RACHEL RAY'S FOLKSY RECIPE FOR MEDIA SUCCESS, HELPING THE MASSES RELAX (NYT)

By Nancy Vialatte

Somewhere in between Oprah Winfrey and Martha Stewart, Rachel Ray has found a niche. As talk show host, Food Network correspondent, magazine maven and cookbook author, the woman, who just over five years ago was doing in-store demonstrations, has become a media juggernaut.

The New York Times profiles Ray within the context of her down-home approach which has put her "30 Minute Meals" at the top of the Food Network's ratings pile, sold 5 million cookbooks, set projected circulation of her magazine Everyday With Rachel Ray at 1.7 million next year and given her new talk show the strongest debut since Dr. Phil first sat on the couch.

Ray offers up this bit of wisdom regarding her success:

�It�s all true and I can�t do much about it at this point. I am doing programming that goes into people�s homes and kitchens, about their kids and their pets, really personal stuff, and not everybody is going to like what I do. When I first heard from the Food Network, I told them that I was beer in a bottle and they are champagne, but it worked out. I�m too loud one day and giggle too much next, or flub the intro, but what I do is not about technique. I need a story to go with the burger. People want to relax a little.�