She transformed one of the shows she hosted to The Oprah Winfrey Show, which was then was televised nationally within a year. Within the first year, the show received three Daytime Emmy Awards, and Oprah was given "Broadcaster of the Year " Award, and was the youngest to be awarded the honor.
Very quickly, America fell in love with Oprah Winfrey because of her ability to from trust with her audience. She portrayed herself as someone with flaws as well as good and bad experiences. Oprah was completely open about her "lack of self-esteem, sexual abuse, overweight, failed romantic relationships, " (Illouz & Wilf), allowing everyone to relate to her in some way. Oprah became so popular because she was able to transform the media. She appealed to everyone by allowing viewers to apply to be in the show, mainly to ask for help or to give help. Oprah also influences the morals of viewers by encouraging them to use their lives to make a difference in the lives of others. She has "raised more than US$50 million, establishing scholarships, women's shelters, youth centers and homes, " (Illouz & Wilf). Oprah Winfrey went from her small fame on a radio show to being a worldwide icon because she engages her viewers, has strong moral values, and builds trust with her audience.
What Makes Oprah Special.
People love Oprah as a media expert because they can relate to her in a number of ways. In "Oprah Winfrey: The Construction of Intimacy in the Talk Show Setting, " Laurie L. Haag mentions one of the women interviewed for the paper said she and Oprah are alike because they are both black, they are the same age and they treat people the same way. She also mentioned she would like to meet Oprah and hang out with her in a public setting.
After evaluating Oprah's career and her normal behaviors, Haag concludes Oprah builds such a strong relationship with her audience because, even though she is a larger-than-life celebrity, she is still an everywoman.
