“CBS Evening News” anchor Norah O’Donnell will depart her role as the network’s lead anchor following the 2024 election.
O’Donnell has held the post since 2019 and will take on a new position at the network.
“‘CBS Evening News’ anchor and managing editor Norah O’Donnell has announced that she will leave her role at the anchor desk after the 2024 election and take on a new position at the network,” CBS News announced.
“CBS Evening News” anchor and managing editor Norah O’Donnell has announced that she will leave her role at the anchor desk after the 2024 election and take on a new position at the network. https://t.co/XDRbnagWfo
— CBS News (@CBSNews) July 30, 2024
“I have spent 12 years in the anchor chair here at CBS News, tied to a daily broadcast and the rigors of a relentless news cycle,” she wrote, according to the Associated Press.
“It’s time to do something different,” she added.
Norah O’Donnell to exit as anchor of ‘CBS Evening News’ after 2024 election as ratings plummet https://t.co/DRMj5qjfGm pic.twitter.com/pdtY0hgFIa
— New York Post (@nypost) July 30, 2024
From the Associated Press:
She said she is staying with CBS News to contribute interviews and other stories, but in a role not fully defined. CBS says it is committed to the broadcast continuing, but gave no indication of who will be replacing her.
The “CBS Evening News,” the perch from which Walter Cronkite and Dan Rather held forth for many years, generally runs third in the network ratings behind ABC’s “World News Tonight” with David Muir and the “NBC Nightly News” with Lester Holt.
During the week of July 15-21, for instance, ABC averaged 6.8 million viewers, NBC had 5.5 million and CBS had 4 million, the Nielsen company said.
Prior to the onset of cable news, the three broadcast evening news anchors were generally considered the most powerful journalists in television news, and are still influential.
Norah O’Donnell to Exit as ‘CBS Evening News’ Anchor to Become Senior Correspondent https://t.co/sVJ4N0lMi2
— Variety (@Variety) July 30, 2024
One of one.
I learn something new from @NorahODonnell about our craft every night I watch her. Very excited that she’s staying in the CBS News family. https://t.co/s0rkQ9ULbL
— Caroline Cummings (@CaroRCummings) July 30, 2024
The New York Post added:
The show’s ratings have also been in the tank during her five years in the anchor seat — plunging roughly 25% and cementing the newscast firmly behind rivals at ABC and NBC.
“She deserves to lose her job,” one CBS insider told The Post after hearing about her exit.
O’Donnell, 50, will move to a new role as senior correspondent where she will focus on bigger interviews and reporting for other shows including “60 Minutes, according to CBS.
ADVERTISEMENT“She’s been put out to TV journalism pasture,” the source said.
“It’s like being sent to the graveyard of special projects.”
O’Donnell’s exit comes a month after controversial CBS News president Ingrid Ciprian-Matthews stepped down — as CBS NEWS CEO Wendy McMahon cuts costs and reshapes the network.
Paramount Global is expected to slash $500 million ahead of its likely merger with Skydance Media.
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