These experiences had a profound effect on her and she turned into a promiscuous and

problematic teenager. Her mother tried to admit her in a home for troubled teens, but as
the home was full, Oprah was sent to live with her father again. The shift to her father's
place was a 'turning point' for Oprah. It reportedly put her life back on track. Oprah referred
to the reunion with her father as 'my saving grace.' Oprah said that her father was a tough
taskmaster, insisting on hard work and discipline.

This attitude helped her improve herself in all aspects. In Oprah's words, 'As strict as he
was, he had some concerns about me making the best of my life, and would not accept
anything less than what he thought was my best.' 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.

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 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. In 1992, Oprah got engaged to Stedman Graham (Stedman), a former basketball
player and a public relations executive, with whom she had been living together since 1986.
During the late-1980s and 1990s, Oprah won many awards and garnered recognition for her
work in TV and films.