Disney Company, is one of the leading broadcasting companies in the US. It broadcasts through a network of more than 230 affiliate stations across the US. It also owns over 60 radio stations and 10 TV stations in all the major markets of the country.

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