«An emotional farewell letter from Norah O’Donnell. After 12 years as an anchor at the network, she is LEAVING the CBS Evening News for a new role»
After 12 years as a network anchor and five years as the host of CBS Evening News, Norah O’Donnell has announced her departure.
As to THR, O’Donnell, fifty, is set to join the network as a special correspondent for CBS News, where she will be responsible for ‘interviews and other reports for CBS News programming with appearances on CBS Evening News and 60 Minutes.’
«There’s so much work to be proud of!» O’Donnell, who was accused of toxic conduct in 2022, wrote in a message to staff on Tuesday that the publication was able to receive.
However, I had worked as an anchor at CBS News for 12 years, where I was exposed to the demands of a nonstop news cycle and a daily broadcast. Now is the time to make a change.
Beyond that, I’m happy to announce that I have committed to working with CBS News for the long run, doing the same major interviews and narrative that have become our signature.
It’s time to take a different action. I’ll be a journalist for seven years after this one, and like many of us, we want to think of our careers in terms of these historic occasions.
The announcement of her replacement is pending.
In July 2019, O’Donnell took over Jeff Glor’s position as managing editor and host for CBS Evening News, overseeing the program from Washington, D.C.
Prior to that, in President Obama’s administration, O’Donnell was the chief White House correspondent for CBS News and co-host of CBS This Morning.
As stated in a statement to employees, Wendy McMahon, president and CEO of CBS News and Stations, «Norah will have the time and the support to deliver even more of the exceptional stories she is known for in her new role.»
«Norah’s superpower is her ability to land unmatched interviews and stories that set the news cycle and capture the cultural zeitgeist, and then deliver them masterfully.»
Fewer people could move from field anchoring on an aircraft carrier in the Red Sea to having a meal with Bono and Dolly Parton with such ease. Legendary job by Norah here, and there are a number other significant interviews in the works that will be just as noteworthy and significant.
The magazine was informed by sources that O’Donnell’s exit has nothing to do with Skydance’s proposed acquisition of Paramount Global.
Ingrid Ciprian-Matthews, the president of CBS News, resigned earlier this month to take a job as a senior adviser for the 2024 race.
In a memo that Variety obtained, Ciprian-Matthews stated, «Some may be wondering why I’m announcing this now.» As everyone knows, our business and industry are undergoing change, and both immediate and long-term decisions must be taken.
I do not wish to deceive any of you regarding who ought to make these choices. I’ve always leaned toward my morals and ethics, therefore I thought it was necessary to be open and honest about my plans at this point.
O’Donnell resigned with CBS News in April 2022 for $3.8 million a year, which was less than her previous $8 million compensation, according to insiders who spoke to the New York Post at the time. This was in response to rumors that she might be replaced.
The site was informed by a source that O’Donnell received a «low ball» offer from CBS executives, who were expecting her to turn it down. They were shocked to learn that O’Donnell accepted.
It came after multiple rumors that O’Donnell had a falling out with Neeraj Khemlani, the co-president of CBS News, a tough, frugal executive who had apparently scoured far and wide for O’Donnell’s possible successor.
A CBS News representative directed DailyMail.com to a statement given to the Post, which refuted the claim that Khemlani had attempted to unseat O’Donnell.
Once more, incorrect. According to the statement, Neeraj spearheaded the drive to acquire a few new anchors and correspondents, like Nate Burleson and Robert Costa, as well as retain and resign roughly a dozen of the network’s top performers during the previous year, including Norah O’Donnell and Gayle King.
The industry was rife with rumors in March 2022 that O’Donnell would be fired by CBS due to her ‘toxic behavior’ and her rumored $65,000 annual outfit allowance.
At the time, Cindi Berger, O’Donnell’s publicist, refuted the allegations, telling the Post, «It’s a clothing allowance; every news anchor has one.» That number is not accurate.
