Bibliographic Information:
Editor: Lucy Kaylin
Title: O The Oprah Magazine
First Release Date: April 19, 2000
Category: Women’s Magazine
Summary: O: The Oprah Magazine is Oprah Winfrey’s magazine. Oprah Winfrey is a well known television host, actress, producer, as well as an icon and has had many impressive achievements including being the first woman to host and produce her own show. This magazine produces issues monthly, which host Oprah herself on the cover. Each month there are varying articles concerning a large variety of subjects: what jeans to buy, good books to read, beauty tips, hair tips, good restaurants, interviews, as well as articles written by Oprah and more. Positivity, Happiness, and Self Reflection are common themes utilized to help women work towards becoming their best selves in this magazine also.
Critical Evaluation: On one hand the Oprah magazine does talk about some relatable subjects that either come up in everyday life or is something that you can use in your everyday life. However there appears to be more shiny, elaborate, makeup, and beauty ads than actual content. Also, these ads advertise super expensive beauty items which aren’t affordable for the average person or some one with a lower income. While the articles are empowering women and pushing for women to live their best lives, there seems to be a reoccurring theme of pushing for women to live their dreams in various issues. Even though this is a good thought, it isn’t necessarily reality. In order for dreams to be fulfilled, hard work is the only guaranteed recipe for success besides patience and faith. I’m not saying that it isn’t right to encourage people to live their dreams, but the constant emphasis on dreams is a bit much. Also past subscription users have mentioned that the magazine is difficult to cancel or they complain about the unwanted automatic renewal.
Reader’s Annotation: N/a
Editor’s Information: Lucy Kaylin has been the editor in chief for the Oprah magazine since 2013. She graduated from Columbia where she received her masters degree in English Literature. After graduation Lucy landed a gig at Vogue as a fact checker. Eventually she wanted to move up higher so she got a job at GQ as a staff writer. Even though she was a staff writer, at that time she didn’t have any reporting experience.
Luckily she worked hard, studied hard and managed to get the experience she needed. Lucy stayed at GQ for nineteen years. Eventually she got into editing,but interestingly enough, she preferred not to be the editor that was in charge. So she was the number two editor for Joanna Coles at Marie Claire and later on for Susan Casey who worked for the Oprah Magazine. Once Susan decided to make a career change then Lucy was ready to step up as the number one editor. Also and as she put it: “When Oprah calls, you don’t say no”.
Genre: Women’s Magazine
Curriculum Ties: N/a
Book Talk Idea: N/a
Interest Age: 13 and up
Challenge and Defense Preparation:
Challenge Issues: Mature Content
Why Included: Oprah is an excellent role model for teenage girls in today’s society. She is the first and only woman to own and produce her own show. Oprah was a TV host for many years, an actress, producer, the list of her outstanding achievements go on and on making her an icon. Her story is so inspiring especially since she had such a difficult life when she was younger. If teenage girls get nothing else from her, then at least they may be able to see that unfortunate circumstances don’t last forever, and with hard work, persistence and patience anything is possible.
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