Exclusive | Norah ODonnells strong coverage of Pope Leo XIVs election could be her resurrection at CBS
Norah O’Donnell’s career could get “resurrected” at the Tiffany Network — following her strong coverage of the death of Pope Francis and the election of Pope Leo XIV, The Post has learned.The former “CBS Evening News” anchor — who was booted from the high-profile post in a controversial shakeup in January to make way for the duo of John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois — showed her chops as she amped up the network’s coverage from Rome last week, CBS insiders buzzed.The 51-year-old broadcaster is “well sourced” in the Vatican, according to a network source.As she covered the funeral and the conclave with Dickerson, she flashed knowledge gleaned from an exclusive sitdown with Pope Francis last year.O’Donnell delivered an exclusive interview with the Gammarelli family, who have tailored garments for popes, bishops and cardinals for more than 200 years, and even nabbed perspective from an American bishop from Chicago, the new pope’s hometown.“Norah has the stature when it comes to doing a live event,” one network source said, adding that O’Donnell made DuBois and Dickerson look “small” by comparison and “overshadowed” them both.“Maurice looked like a bump on a log.
He looked like her sidekick,” the source added.“John only knows how to do politics.
They were outmatched.”During the conclave and last Thursday’s announcement of Pope Leo XIV, the perennially third-place CBS News easily beat NBC’s News in the ratings.CBS averaged 3 million viewers, compared to 1.9 million for NBC’s coverage anchored by Lester Holt.
ABC News drew 3.5 million, according Nielsen.Insiders say the blip of success may have been an awkward moment for CBS News boss Wendy McMahon, who was behind the January shakeup.In the first quarter, the overhauled “CBS Evening News” saw its total viewers tumble to 3.5 million.
Vewers in the advertiser-coveted demographic of 25-54 years, fell to 657,000, according to Nielsen ratings.That’s versus the ye...