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.
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.
