Katie Couric Criticizes CBS After Norah O’Donnell’s ‘Evening News’ Exit

Norah O’Donnell will remain on CBS as a Senior Correspondent.

Katie Couric has voiced her displeasure with CBS. The well-regarded journalist, who anchored CBS Evening News from 2006-2011, is unhappy about the network’s decision to replace Norah O’Donnell with two male anchors. Maurice DuBois and John Dickerson are set to co-anchor the nightly broadcast starting after the 2024 presidential election. In July, O’Donnell confirmed she was stepping down as the anchor and managing editor of CBS Evening News to take on the role of Senior Correspondent. She will continue contributing to CBS Evening News, 60 Minutes, and CBS News Sunday Morning.

Couric expressed her concerns in a guest essay for The New York Times. “It was more than a little disappointing to read that Ms. O’Donnell would be replaced by two men, John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois,” Couric wrote. “Don’t get me wrong: I know, like and respect these two journalists. But soon, on the big three networks, there will be four male anchors.”

Couric further elaborated, “Yes, the talented Margaret Brennan will be contributing stories from the Washington bureau for CBS, but the two people who will be greeting Americans watching the CBS evening newscast will be men.” She emphasized that this decision reflects who holds the power behind the scenes, pointing out a lack of diversity. “More important, the three people behind the scenes, making most of the editorial decisions, will be three white men: Bill Owens, Guy Campanile, and Jerry Cipriano.”

Reflecting on her own experience, she mentioned that her time anchoring the news was generally positive. However, she acknowledged that “male writers occasionally have blind spots” and stressed that this upcoming election is too crucial for such oversights.

Couric pointed out that with Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic candidate for the upcoming election, the timing of CBS’s decision is problematic. “We’re also in the midst of a campaign that could result in the election of the first woman president and first woman of color as president. It’s a potentially historic story — one that needs a diverse group of journalists covering it,” she added.