Norah O’Donnell signed off from the anchor desk of CBS Evening News Thursday night, ending her five-year tenure with an emotional farewell that underscored her passion for journalism and public trust.
“This has been the honor of a lifetime,” O’Donnell said. “Journalism matters, and I’ve been reminded of that by so many of you who welcomed us into your homes every night.”
A Storied Career
O’Donnell, 51, began her CBS journey as a co-anchor on CBS This Morning in 2012 before taking the reins of CBS Evening News in 2019. Her tenure saw interviews with global figures like Pope Francis and the Dalai Lama and on-the-ground reporting from over 1,300 broadcasts.
Reflecting on her journey, O’Donnell expressed gratitude to her team. “The correspondents, producers, researchers, and crews work tirelessly to bring you the truth. That won’t change,” she emphasized.
A Surprise Farewell from Oprah
In a heartfelt moment, Oprah Winfrey surprised O’Donnell with a montage celebrating her career highlights. “You’ve not only won awards but have made a real difference in informing our nation,” Winfrey said.
O’Donnell’s final broadcast ended with applause from her newsroom colleagues. “I’ll miss you all. Thank you for trusting us,” she said.
Behind the Scenes: Changing Times at CBS
O’Donnell’s departure comes amid shifting dynamics at CBS News. After announcing her exit in July, she revealed plans to focus on long-form reporting for 60 Minutes and Sunday Morning.
CBS faced a challenging year, including parent company Paramount Global’s decision to cut 2,000 jobs and trim $500 million from its budget ahead of a merger with Skydance Media. The network also struggled in ratings, with CBS Evening News averaging 4.6 million viewers—significantly trailing competitors.
New Faces at the Desk
Stepping into O’Donnell’s shoes are veteran CBS reporter John Dickerson and New York anchor Maurice DuBois. The duo will co-anchor from a new studio in New York City, marking a shift from the show’s Washington, D.C., base.
DuBois, a New York native, acknowledged the audience’s importance. “Without the viewers, there is no us,” he said. “We’re excited to carry this legacy forward.”
As CBS ushers in a new chapter, O’Donnell’s departure marks the end of an era. For millions of viewers, her dedication to delivering “hard news with heart” will not soon be forgotten.
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Come on man!Sent from my Galaxy
The LSM – LameStreamMisleadia FAKE NEWS LIARS – all dying from the weight of their blatant lies… might try some truth… or just get buried…
Good riddance
Will be glad when all of Fakeout the Nation, Meet the Dishonest Press, etc. are all GONE!
Nora O’Donnell SUCKS! Just another lying leftist loser spreading her personal biases and disinformation on behalf of her complicity with the DNC. It’s because of CBS News I never watch CBS programming!
Kinda like you.
Yay!!
Great reporter going to be missed
Thsnkyou for reporting the news honestly every night
At least Problem reported the news as facts not like fox network and some other fake news reporters often do. No matter outward/inward pressures to report only what makes the upper crust happy, whether it’s true or not. So much fake news and there will be a lot more.
Journalists matter when they tell and report honest and truthful stories, regardless of consequences.
Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone