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"CBS Evening News" anchor Norah O'Donnell poses on the red carpet Dec. 8, 2024, for the 2024 Kennedy Center Honors Gala, in Washington. (AP)
Longtime ‘CBS Evening News’ anchor Norah O’Donnell has new role, she wasn’t fired
If Your Time is short
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"CBS Evening News" anchor and Managing Editor Norah O’Donnell said in July she would step down from the broadcast after the November presidential election for a new role as senior correspondent.
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The network said she would appear on multiple CBS News shows in her new role.
"CBS Evening News" anchor and managing editor Norah O’Donnell signed off on her last broadcast leading the show with a surprise video tribute from Oprah Winfrey.
O’Donnell stepped down Jan. 23 after more than five years as anchor, but assured viewers they would see her in her new role as senior correspondent on other CBS News programs, including "60 Minutes." Nevertheless, some social media users are baselessly claiming O’Donnell was fired.
"NOW: CBS NEWS’ Norah ODonnell, who famously fact-checked JD Vance during the Vice Presidential debate, has been fired after five years in the anchor chair," a Jan. 23 Threads post said.
This post was flagged as part of Meta’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and Threads.)
Some posts tied it to President Donald Trump’s election victory and a network attempt to appeal to conservative viewers. An X post with more than 1.5 million views by Jan. 24 said, "CBS Evening News fired rabid anti-Trump anchor Norah O'Donnell. The drive-by media is desperately trying to move to the center."
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We found multiple social media posts shared after O’Donnell’s final broadcast that said the network fired her.
CBS did not fire O’Donnell. She said in July that she would stop anchoring the show after the November presidential election.
"I have spent 12 years in the anchor chair here at CBS News, connected to a daily broadcast and the rigors of a relentless news cycle. It's time to do something different," she wrote in a memo to staff, according to a July 30 CBS News report.
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CBS News President Wendy McMahon in July described it as O’Donnell’s decision in a memo to staff, The Hollywood Reporter said. Her new role would allow her to do big interviews and other stories across CBS and Paramount+ shows and streams, McMahon told staff.
A Jan. 23 CBS Evening News X post said,"This isn’t goodbye — Norah will remain a vital part of the CBS News family as a senior correspondent."
The new "CBS Evening News" will feature co-anchors John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois, weathercaster Lonnie Quinn and "Face the Nation" moderator Margaret Brennan in a new format, Variety reported.
We rate claims that CBS fired O’Donnell False.
Our Sources
Threads post, Jan. 23, 2025 (archived)
X post, Jan. 23, 2025 (archived)
CBS Evening News, X thread, Jan. 23, 2025
CBS News, Norah O'Donnell: "Thank you for welcoming hard news with heart into your homes", Jan. 23, 2025
"CBS Evening News," YouTube, Norah O'Donnell's final sign off from "CBS Evening News", Jan. 23, 2025
CBS News, Norah O'Donnell to leave "CBS Evening News" anchor desk after 2024 election for new role at network, July 30, 2024
Variety, Norah O’Donnell Exits Ahead of Hard Pivot for ‘CBS Evening News’, Jan. 23, 2025
Variety, Norah O’Donnell to Exit as ‘CBS Evening News’ Anchor to Become Senior Correspondent, July 30, 2024
The Hollywood Reporter, Norah O’Donnell Leaving ‘CBS Evening News’, July 30, 2024
New York Post, Norah O’Donnell to exit as anchor of ‘CBS Evening News’ after 2024 election as ratings plummet, July 30, 2024
AdWeek, Week of Jan. 13 Evening News Ratings: A Clean Sweep of Newscast Declines, Jan. 23, 2025
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Longtime ‘CBS Evening News’ anchor Norah O’Donnell has new role, she wasn’t fired
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