Dr. Michael Eric Dyson: Brings His Social Awareness To Radio

Award-winning author and scholar Dr. Michael Eric Dyson is bringing his social expertise to a radio station near you!

Dyson is set to host his very own nationally syndicated news/talk radio show, 'The Michael Eric Dyson Show,' beginning April 6. The one-hour radio program, created and produced by the African American Public Radio Consortium in partnership with consortium member station WEAA-FM, will air Monday through Friday and launch in 18 markets including, Baltimore, Atlanta, Houston, Las Vegas, and Raleigh-Durham to name a few.

The State of Oprah Inc.

Oprah's School in Africa

Is it possible to have a bigger heart than Oprah? After countless donations throughout the world, the one time poverty-stricken now turned billionaire has done again by spending $40 million in building the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy near the city limits of Johannesburg, South Africa, Ms. Winfrey, should be applauded for her humanitarian efforts and by allowing young girls in impoverished country the chance to make a difference in the world. From the day she opened the academy the students have had access to the finest resources of educational facilities, recreation, dining services, and extra-circular activities.

Oprah's Big Give TV Show

The reality show, "Oprah's Big Give," did exactly what it intended to do. It helped those in need and gave big ratings to ABC. The show premiered in March and averaged 15.6 million total viewers in the adult 18-49 demographics showing America that Oprah still had the magic touch. Although there was a dip in viewer ratings in the following shows, the show ended the season averaging 11.16 viewers over eight episodes. The number made the show the 32nd ranked show on all off television. The show was not renewed by ABC for the 2008-2009 television season. However, this was at Oprah's request and not the network.

ABC

The Oprah Winfrey Store

Just steps away from Harpo Studios in Chicago, the recently opened Oprah Store is the first free-standing store selling Oprah-themed merchandise that represents her own personal style and flair. The store is filled with everything from books to apparel and is a mecca for Oprah Winfrey fans of all levels of obsession. It also features some select arts and crafts from South Africa where she opened a girls school last year. The store has also featured some of her "favorite things" which she has presented to guests in the past.

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Oprah Magazine

First published in April of 2000, the Oprah magazine continues to have unprecedented success. The "O" magazine was launched with $50.9 million dollars. However, in 2007 the magazine grossed $311.3 million in revenues with no signs of slowing down. Remarkably, Oprah has been on the cover of every magazine since its beginning making sure readers know exactly whose magazine they are reading and branding herself uniquely as the official magazine cover model. Wouldn't you?

O Magazine

Oprah.com

The Oprah.com site averages nearly 92 million page views and more than 6 million users per month. Additionally, her website also has 1.8 million newsletter subscribers. Her site remains one of the top women's lifestyle sites on the web and a daily resource for her vast fan base. If Oprah's empire is failing, it definitely is not because of her website.

Oprah.com

The Rachel Ray Show

The September 2006 debut of the Rachel Ray show premiered with a 2.8/9 TV market average. Simply put, Rachel Ray's show, a brain-child of Oprah, debuted with a boom in most major TV markets such as NYC and Philadelphia. Rachel Ray had the highest debut ratings of any first-run talk show since "Dr. Phil", another show of Winfrey's, premiered in 2002. Rachel Ray's energetic personality and talent to teach guests how to cook up meals for the entire family brought a different element to the Oprah Show and she still is turning up the heat with her weekly show now.

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The Oprah Show

Oprah has always broken barriers in her career beating the odds. But when she began anchoring an ABC affiliate, A.M. Chicago in 1984 she had no idea it would ultimately be the turning point in her career. Within six weeks of her debut, Winfrey was beating the award- winning king of daytime talk shows, Phil Donahue, in his own city. After the popularity of the 1st season and its new host A.M. Chicago was later re-named The Oprah Winfrey Show. The popularity of The Oprah Show has attributed to her ability to capitalize on the Oprah Winfrey brand and focus on other endeavors. One of Oprah's smartest business moves was when she acquired the rights to her talk show. Only her and fellow on-air talent Johnny Carson have had complete creative and financial control of their programs.

Harpo

Dr. Phil as part of Harpo, Inc.

Oprah has been responsible for launching many careers, especially the one of her most popular physician on The Oprah show, Dr. Phil. Known for his no-bull policy, Dr. Phil became a house hold name quite rapidly. His popularity grew on the show which allowed them to move on to receive his own show and to be a part of Harpo Company. He continues to coach and console many guests with different issues, from the child who won't stop abusing the parent to the millions of divorcees trying to deal with divorce. Last month, his show came second to the Oprah show for the Top time-shifted syndicated show with an average 6,040,000 viewers every week.

Oprah & Friends on XM Radio

Oprah and her famous pals are bringing the same entertainment and knowledge from her popular syndicated show to XM listeners'. The highly anticipated "Oprah & Friends" channel on XM Radio debuted on September 25, 2006 and by the XM's fourth quarter revenues were up by 45 compared to the previous year and the network had almost 2 million more subscribers than at the end of '05. The channel features a mix of celebrities and everyday people in conversation with the shows' hosts. Some names you may know are Gayle King, Nate Berkus , Maya Angelou Dr. Robin, Jean Chatzky just to name a few.

XM Radio

Oprah's Book Club

Oprah's Book Club has been one the highlights to her popular daytime talk show. Oprah's magic touch of credibility has allowed many authors to hit the best-selling list numerous times. Its said that her online publisher, Central Booking, draws 1,000 visitors per day and skews toward young readers and their reading interests. This gives more reason as to why many viewers simply purchase novels after watching Oprah give her famous stamp of approval her Oprah's Book Club.

Harpo

"It is an honor to be at the helm of a show that is dedicated to providing valuable information, generating discussion about news of the day and the issues which affect our world, and giving a voice to those making a difference," Dyson said with the announcement of the show. "There are several topics about which I care deeply – politics, religion, economic policy, arts and culture – which will be regularly represented on the show. I hope that we will grow to become a go-to source for listeners who want to think, reflect and engage."

The show will consist of three segment blocks including newsmaker guest interviews, roundtable discussions on politics, religion and the economy, as well as a weekly Bloggers Roundtable.

According to a rep for Dyson, confirmed guest for the first two weeks os the show include Oprah Winfrey, Sean 'P. Diddy' Combs, Spike Lee, Hill Harper, Donna Brazile, and Samuel L. Jackson.

Not to mention 'The Michael Eric Dyson Show' will broadcast from the campus of historically black college Morgan State University, making it Consortium's first program that will be self-produced in partnership with a member station. "This is an exciting opportunity for us at WEAA-FM," says WEAA-FM General Manager LaFontaine Oliver.

"To play a part in the development of a show that is sure to become a key source of information, with a host who brings so much to the table, is something that we as a member station fully endorse and support. We hope that The Michael Eric Dyson Show is the first of many such joint ventures with the African American Public Radio Consortium."

People can listen and interact via the Web at www.dysonshow.org.

With seventeen books under his belt including, 'Making Malcolm,' 'I May Not Get There with You,' and 'Holler if You Hear Me' among others, the popular Georgetown professor bridges the gap between generations by connecting civil rights identity to hip-hop culture. Hence the release of his forthcoming tome on multi-platinum rapper Nas entitled, 'Born to Use Mics: Reading Nas's Illmatic.'

Alongside author Sohail Daulatzai, Dyson reflects and engage one of the most incisive sets of songs ever recorded in hip hop music. 'Born to Use Mics: Reading Nas's Illmatic' hits bookshelves July 13.