OprahwatchedBarbaraWalters，afamousjournalistandinterviewer，anddecidedthatwaswhatshewantedtobe.Whenshewasstillinhighschool，shegotapart-timejobreadingnewsontheradio.Inhersenioryearshewonabeautycontestandafour-yearscholarshiptoTennesseeStateUniversity.Whilestillincollegeshewasofferedajobasanewsbroadcasteratalocaltelevisionstation.ShewasthefirstfemaleandthefirstAfrican-AmericannewscasterinNashville.Shewaspromotedtoanchor，themostimportantpositiononthenewsteam，whilestillasenior.
AfterOprahgraduatedshegotajobwithaBaltimorenewsstation.Butshesoonrealizedthatbroadcastingnewswasn’tenoughforher.Shehadtoletherpersonalityshinethrough.Shewantedtoshowemotionwhenshetoldastory，notjustreportit.Meanwhilethestationmanagerswerethinkingthesameway.Theycouldn’tstopherfromcommentingonthenewssheread.Theyremovedherfromtheanchorspotandwonderedwhattodowithher.FinallytheyputheronanearlymorningtalkshowcalledPeopleAreTalking.Nooneknewwhattoexpect.