CBS announced an exciting new role for Norah O’Donnell
Norah O’Donnell Joins ’60 Minutes’ as Correspondent in New CBS News Role.
The network announced several new additions.
Kristina Bumphrey / Getty Images
Veteran journalist Norah O’Donnell is officially a 60 Minutes correspondent.
O’Donnell, 52, who is best known for her work anchoring the CBS Evening News, was announced on Tuesday as CBS News navigates a tumultuous period following the firing of Scott Pelley.
In an announcement shared with staff, Nick Bilton shared that O’Donnell would be making her role on the venerable news magazine more permanent with the correspondent role.
“Norah is a powerhouse. You’ve seen her all over the network. She’s launched a new podcast. And you’ll see much more of her in our halls because Norah will be a correspondent for 60 Minutes,” Bilton wrote in an announcement shared with staff. “Norah has contributed excellent pieces to the show for more than a dozen years, including interviews with Pope Francis, President Trump, President Biden, and Mohammed bin Salman.”
Exciting announcement for @60Minutes. See you all on September 13th! pic.twitter.com/k7eTtQw1yc
— Nick Bilton (@nickbilton) July 28, 2026
Who Else Is Joining 60 Minutes?
Bilton’s statement also noted that New York Times columnist Ross Douthat will serve as a 60 Minutes correspondent. He’s joined by The Perfect Storm reporter and author Sebastian Junger, who will serve as a contributor; Gianna Toboni, who is currently at CNN; and British journalist Trevor Phillips, who will also be joining the television news magazine.
Pelley Was Fired in June
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Back in June, CBS News fired Pelley after the 60 Minutes staple had a dramatic clash with management. He had previously butted heads with Bilton in a staff meeting, only exacerbating the existing conflict between CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss and the longtime staff of the iconic newsmagazine program. During the meeting, which was captured on audio, Pelley accused Weiss of “murdering” 60 Minutes.
In a letter to Pelley, which was obtained by a variety of news sources, Bilton informed Pelley of his termination.
“Your antipathy to the future of the show has come through loud and clear,” Bilton said in the letter. “And I have heard you. I therefore write on behalf of CBS News to inform you that your employment with CBS is terminated effective immediately.”
Check out the letter from Bilton to Pelley below:
#BREAK: CBS NEWS has terminated Scott Pelley’s contract. pic.twitter.com/vbXyX8PBBv
— Dylan Byers (@DylanByers) June 3, 2026
In a separate note to 60 Minutes employees, Bilton made it clear that the network and Pelley had “parted ways.”
“I know how much Scott meant to many of you, and I don’t say this lightly,” Bilton wrote in the letter, NBC News shared. “I made repeated attempts to have direct conversations with him over the weekend, and this afternoon I tried to find common ground. That was not the path Scott chose.”
Who Else Has Left 60 Minutes?
CBS News previously announced they were ousting former executive producer Tanya Simon, executive editor Draggan Mihailovich, and correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega, Variety reported.
Anderson Cooper, who has contributed to the show for nearly 20 years, announced he would be leaving the program in February, Parade previously shared.
“The thing is, it’s never felt like work. It’s felt like you’re stepping into people’s lives, and you’re invited into people’s homes,” Cooper reflected. “You’re invited into their struggles, you’re invited into whatever it is that has brought them to be on 60 Minutes.”
