John Dickerson will leave CBS News at the end of the year, a move that will inevitably raise questions about the future direction of “CBS Evening News,” which he has been co-anchoring with Maurice DuBois as part of a format revamp since earlier this year.
“I am extremely grateful for all that CBS gave me — the work, the audience’s attention and the honor of being 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,” the anchor said in a social-media post on Monday. “I will miss you.”
Dickerson, who also anchors a streaming-only half hour following “Evening News,” has been moved all over the CBS News portfolio over the years. Recognized for his writing skills and commentary as well as his acumen around politics, he was shifted out of a successful run as moderator of “Face the Nation” to a stint on “CBS This Morning.” He has appeared as a political analyst and a contributor to “60 Minutes” as well. His mother, Nancy Dickerson, was CBS News’ first female correspondent.
CBS News President Tom Cibrowski said in a statement that Dickerson “had decided” to step away from his role at the Paramount Skydance news operation. At the same time, it’s no secret that “Evening News” has suffered in the ratings since executives at CBS News tried to focus less heavily on breaking headlines. Dickerson and DuBois made for an unorthodox pairing, with the latter offering smooth delivery and the former serving as more of a kinetic on-screen presence. CBS News has in recent weeks reached out to talent agencies to seek talks with new prospects, according to people familiar with the matter.
Dickerson unveils plans to depart as CBS News is shifting under the aegis of its new editor in chief, Bari Weiss. The digital entrepreneur, who launched the conservative leaning The Free Press, which Paramount Skydance recently purchased for $150 million, arrived at the news division with a mandate to shake its operations. Claudia Milne, the head of standards for CBS News, opted to leave the company at the end of her most recent contract, and there are signs that others may want to do the same, uncertain about working for a news division with a top editorial executive who has already staked out positions on many big issues of the day.
CBS News is also facing layoffs under Paramount Skydance, which has vowed to cut costs at the media conglomerate since the Ellison family bought the company from Shari Redstone, its previoius controlling shareholder.
Before joining CBS News in 2011 as a political director, Dickerson logged stints at Slate and Time. He is the author of three books, a contributor to The Atlantic and a podcaster for Slate, where “Political Gabfest” has been around for two decades.
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From Variety US