Oprah Winfrey reveals new interview show, rethinks print future of O magazine

Oprah Winfrey is giving us two surprises this month: a new television series and a refocus of her monthly magazine to “digitally-centric.”

Winfrey announced on Monday that her new show, “The Oprah Conversation” will debut exclusively on Apple TV+ for free on Thursday at 6 p.m. In her new series, the 66-year-old television host will “lead timely and intimate discussions with today’s foremost newsmakers, thought leaders and masters of their craft,” according to a news release. She and bestselling author Ibram X. Kendi will speak with white authors about anti-racism in the first episode, “How to Be Anti-Racist.”

“It’s time to bring humanity back to the conversation,” Winfrey tweeted when announcing her new show.

On the same day, the publisher of Winfrey’s monthly magazine, “O, The Oprah Magazine” announced it is rethinking the future of the magazine’s print editions and following a more digital-focused route following its December 2020 issue.

In a statement to USA TODAY on Monday, a representative from Hearst Magazines of Winfrey’s magazine, said the magazine brand is here to stay and becoming “more digitally-centric.” While there will still be print editions for now, the future for its monthly print publications remains unclear.

“As the brand celebrates twenty years of The Oprah Magazine, we’re thinking about what’s next, but again the partnership and the brand are not going away,” Carrie Carlson, Hearst Magazines public relations director, told USA TODAY. ”There will be some form of print beyond the December 2020 issue but what it is exactly is still being worked out.”

“This is a natural next step for the brand, which has grown to an online audience of 8 million, extending its voice and vision with video and social content,” Carlson continued.

Winfrey said in a statement that she looks forward “to the next step in our evolution.” “I’m proud of this team and what we have delivered to our readers over the past 20 years,” she said.

Lucy Kaylin, editor in chief of the magazine, said she’s also excited to “embark on this next chapter” and “deepen the connection with our loyal readers.”

According to The Hollywood Reporter, “O, The Oprah Magazine” racked in an average paid circulation of 2.2 million copies with a print audience of 10 million as of 2020.

The news comes after The New York Times published a story last week detailing sexual harassment and toxic work environment allegations faced by Troy Young, the former president of Hearst Magazines, who resigned on Thursday.

Read more at usatoday.com