Film critic Roger Ebert was among those who honored the talk show queen Tuesday at a downtown Chicago hotel.
Association president and CEO Dennis Lyle calls Winfrey "the epitome of broadcasting excellence."
Ebert already is a member, along with late partner Gene Siskel.
Winfrey came to Chicago in 1984 when she started hosting "A.M. Chicago" on WLS-TV.
That show eventually became "The Oprah Winfrey Show," which will end this month after 25 years.
Other famous inductees include Paul Harvey, Hugh Downs and Charles Gibson.
