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Deborah Norville

Broadcast Journalism Career

Deborah Norville is a seasoned journalist and the long-time anchor of the syndicated newsmagazine program Inside Edition, a position she has held since 1995. Known for her professionalism and versatility, Norville is a two-time Emmy Award-winning journalist who has been a prominent figure in American broadcast media since 1978.

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Throughout her extensive career, she has contributed to numerous reputable media outlets including WAGA-TV in Atlanta, WMAQ-TV in Chicago, NBC News, CBS News, MSNBC, and ABC Talk Radio Network. She has served in various roles such as news reporter, anchor, radio host, co-host of morning shows, and television journalist with a focus on human-interest, celebrity profiles, and in-depth crime investigations.

Inside Edition and Media Presence

Since joining Inside Edition in 1995, Norville has become the face of the program, guiding it through dynamic coverage of current events, crime, celebrity news, and human-interest stories. She also led segments for the show's spinoff, Inside Out, offering investigative features and exclusive reports. Her work on the show continues to inspire aspiring journalists, bringing credibility and integrity to infotainment programming.

Significant Journalism Highlights

Deborah Norville’s journalism career is marked by numerous high-profile assignments. Notable moments include her 1979 interview with President Jimmy Carter, a 1990 interview with British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher amidst the Gulf crisis, and her award-winning 1989 documentary "Bad Girls" on violent teenage girls, which drew significant viewership on NBC. She earned her first Emmy for NBC’s coverage of the Romanian democratic uprising and her second for coverage of the 1994 Mississippi floods for CBS's 48 Hours.

Other notable assignments include immersive reporting from Davidson County Jail, where she spent a week, and an exclusive interview with Paula Jones during the Clinton administration controversies.

Early Life and Education

Born in Georgia, Norville displayed remarkable talent from a young age. As a high school senior, she won a local beauty pageant, which eventually led her to represent Georgia in the 1976 America’s Junior Miss pageant. It was during this competition that she became intrigued by the world of television, leading her to pivot from her original goal of becoming a lawyer.

Norville graduated summa cum laude from the University of Georgia in just three years with a bachelor's degree in Journalism. She earned a perfect 4.0 GPA and was a First Honor Graduate. Additionally, she was a proud member of the Delta Delta Delta sorority and served on the main court of the university’s student judiciary.

Transition from NBC and Controversy

Norville joined NBC’s Today show in 1989, eventually replacing Jane Pauley as co-anchor. Although the network hoped to boost ratings through the change, viewership declined during her tenure. After taking maternity leave in 1991, she did not return to the show.

Her exit sparked an unfortunate media narrative. Norville faced public scrutiny following the publication of a family photo showing her breastfeeding her newborn — a picture that was criticized by a network executive as “self-serving” in an article by People magazine. This moment was particularly challenging for Norville, who has since spoken about the emotional toll and the broader societal implications of such criticism. Despite the setback, many of her fans believe she deserves recognition—not condemnation—for her contributions to NBC during her tenure, particularly for boosting ratings at NBC News at Sunrise and earning an Emmy while at the network.


Quick Facts
Birth Date: 8 Aug, 1958
Age: 61 yrs
Occupations: Journalist
Citizenship: United States of America
Birth Place: Dalton
Education: University of Georgia
Gender: Female
Description: American journalist
Twitter Id: DeborahNorville
Net Worth 2021: 18 million
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Last Modified: Jun 16 2025
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