Longtime CBS News Radio correspondent and veteran political journalist Mark Noller was 73 years old in Washington, D.C.
CBS News confirmed his death on Saturday, saying he was ill and suffered from diabetes.
Knoller was an editor and radio reporter for CBS News from 1988 to 2020. He was legendary among White House journalists because of his position as an informal presidential statistician.
“His complaints about the lack of a central database of daily presidential actions has prompted him to take on the huge burden of maintaining a meticulous record of all presidential actions, movements and speech, and has alone filled a huge void in American history.”
“Mark Norler was the hardest-working and most prolific White House correspondent of a generation,” said Tom Chibrowski, president and executive editor of CBS News. “Everyone in America knew his unique voice and the latest reports across eight presidential administrations.”
Born in Brooklyn, Knoller turned his eyes to a career in journalism as a youth. He graduated from New York University and began his career as a copywriter, then began his radio reporter at WNEW Radio. In 1975 he joined the Associated Press Radio Network.
Knoller moved to CBS in 1988 after a meeting with renowned CBS news producer Susan Zilinsky led to a job offer on iNetwork. Knoller first came as an assignment editor, but a few years later, he moved to his dream job, as Reid described as a White House correspondent for CBS Radio.
A former CBS News colleague paid tribute to Knoller.
“Mark Norler was simply the best, legendary White House journalist and was delighted to be around,” said Nora O’Donnell, senior correspondent at CBS News. “His work was his life. He was kind and interesting, and always elegant in sharing encyclopedia knowledge of the presidency. His CBS family adores him and we miss our friends.”
CBS News Chief White House correspondent Major Garrett said Norler “defined” the role of White House correspondent.
“Mark was the most dedicated, persistent, and transparent journalist who I have ever had the honor of knowing. As long as I live, I count among the greatest blessings of my life that I have been able to work with him,” Garrett said.
Jim Axelrod, chief research correspondent at CBS News, cited Knoller’s generosity with his colleagues.
“Mark Norler’s sweep of knowledge about the White House and the presidency was impressive, and it only rose by his generosity towards many of his friends and colleagues,” Axelrod said. “And he always responded with kindness, class and a sincere desire to help.”
