Norah O’Donnell’s strong coverage of Pope Leo XIV’s election could be her ‘resurrection’ at CBS

New York Post - May 14th, 2025
Open on New York Post

Norah O’Donnell, a former CBS Evening News anchor, has reinvigorated her career following her exceptional coverage of Pope Francis' death and Pope Leo XIV's election. O'Donnell, previously replaced in a controversial shakeup, demonstrated her expertise and deep Vatican connections, overshadowing her successors John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois during the broadcast. CBS insiders noted her commanding presence, contributing to CBS's ratings triumph over NBC, though still trailing behind ABC. Her standout performance has sparked speculation about her potential return to a significant role at CBS, especially as the network navigates new ownership under Skydance Media.

The context surrounding O'Donnell’s potential comeback involves broader challenges at CBS News, including declining ratings since her departure and strategic missteps following a revamp. The network's struggles are compounded by an impending $8 billion merger with Paramount Global, complicated by legal battles involving former President Trump. While O'Donnell’s future at CBS remains uncertain, her recent success has highlighted internal disarray and may influence upcoming decisions as the network seeks to stabilize under new leadership. Despite her achievements, concerns about her past behavior and internal resistance could pose challenges to her potential return.

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

5.4
Moderately Fair
Read with skepticism

The article provides a detailed account of Norah O'Donnell's career and potential resurgence at CBS, focusing on her recent coverage of the Pope's events. It is timely and relevant, engaging readers interested in media news and personalities. However, the story's reliance on unnamed sources and speculative claims weakens its credibility and impact. While it presents a clear and accessible narrative, the lack of balance and transparency in source attribution limits its authority. The article has potential to provoke debate and influence perceptions, but its effectiveness is tempered by the need for verification and more balanced perspectives.

RATING DETAILS

6
Accuracy

The story presents several claims that can be verified, such as Norah O'Donnell's previous role as anchor and her coverage of the Pope's events. However, the accuracy of some details, like the specific viewership figures and the internal dynamics at CBS, require verification. The story mentions CBS's ratings during the papal coverage and compares them to NBC and ABC, which could be checked against Nielsen ratings. Additionally, the claims about O'Donnell's potential return and the network's internal opinions are based on unnamed sources, which makes them harder to verify.

The article also references a potential merger between Skydance Media and Paramount Global, as well as President Trump's lawsuit, which are significant claims needing external confirmation. The story's accuracy is supported by some factual elements but is weakened by the reliance on anonymous sources for critical claims about internal network decisions and future prospects.

5
Balance

The article primarily focuses on Norah O'Donnell's career and her potential resurgence at CBS, providing a detailed account of her strengths and past controversies. However, the story heavily leans towards her perspective and those who support her, with less emphasis on the viewpoints of her current replacements, John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois.

The narrative is somewhat biased towards O'Donnell, as it highlights her achievements and potential comeback while downplaying the contributions of her successors. The article could benefit from a more balanced presentation by including perspectives from CBS management or other industry experts who might provide a different view of the situation.

7
Clarity

The article is generally clear in its language and structure, making it accessible to readers. It follows a logical flow, beginning with O'Donnell's recent coverage and moving into the implications for her career and CBS's internal dynamics.

The tone is neutral, though it leans slightly towards favoring O'Donnell, which could influence reader perception. Despite this, the article effectively communicates the main points and provides a coherent narrative, although the reliance on unnamed sources may lead to some ambiguity in understanding the full context.

4
Source quality

The article relies heavily on unnamed sources described as 'network insiders' and 'a source close to the network,' which raises questions about the credibility and reliability of the information. These anonymous sources provide significant claims about internal CBS dynamics and O'Donnell's future, which are central to the story.

The lack of named or verifiable sources weakens the article's authority and makes it difficult to assess the impartiality of the reporting. The story would benefit from including more identifiable and authoritative sources, such as official statements from CBS or industry analysts, to bolster its credibility.

5
Transparency

The article provides some context about the changes at CBS and O'Donnell's career trajectory, but it lacks transparency regarding the basis of its claims. The use of anonymous sources without clear attribution makes it challenging to understand the foundation of the information presented.

While the story mentions significant events, such as the potential merger and Trump's lawsuit, it does not explain the methodology behind the claims or disclose any potential conflicts of interest. Greater transparency in how the information was obtained and the motivations of the sources would enhance the article's credibility.

Sources

  1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnJw4v6mAOg
  2. https://www.cbsnews.com/video/conclave-elects-pope-leo-xiv-as-first-american-to-lead-the-catholic-church-special-report/
  3. https://www.instagram.com/p/DJg7AJTJy-M/
  4. https://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/news-networks-pope-leo-xiv-election-how-to-watch/
  5. https://barrettmedia.com/2025/05/14/why-lester-holt-and-martha-raddatz-treated-coverage-of-pope-leo-xiv-so-passionately/