The battle for the “CBS Evening News” anchor’s seat is back on, just a year after it was filled by Jeff Glor.
Page Six is told that while incoming CBS News president Susan Zirinsky has been talking to Glor “nonstop” since it was announced that she’s taking over for David Rhodes, “She’s implied her support for Jeff,” said an insider. “But I’m not going to mislead you and say that she called and told Jeff, ‘Your job is safe.’ ”
Meanwhile, we’re told that “CBS This Morning” co-anchor Norah O’Donnell is once again campaigning for the coveted gig, previously held by the likes of Katie Couric, Dan Rather and Walter Cronkite.
O’Donnell had lobbied to get the job when Glor’s predecessor, Scott Pelley, quit in June 2017.
But at the time, the morning show was doing so well that execs wouldn’t consider interfering with the chemistry by moving her.
Now that the show’s ratings are suffering, she’s a serious contender for the gig.
A source close to O’Donnell told us that she has, so far, not been offered the job.
Meanwhile, we’re told that — while enthusiasm for Glor and his executive producer Mosheh Oinounou was flagging under Rhodes — Zirinsky is “hot on Oinounou.”
We’re also told that Zirinsky — already a CBS News heavy hitter as executive producer of “48 Hours,” had been a strong proponent of hiring Glor in the first place.
Sources say that Zirinsky isn’t in a hurry to make changes.
“She’s not the kind of person who needs to put her stamp on something by swinging her d - - k around,” said an insider.
We’re told that Zirinsky’s “on a listening tour” and asking for memos from producers while she gets a handle on the department.
We reported in May 2018 that execs were freaking out over Glor and Oinounou’s slow start in the ratings, and Rhodes called a meeting to address the show’s problems.
Reps didn’t get back to us.