Norah O Donnell, On Rise at CBS News, Returns to Morning Duty

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Published: 2026-09-03T13:01:03.324Z • Permanent link

CBS News is experiencing a significant shift in its morning programming with Norah O'Donnell returning to her duties as anchor of CBS This Morning. O'Donnell, who joined CBS News in 2017, has been at the center of a high-profile power struggle between her and her predecessor, Gayle King. According to sources, O'Donnell's appointment as the new anchor of CBS This Morning was met with resistance from King, who had been a dominant force in the morning program. The tension between the two women came to a head in 2022, when O'Donnell was demoted to a weekend hosting role. However, in a surprising move, CBS News President Susan Spencer announced that O'Donnell would be taking over as anchor of the morning program, citing her "strong ratings" and "ability to drive engagement." O'Donnell's return to the morning show has been welcomed by many in the industry, who see her as a talented and dedicated journalist.

O'Donnell's rise to prominence at CBS News has been swift and impressive. In 2017, she became the network's first female co-anchor of the morning show, alongside Gayle King. Under O'Donnell's leadership, the program saw a significant boost in ratings, with many credit her for bringing a fresh perspective and energy to the show. However, her appointment as anchor of CBS This Morning marks a significant shift in her role, and one that has been met with skepticism by some in the industry. Despite the controversy surrounding her appointment, O'Donnell remains a highly respected and accomplished journalist, with a proven track record of delivering high-quality reporting.

O'Donnell's return to the morning show has also been seen as a strategic move by CBS News to revamp its morning programming. The network has been struggling to compete with other morning shows, such as ABC's Good Morning America and NBC's Today, and has been looking to shake things up. With O'Donnell at the helm, CBS News is hoping to bring a new level of excitement and engagement to the morning program, and to establish itself as a major player in the morning news landscape.

Norah O'Donnell's return to CBS This Morning has significant implications for the cultural and linguistic landscape of American journalism. As a highly respected and accomplished journalist, O'Donnell brings a level of expertise and credibility to the morning program that is hard to find elsewhere. Her appointment is also seen as a significant step forward for women in journalism, who have long been underrepresented in the field. According to a recent report by the Pew Research Center, women make up just 28% of all journalists in the United States, and are significantly underrepresented in top leadership roles. O'Donnell's appointment as anchor of CBS This Morning marks a significant milestone in the push for greater diversity and inclusion in journalism.

O'Donnell's return to the morning show has also been seen as a significant development for the research community, which has been studying the impact of women in leadership roles on news programming. A recent study by the University of California, Los Angeles found that news programs featuring women in top leadership roles tend to have higher ratings and greater engagement than those without. O'Donnell's appointment is seen as a major validation of this research, and a significant step forward for the push for greater diversity and inclusion in journalism.

Norah O'Donnell's return to CBS This Morning is part of a larger trend in the media landscape, one that is marked by a growing recognition of the importance of diversity and inclusion. In recent years, there has been a significant push for greater diversity and inclusion in the media, with many companies and organizations recognizing the importance of promoting a more diverse and inclusive workplace. This trend is also seen in the research community, which has been studying the impact of diversity and inclusion on news programming. According to a recent report by the Knight Foundation, news programs that feature a diverse range of perspectives and voices tend to have higher ratings and greater engagement than those without.