Breaking News: Norah O'Donnell to Leave CBS Evening News for New Opportunity

Norah O'Donnell is set to step down as the anchor and managing editor of CBS Evening News after the upcoming November election, according to a memo she sent to colleagues. Having led the prestigious program for nearly five years, O'Donnell will transition to a new position as senior correspondent post-election, focusing on delivering in-depth stories and high-profile interviews across CBS platforms.

In her memo, O'Donnell expressed her appreciation for her time at CBS but noted it was time for a change. She has spent 12 years anchoring and is looking forward to exploring new opportunities as this election cycle marks her seventh as a journalist.

O'Donnell has committed to remaining with CBS News and will continue to contribute her expertise in storytelling and interviews. This transition coincides with significant changes at CBS, including the planned merger between CBS's parent company, Paramount Global, and Skydance Media, along with a major leadership shift. CBS News President Ingrid Ciprián-Matthews also announced her departure amid these changes.

Although O'Donnell's decision is not directly linked to the Skydance merger, the evolving media landscape influenced her choice. She expressed gratitude towards Wendy McMahon, CBS's CEO, for supporting her move to broaden her impact across various CBS shows and platforms, including primetime specials, 60 Minutes, and CBS News Sunday Morning.

Despite O'Donnell's decision being her own, it comes after previous attempts by CBS to replace her, including efforts by former CBS News President Neeraj Khemlani to recruit Brian Williams.

While evening news broadcasts remain popular, their influence has waned in the face of a fragmented digital news environment.