‘CBS Evening News’ anchor signs off: ‘Thank you for trusting us’

Norah O’Donnell signed off as the anchor at “CBS Evening News” on Thursday night.

“It has been an incredible five and a half years,” O’Donnell said, adding it was the “honor of a lifetime.”

O’Donnell, who has served as the broadcast’s anchor since 2019, emphasized the importance of journalism as she delivered her final on-air sign-off.

“You have so much to be proud of,” said Oprah Winfrey, who surprised O’Donnell with a montage of her more than 1,300 broadcasts, per New York Post. “Your work as the anchor and managing editor of the ‘CBS Evening News’ has not only won awards, but more importantly, has made such a difference and informed our nation.”

O’Donnell will work on long-form reporting and interviews for CBS’s primetime specials, “Sunday Morning” and “60 Minutes” broadcasts, CBS announced.

“The correspondents, producers, researchers and crews who work tirelessly to bring you the news every night,” she said. “That won’t change because journalism matters. I know that because I’ve heard that from so many of you — our viewers. So from the bottom of my heart, thank you for trusting us and welcoming hard news with heart into your homes.”

CBS reporter John Dickerson and CBS New York anchor Maurice Dubois were named as O’Donnell’s successors. Their first episode is set for Jan. 27 from New York City.

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.