Norah O’Donnell’s ‘CBS Evening News’ Exit Set for January 24

As a seasoned cinemagoer who has witnessed the rise and fall of many a silver screen star, I must say that Norah O’Donnell’s journey in the world of journalism mirrors that of a resilient protagonist in a gripping drama. Her tenure at “CBS Evening News” has been a rollercoaster ride, filled with moments of triumph and introspection, much like the twists and turns in a well-crafted plotline.


On Friday, it was announced that Norah O’Donnell will be stepping down from her role as anchor on “CBS Evening News” on January 24th. This move marks the beginning of a transition to a fresh format for this esteemed news program, which has been airing on CBS since 1941 under different names.

As a dedicated cinema enthusiast, I find myself embarking on a new journey within the CBS News family, transitioning from my anchoring role on “Evening News” in July 2019, to a senior correspondent position. This exciting change will allow me to deliver special reports focusing on enterprise work or securing interviews with influential figures in the news industry. Rest assured, I’ll still be contributing to “Evening News,” “60 Minutes,” and other CBS News programs. This new arrangement is a testament to the long-term commitment that both myself and CBS News have made to each other.

O’Donnell’s departure plan keeps her present until the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 47th U.S. President, which is scheduled for late January.

Starting Monday, January 27th, I’m excited to share that a fresh edition of “CBS Evening News” will be broadcast from New York. Instead of relying on a single anchor, this new program will feature a diverse team of correspondents. John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois will serve as co-anchors, Lonnie Quinn as our chief weathercaster, and Margaret Brennan, who moderates “Face The Nation” in Washington, D.C., will also be part of the crew.

Nancy O’Donnell’s work at “CBS Evening News” has gained acclaim from numerous journalism quality assessors. During Donald Trump’s first term as president, CBS experimented with basing the show in Washington D.C. It was during this time that O’Donnell used the platform to delve into investigations concerning how the military handles allegations of sexual harassment and abuse. Given her personal connection to the U.S. Armed Forces (her father and sister having served), this topic held a deeper resonance for her. In 2023, she broadcasted live from the deck of the U.S.S. Nimitz while it was in active service in the South China Sea.

She successfully arranged face-to-face conversations with notable figures, including Pope Francis this year and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in 2019. During her interview with the latter, she brought up the controversial topic of Jamal Khashoggi’s assassination, a crime that intelligence reports suggest he may have orchestrated.

Over the years, the program known as “CBS Evening News,” which once held a connection with Walter Cronkite, has consistently ranked third behind ABC’s “World News Tonight” and NBC’s “NBC Nightly News.” This continuous struggle for first place has led numerous CBS executives to regularly revamp the show. In contrast, ABC News and NBC News have kept their anchors such as Sawyer, David Muir, or Brian Williams, Lester Holt for extended periods. Meanwhile, since Dan Rather’s departure in 2005, CBS has been rotating various personalities like Bob Schieffer, Katie Couric, Harry Smith, Scott Pelley, Anthony Mason, and Jeff Glor to host the “CBS Evening News.

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2024-11-22 23:16