Politics
Longtime CBS News Host Set To Leave Network After One Final Broadcast
Norah O’Donnell’s tenure as the anchor and managing editor of “CBS Evening News” is set to conclude with tonight’s broadcast, marking the end of a chapter in the network’s history. For the past five years, O’Donnell has been a familiar presence in millions of households, delivering breaking news and high-profile interviews.
CBS Evening News acknowledged O’Donnell’s final broadcast in a heartfelt social media post. During her farewell broadcast, O’Donnell was surprised by a special message from Oprah Winfrey, who praised her dedication and impact on journalism.
“Congratulations. You have so much to be proud of. Your work as the anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News has not only won awards, but more importantly, has made such a difference and informed our nation,” Oprah said.
A retrospective segment followed, highlighting O’Donnell’s journey through significant moments in history, including her reporting from global hotspots, exclusive interviews, and in-depth investigations that led to real change.
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O’Donnell, who first announced her departure from the anchor desk last July, has said that she is not stepping away from CBS News entirely. She will transition into a senior correspondent role, continuing to contribute to major stories and special coverage across the network’s platforms, including “60 Minutes.”
While her initial plan was to step down after Friday’s broadcast, CBS has adjusted the schedule, moving her final appearance up by a day due to the network’s coverage of the Farmers Insurance Open golf tournament.

Cleveland, Ohio, USA, July 18, 2016
CBS News anchor Norah O’Donnell poses for pictures on the main floor of the Quicken Arena prior to the start of the Republican National Nominating Convention
“After this year’s election, I’ve decided I will be leaving my role as anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News to take on a new position at the network,” O’Donnell shared in her statement in July. “We just celebrated an amazing five years together. I love what I do, and I am so fortunate to work with the best journalists and people in the business. Together, our team has won Emmy, Murrow, and DuPont awards.”
In her final words Thursday night, O’Donnell said, “This has been the honor of a lifetime to anchor this legacy broadcast. The CBS Evening News is for good reason the longest running evening newscast in America, and it is powered by the finest journalists around the world, the correspondents, producers, researchers and crews who work tirelessly to bring you the news every night. And that won’t change because journalism matters. I know that because I’ve heard it from so many of you, our viewers.”
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O’Donnell’s journey at CBS has been marked by coverage of some of the most pivotal events of the past decade. The news of her departure from the anchor chair comes at a time of significant change for CBS News.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, July 25, 2016
“Thank you for all that you do for our broadcast and our audience every single day. There’s nothing more important to me than making sure we cover this election with the excellence and humanity that defines our work together.” She finished, “I’m so fortunate to share those values with so many hard-working journalists who believe how important the work of journalism is to a healthy democracy. Onward!”
