Additional Coverage:
John Dickerson to Depart CBS News Amidst Network Overhaul
New York, NY – Longtime “CBS Evening News” co-anchor John Dickerson will be stepping down from the network at the end of the year, marking a significant talent departure as Bari Weiss begins her tenure as editor-in-chief of CBS News. Dickerson’s exit signals the first major programmatic change under Weiss’s leadership since she was tapped last month by Paramount’s new owner, David Ellison, to revitalize the news division.
“CBS Evening News,” which has consistently trailed ABC and NBC in viewership since Dickerson and Maurice DuBois assumed co-anchoring duties earlier this year, is expected to be the first program to undergo retooling under Weiss’s direction.
In a social media announcement, Dickerson expressed his gratitude for his 16 years at CBS. “At the end of this year, I will leave CBS, sixteen years after I sat in as ‘Face the Nation’ anchor for the first time.
I am extremely grateful for all that CBS gave me – the work, the audience’s attention and the honor of being a part of the network’s history- and I am grateful for my dear colleagues who’ve made me a better journalist and a better human. I will miss you,” he wrote.
Dickerson’s departure adds another layer of change for “CBS Evening News,” which saw him and DuBois take over from Norah O’Donnell in January. While the future format of the program remains uncertain, CBS News President Tom Cobrowski confirmed that Dickerson will be celebrated for his contributions.
“After 16 years at CBS News and contributing to every program here, John Dickerson has decided to step away at the end of the year. John epitomizes the very best of journalism.
He will co-anchor the CBS Evening News until the holidays, when he will say farewell. Until then, we’ll have plenty of time to thank him for his work here and honor his contributions to our success,” Cobrowski stated.
Throughout his distinguished career at CBS, Dickerson has served as a contributor to “60 Minutes,” anchored “Face the Nation,” co-anchored “CBS This Morning,” and moderated two presidential primary debates. He also conducted nearly 20 interviews with former President Donald Trump.
Weiss’s appointment as editor-in-chief has generated considerable discussion both internally and externally, with some critics citing her opinion background and limited television experience. However, a CBS News insider revealed that concerns within the newsroom largely stem from two distinct groups: “Really young people who, frankly, might be [more] progressive than they should be, and the really old people who feel protective of a brand that no longer exists anyway.”
The insider elaborated that older staffers, nostalgic for the “Walter Cronkite era” of CBS News, are struggling to adapt to contemporary changes, while some younger colleagues object to Weiss’s outspoken pro-Israel stance and anti-“woke” views. Conversely, the insider noted, “Everyone in between was like, ‘Yeah, let’s try something new.’”
The source further indicated that a significant portion of the newsroom is open-minded, acknowledging Weiss’s success in launching a prominent media company and her perceived understanding of the current American cultural landscape. “We probably needed a course correction, and an unwillingness to acknowledge that would lead to perpetual third place,” the insider commented, alluding to the network’s ratings struggles.
Earlier this year, Dickerson was critical of Paramount’s multimillion-dollar settlement with former President Trump, using his CBS News platform to suggest it could impede the press’s ability to “hold power to account.”