CBS News is scrapping a recent revamp of its “Evening News” just weeks after replacing anchor Norah O’Donnell with a “60 Minutes”-inspired format featuring lesser-known anchors, sources told The NY Post. The retreat comes as ratings plummet and the network’s news chief faces mounting pressure.
The overhaul swapped O’Donnell for Maurice DuBois and Jeff Dickerson in a bid to transform the third-place broadcast into a news magazine with longer, reported segments. But after missteps like leading with a six-minute feature on student literacy last week—while major stories like Elon Musk’s White House visit and Russia’s release of a U.S. prisoner dominated the news cycle—CBS is shifting back to a harder news focus.
 |
| Norah O'Donnell |
The revamp was spearheaded by CBS News president and CEO Wendy McMahon, who tasked “60 Minutes” producer Bill Owens with reimagining the broadcast. She replaced O’Donnell, a five-year veteran of the anchor chair, with DuBois and Dickerson—cheaper hires who’ve drawn sharp criticism from CBS insiders.
“Dickerson looks lost on air,” one source said, while another dismissed DuBois, a former WCBS anchor, as “a nobody outside New York.” A former news executive added: “Anchors need likability or gravitas. DuBois and Dickerson bring neither—beyond some political reporting chops for Dickerson.”
Adding to the turmoil, McMahon’s deputy Adrienne Roark left the network Wednesday, fueling speculation of an exodus as the merger looms.
No comments:
Post a Comment