Oprah Winfrey's Shortcomings as a Leader
As a person in a leadership role, Oprah Winfrey has been criticized in the media for advocating bad science (Jenny McCarthy's anti-vax crusade), pseudoscience (The Secret), materialism (the car give-away), and Dr. Phil. While her show is followed by millions of adoring fans, some critics question whether Oprah is well-suited for the role she inhabits. From philanthropic activities (such as the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa) to her book club choices, almost every decision she makes is open for scrutiny. This paper will examine Oprah's activities, and explain how Oprah's shortcomings have given her a limited ability to be a good leader.
Oprah's most vocal (though not necessarily heard) critic may be a man named Gerard Jones, the award-winning author of the cautionary tale Ginny Good. After being rejected by virtually every publishing house in America -- not to mention kept off Oprah's Book Club list, which critics say is made up of books that "have not passed the test of literary merit," and are "populist in nature" (Lasky, 2006), Jones (2011) dedicated a vast website to exposing what he calls the superficial ideology of American marketing, the symbolic representative of which, he claims, is none other than Oprah Winfrey. Jones vents a bitter diatribe on his website Everyone Who's Anyone in Adult Trade Publishing, Newspapers, Magazines, Broadcasting and Tinseltown, Too, and finally states ironically,
"There is no God but Money and Oprah Winfrey is His messenger."
Such a pointed accusation is a telling reminder of the kind of consumerism to which Oprah panders. Jones' problem with Oprah is that instead of using her fame and position to get good books into the hands of readers, or to teach her adoring millions that money is not everything, she peddles trashy novelties and gives away cars as if this were the coup de grace of good Samaritanism. Jones argues...
Oprah Winfrey In a business world characterized by perpetual competition, business rivalry and other challenges, Oprah Winfrey has managed to build a business empire with various interests in the entertainment industry. In the process she has also managed to amass a sizable fortune. Though Oprah's success as an entrepreneur is hardly unique given the number of entrepreneurs who have over time scaled corporate heights, she continues to be seen as one
However, her father had instilled the importance of a formal education in her. As such, she enrolled at Tennessee State University. There, she majored in Speech Communications and Performing Arts ("Oprah Winfrey," 2003). It would be this formal and informal educational background that would serve as a platform for her wondrous life achievements. Oprah Winfrey's Life Works: Oprah Winfrey's life has been full of purpose since her late teens. Moving from radio
The research found that Oprah's Angel Network began as an effort to help a few people a little more than ten years ago. Over time the network has evolved into something much greater and thousands of people have been assisted as a result of the philanthropic endeavors of the organization. The research also found that Oprah has been instrumental in supporting the endeavors of other charitable organizations including those
Oprah As an adult Oprah Winfrey has been commonly known amongst the masses as one of the most confident and influential woman in the United States of America. She came to prominence through her hosting roles in television shows, and watching her shows became a common routine for the domestic women in the country. Through her television show, Oprah famously brought those matters into the limelight that had hindered normal living for
376) Therefore, if we accept this view, the Oprah Winfrey Show has become a cultural phenomenon that assimilates and incorporates other areas of culture and society, such as the new age movement, and creates a focal point in the talk show for the expression for many issues and views. This has both positive and negative aspects. It can be seen to reveal and make public many of the underlying issues and problems
Leadership of Oprah Winfrey When most people think of Oprah Winfrey, they will often associate her with the long running self named talk show (i.e. Oprah). However, throughout the course of her life she has endured various challenges that shaped her outlook. These experiences helped her to become a role model for everyone to follow. To fully understand the way Oprah exhibits these attributes requires focusing on what makes her a
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now