CBS News announced that Norah O’Donnell will be an official correspondent for 60 Minutes when it kicks off its 59th season this coming fall.
The news was announced by new 60 Minutes executive producer Nick Bilton in a memo to staffers. Bilton also announced the addition of four new talent, including New York Times opinion columnist Ross Douthat, Sebastian Junger, Gianna Toboni, and Trevor Phillips, to the Sunday magazine roster, joining Lesley Stahl, Bill Whitaker, Jon Wertheim, and O’Donnell.
“Norah is a powerhouse. You’ve seen her all over the network,” said Bilton in a statement, adding that she has contributed “exceptional pieces to the show for more than a dozen years.”
O’Donnell was most recently the network’s senior correspondent focusing on long-form reporting and interviews. She was previously the anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News, relinquishing that role in January 2025.
As for the other new hires, Douthat joins as a 60 Minutes correspondent. Bilton described Douthat as “one of the preeminent public intellectuals in America today, a thinker of uncommon rigor and a journalist of deep empathy.” Douthat has spent nearly 20 years at The New York Times and has also worked at The Athletic.
Junger was named a 60 Minutes contributor and is a well-known documentarian, broadcast journalist, and war correspondent. He has also worked at ABC News covering the war in Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks.
Toboni was named a 60 Minutes contributor and CBS News national correspondent. She was most recently a reporter at CNN and prior to that spent a decade as a senior correspondent at Vice News and Vice on HBO.
Finally, Phillips, who is CBS News’ senior global affairs correspondent, was named a contributor to the Sunday flagship show.
“His sharp interviews and fearlessness in confronting the knottiest issues have received widespread recognition,” said Bilton about Phillips, who remains based in London, joined CBS News from Sky News, and is a three-time winner at the Royal Television Society Journalism Awards.
Bilton described these new hires who will continue the show’s mantra of “fearless, independent, and impartial reporting” as “entrepreneurial journalists who understand how to reach modern audiences,” adding that their various skill sets have enabled them to build brands on independent platforms.
Bilton, who came on board in May, has been tasked by CBS News leadership with expanding 60 Minutes beyond a one-hour television broadcast. His appointment rankled some within the network, as he was seen as an outsider with minimal television experience and also clashed with longtime correspondent Scott Pelley, who was let go from the show.
