CBS News Prepares to Shuffle Top Anchors

By Benjamin Mullin 

CBS News is changing the lineup of anchors at its flagship shows as its recently appointed president, Susan Zirinsky, puts her stamp on the news division.

According to a plan that is likely to be announced Monday, "CBS This Morning" co-anchor Norah O'Donnell will succeed Jeff Glor as the anchor of "CBS Evening News," according to people familiar with the matter.

Mr. Glor is expected to be offered another spot at CBS News, the people said, but details about that position couldn't be learned.

The reorganization comes as Ms. Zirinsky seeks to turn the page on a chaotic period for the network, which has been riven by accusations of sexual harassment and dogged by lackluster ratings.

Morning show star Charlie Rose and "60 Minutes" executive producer Jeff Fager departed the network in recent months amid allegations they sexually harassed women. Mr. Fager was fired after he sent texts the network deemed inappropriate to a CBS News reporter investigating the allegations.

Leslie Moonves also was ousted last fall as chief executive of the network's parent, CBS Corp., as the company investigated allegations he sexually harassed multiple women during his career.

Messrs. Moonves and Fager denied the allegations. Mr. Rose apologized, adding that he didn't think all of the allegations against him were accurate.

Ms. Zirinsky, who inspired Holly Hunter's über-capable producer character from the movie "Broadcast News," succeeded David Rhodes as president of the news division in March as CBS Corp. looked to move past the network's turmoil.

Appointing Ms. O'Donnell as the second woman in the network's history to anchor its evening news program would be a prominent marker of that change. Katie Couric, a former anchor of "CBS Evening News," became the first solo woman to anchor that program in 2006.

The New York Post earlier reported on CBS News's shake-up plans.

Ms. O'Donnell's departure from "CBS This Morning" is expected to coincide with the elevation of her co-anchor, Gayle King, who will take a more prominent role on that show, the people familiar with the matter said.

Ms. King, a veteran broadcast journalist who in recent months won acclaim for trenchant interviews of R&B singer R. Kelly and Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, had leverage going into negotiations for her new contract at CBS News, according to one of the people.

Ms. Zirinsky is also planning to make additional changes to "60 Minutes, " the marquee newsmagazine that was recently shaken by the departure of Mr. Fager. John Dickerson, a keen interviewer whose profile dipped when he went from anchor of politics-focused "Face the Nation" to co-anchor of "CBS This Morning," will join the staff of "60 Minutes," one of the people said.

Ratings for "CBS Evening News" and "CBS This Morning" have lagged behind rival programs at other networks, with "60 Minutes" continuing to outperform its competition.

Since her appointment as head of the news division, Ms. Zirinsky has been charged with the dual mandate of lifting ratings and helping repair CBS News's culture, one of the people said. She replaced Mr. Fager with "60 Minutes" executive editor Bill Owens, and created two new human-resource positions to focus on professional development.

The reorganization comes amid speculation on Wall Street about a long-anticipated merger between CBS Corp. and its sister company, Viacom. The company recently extended the contract of acting CBS Chief Executive Joe Ianniello, a move that could position Mr. Ianniello to help steer the integration of the two companies should they merge.

Write to Benjamin Mullin at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

May 05, 2019 19:28 ET (23:28 GMT)

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