John Dickerson Departs CBS Evening News After 16 Years

CBS Evening News anchor John Dickerson has abruptly announced his exit after 16 years with the network.

“A personal update: I will depart from CBS at the close of this year, precisely sixteen years after my initial appearance as an anchor on Face the Nation,” Dickerson, aged 57, shared on Instagram, accompanying his message with career retrospective photos on Monday, October 27. “My gratitude is immense for everything CBS afforded me — the professional opportunities, the viewership’s engagement, and the privilege of contributing to the network’s legacy — and I also extend my thanks to my cherished colleagues who have enhanced my skills as a journalist and enriched me as an individual. I will genuinely miss our interactions.”

Dickerson offered no explanation for his resignation, nor did he disclose any upcoming professional endeavors.

According to USA Today, CBS News president Tom Cibrowski stated in a press release that Dickerson “embodies the pinnacle of journalistic excellence.”

Deborah Norville Reveals Departure from 'Inside Edition' Following Three Decades as Presenter

“There will be ample opportunity to express our appreciation for his efforts and commend his input to our achievements,” the official announcement further noted.

Dickerson became part of CBS in 2009, presenting the network’s public affairs show Face the Nation on three occasions during that year, eventually assuming full hosting duties from 2015 through 2018. Furthermore, he was appointed CBS News’ political director in 2011.

After stepping down from Face the Nation, Dickerson was appointed as a fresh co-anchor for CBS This Morning. He continued in this capacity until January of the current year, at which point he, alongside Maurice DuBois, took on the co-anchoring responsibilities for CBS Evening News, succeeding Norah O’Donnell.

In August 2024, CBS disclosed its decision to transition Dickerson and DuBois, 60, to the evening news broadcast, also announcing that O’Donnell, 51, would assume an expanded position as a senior correspondent for CBS News.

“We extend our appreciation to Norah for her outstanding performance on the Evening News during the last five years, and we are pleased that she has chosen to persist in directing our reporting up to and including the election,” remarked Wendy McMahon, president and CEO of CBS News & Stations and CBS Media Ventures, in an announcement at that juncture. “Norah’s updated position will enable her to make contributions across both CBS and Paramount, allowing us to witness a greater volume of the pioneering reports and discussions that have characterized her professional journey. Her exceptional strength resides in her capacity to secure and present major interviews and newsworthy narratives that shape the news agenda and reflect the prevailing cultural mood. We anticipate enhancing and highlighting Norah’s journalistic work both presently and in the years to come.”

McMahon proceeded, “Subsequent to Norah’s choice, we commenced a re-envisioning and restructuring of the Evening News program. The core competence of CBS News has consistently stemmed from its collective group of journalists, both on-screen and off-screen, and our ambition with John, Maurice, Margaret, and Lonnie contributing to the Evening News is to feature the foremost talents in their respective areas each night for our audience. Beyond this cohesive unit, we are eager to integrate correspondents from ’60 Minutes’ to provide reports for the ‘CBS Evening News’ whenever they have significant news to deliver; this practice was commonplace for many decades, and so it shall revert to being.”

Notable 'Today' Show Departures Through the Years: Featuring Hoda Kotb and Others

Dickerson’s departure from the broadcasting company also follows the appointment of Bari Weiss, previously a journalist with the New York Times and co-founder/CEO of The Free Press, as CBS News’ editor-in-chief earlier in the current month. Paramount secured ownership of The Free Press as an element of this strategic change.

“Our excitement is immense in welcoming Bari and The Free Press to Paramount and CBS News. Bari has demonstrated herself as a steadfast advocate for autonomous, ethical journalism, and I am convinced that her pioneering spirit and editorial outlook will energize CBS News,” declared David Ellison, Chairman and CEO of Paramount, in an official announcement. “This initiative aligns with Paramount’s broader strategy to update content and how it engages — both directly and fervently — with global audiences.”