People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)Â has named Oprah Winfrey the multimedia queen its 2008 Person of the Year for the efforts she has made through her talk show and other arenas “to help the less fortunate, including animals,” the organization said in a statement.
Winfrey has “used her powerful voice to defend those without one,” added PETA president Ingrid Newkirk.
Over the past year, Winfrey has done shows about puppy mills, the treatment of chickens and other animals living on factory farms, and the conditions that pigs and veal calves are subjected to before being put to slaughter.
In choosing Winfrey, PETA also cited the ultra-emotional reaction the TV icon had to the death of her cocker spaniel, Sophie, in March and the week that she went vegan at the behest of one of her guests.
Thanks for the PETA mentions! You can read more about it here: http://www.peta.org/feat-personofyear-08.asp