Nora O’Donnell might find her career taking a positive turn with CBS, particularly after her notable coverage of Pope Francis’ passing and the election of Pope Leo XIV, as reported by the Post.
The former anchor of “CBS Evening News” was removed from her position earlier this year in a controversial shakeup that brought in John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois. However, last week, she made a significant impression by enhancing the network’s coverage from Rome.
Sources from within the network indicate that O’Donnell, at 51, is well-connected at the Vatican. She showcased her insight gathered from an exclusive sit-down with Pope Francis during her coverage of the funeral and Conclave alongside Dickerson.
For over 200 years, O’Donnell has been involved in coordinating the garments worn by the Pope, bishops, and cardinals, pulling insights particularly from her experience with the American bishop of Chicago, the Pope’s hometown.
“Nora excels in live event situations,” noted one source, who went on to suggest that O’Donnell seemed to overshadow DuBois and Dickerson, making them appear smaller in stature.
“Maurice seemed almost like a log,” the source commented, suggesting that he played the role of her partner during coverage. “John, on the other hand, has a grasp on political matters. They came out on top.”
During the coverage of the Conclave and Pope Leo XIV’s announcement, CBS outperformed NBC in ratings, averaging 3 million viewers compared to NBC’s 1.9 million with Lester Holt at the helm. ABC News led with 3.5 million viewers, according to Nielsen.
An insider believes that O’Donnell’s recent resurgence could pose a dilemma for Wendy McMahon, the head of CBS News, especially after the mishaps following the January changes. The revamped “CBS Evening News” saw its audience drop to 3.5 million in the first quarter, with key demographics also declining.
This contrasts with when O’Donnell was at the helm, attracting 5 million viewers and 722,000 in the younger demo.
A source mentioned that O’Donnell’s recent exposure indicates ongoing confusion within CBS News.
“We won’t see ABC’s David Muir taking a backseat like Dickerson and DuBois,” the insider suggested.
CBS News was contacted for comments on this situation.
Last year, the CBS CEO announced plans to refresh the 30-minute “Evening News,” shifting its base from Washington back to New York, where O’Donnell previously led for five years before being replaced by the new duo.
With multiple major stories breaking after the election of Trump, the program was forced to shift strategies. Still, the insider expressed doubts about O’Donnell reclaiming her anchor position with the current leadership.
“While her recent Pope coverage might revive her career, it could also be a fleeting moment,” media experts warned.
Moreover, a lagging rating period could pose challenges as Skydance Media approaches an $8 billion merger with CBS and Paramount Global. It’s reported that Skydance executives are dissatisfied with the current state of affairs.
“They are working on reconstructing the evening news,” a source said.
Uncertainties linger about whether O’Donnell will return as anchor, although sources indicate that other journalists displaced from key reporting roles could find new opportunities once the new ownership settles in.
“Something good is in the works for Nora O’Donnell,” the insider expressed.
However, it remains to be seen if the merger will go through due to ongoing scrutiny from former President Trump. Currently, Paramount is engaged in discussions concerning a $20 billion lawsuit related to a sit-down with former Vice President Kamala Harris. The Federal Communications Commission, led by Trump appointees, is also looking into the matter.
“Honestly, O’Donnell and ‘CBS Evening News’ seem to be off many people’s minds right now,” a source observed.
Insiders mentioned that reviving O’Donnell’s career may not come without pushback and internal hesitations within the network.
Previous accounts have highlighted O’Donnell’s difficult behavior, and there’s a suggestion that a “full dress rehearsal” is necessary when she prepares for broadcasts.
