Media Ownership
The media mogul I chose is Oprah Winfrey because of her outstanding media ownership. Oprah is a huge success. “In 2003, Oprah became the first African-American woman to reach billionaire status. (Magazine, 2003)” I am going to talk about all of her organisations that she has started and owns by explaining each one and when they began. This makes it clear when her career really started off.
“The concentration of media ownership is a process whereby progressively fewer individuals or organizations control increasing shares of the mass media. (Wikipedia, 2009)” Oprah Winfrey is one of these individuals. Oprah has many owned organizations.
“I remember thinking, my life won 't be like this, it will be better. And it wasn 't from a place of arrogance, it was just a place of knowing …show more content…
that things could be different for me somehow.” – Oprah Winfrey. A woman full of accomplishments and knowledge, many people’s idol and hero. Changed and helped the lives of so many without wanting reward or gratitude. Oprah is a generous and caring woman who fights for equality and peace.
In 1988, Harpo Inc. was founded by Oprah Winfrey when she started the production of Harpo Studios. Dr Phil and the Oprah Winfrey shows are the most recognised productions by Harpo. Hearst magazines and also connected with Harpo for producing magazines such as O, The Oprah Magazine and O at home. Oprah.com is also published by Harpo which has over three million users.
Oprah Winfrey founded Harpo Films in 1990. This is something which brought out Oprah’s personal love and interest for classic literature. Harpo has a deal which is long term with ABC productions to show “Oprah Winfrey Presents” telefilms.
In 1998, exactly ten years after Harpo was founded, Oxygen Media was found. Oprah Winfrey is the co-founder of this cable television network for women. www.oxygen.com is also owned and operated by Oxygen Media. In 2000, Hearst magazine and Oprah Winfrey introduced O, The Oprah Magazine. This magazine has become one of today 's leading women 's lifestyle publications which is a huge accomplishment for Oprah.
O, The Oprah Magazine extended to having an International edition in South Africa in April 2002. This shows how Oprah’s organisations are not geographically bound. Two years later Oprah launched something quite different to previous organizations. This creation was a more personal interest of Oprah’s as it shows her hobbies and artistic side. O at home, her second magazine. This magazine was created to help readers design a home that reflects them.
Oprah.com is a website for women’s lifestyle which offers support and advice on anything and everything. Oprah.com has an estimated 64 million page views and more than three million users per month. This website receives approximately 12,000-15,000 emails per week. This website is connected with The Oprah Winfrey Show and O, The Oprah Magazine. It gives support and help to woman who have queries or problems. It is one of Oprah’s many supportive creations.
The Oprah Winfrey show and Dr. Phil are produced by Harpo Productions, Inc. The Oprah Winfrey Show makes more than $300 million annually. Dr Phil, a daytime talk show ranks second among all U.S talk shows. In 2000, Oprah 's Angel Network began presenting a $100,000 "Use Your Life Award" to people who helped improve the lives of others.
Oprah has donated more than $50 million to charity, including 50 local organizations such as the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, Children 's Memorial Hospital and the Chicago Academy of the Arts. After selling off some of her clothes, Oprah donated a box full of money—including a $1 million check—to Chicago’s Providence St. Mel School.
Oprah has used her power and status to remind the world of the AIDS crisis in South Africa, she has inspired us with her openness and compassion and vision of a better world.
Oprah is a true inspiration as we are shown what change one person can make we are inspired to try to accomplish something with our lives. For twenty years Oprah has educated and enlightened millions of people. “America’s icon of joy,” as ABC TV named her, which has remained true as she shows such generosity and love in everything that she does.
With the help of Nelson Mandela, Oprah launched “Christmas Kindness”, giving the children of South Africa one day of pure joy, toys and hope, just as she received as a 12-year-old on welfare. "For as long as I have a voice in this world, my promise to children who have no voice is that they will be seen, they will be heard — because they matter,” The words of Oprah Winfrey a abuse survivor as she was abused by her mother before she ran away.
In 1990, Oprah became an adjunct professor at The J.L Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University co-teaching “Dynamics of Leaderships.” This shows Oprahs firm belief in
education.
“And, you know, part of the process for me as an adult has been recognizing that my inability as an adult female to say ‘No,’ my disease to please as a female, is the same thing that caused me to be victimized as a child. Because many times, I would get myself into situations as an adult where I didn 't want to say ‘No’ because I didn 't want to hurt anybody 's feelings. I didn 't want to say ‘No’ because I didn 't want anybody angry with me.” - Oprah Winfrey
Oprah’s media ownership is one that is of great benefit to many people in need. Oprah has helped and changed the lives of so many, she is a true saint.
Bibliography
Magazine, F. (2003).
Wikipedia. (2009). Media Ownership.
http://oprah.urbanhustler.com/companies/