John Dickerson has announced he is stepping down as co-anchor of the CBS Evening News and leaving CBS News at the end of the year, concluding his sixteen-year tenure at the network. The departure, announced on October 27, comes amid significant corporate and editorial shifts at CBS.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Dickerson, who currently co-anchors with Maurice DuBois, will remain on air until the holidays.
Context and Concerns
While Dickerson expressed deep gratitude for his time, the exit follows a tumultuous period at CBS, which included:
- Paramount’s $16 Million Settlement: Dickerson had publicly criticized CBS parent company Paramount’s settlement of a lawsuit with Donald Trump, questioning the network’s ability to maintain journalistic integrity and public trust after paying millions to a political figure.
- Organizational Change: His departure occurs as CBS navigates the Paramount-Skydance merger and as Bari Weiss begins her role as the new editor-in-chief, signaling a major potential shake-up for the news division.
Dickerson’s Legacy
Since joining in 2009, Dickerson has been a pivotal figure at CBS, holding high-profile roles including:
- Moderator of Face the Nation
- Political Director
- Co-Anchor of CBS Mornings
- Contributor to 60 Minutes (earning an Emmy nomination for his work on the Elijah McClain story)
He is also an author, a contributing writer for Time and Slate, and co-hosts the Slate’s Political Gabfest podcast.
CBS News President Tom Cibrowski confirmed the exit, praising Dickerson as a journalist who “epitomizes the very best of journalism.” The network has not yet named a successor, leaving the future format of the CBS Evening News in question.
