Veteran journalist John Dickerson, currently co-anchor of the CBS Evening News, is set to exit CBS News at the end of 2025, marking the first significant personnel shift under the leadership of newly appointed editor-in-chief Bari Weiss.
Dickerson announced his departure via social media, saying: “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.”
What this means for the network
Since Weiss’s appointment — a move by parent company Paramount Global and its CEO David Ellison — CBS News has signalled a broader strategic pivot. The departure of Dickerson suggests that the late-year retooling will extend to flagship programming such as the CBS Evening News, which has struggled to gain ground against rivals.
While higher-ups emphasise that Dickerson will be honoured for his contributions, the change signals an opening for fresh leadership and presentation style in the network’s flagship primetime news slot.
Dickerson’s legacy at CBS
Over his 16-year tenure, Dickerson has held several high-profile roles at CBS including anchor of Face the Nation, contributor to 60 Minutes, anchor of CBS This Morning and moderator of presidential primary debates. Fox New His exit leaves a significant void at the network’s senior-journalist tier and opens questions about who might step into his shoes.
The Weiss effect: what’s changing
The insider commentary reflects that many in the newsroom believe change was overdue. One staffer noted the network “needed a course correction, and an unwillingness to acknowledge that would lead to perpetual third place.” Fox NewOn her appointment, Weiss faced internal criticism for her limited television background and outspoken views; meanwhile, others expressed a readiness to embrace her fresh approach. RODoNews
What comes next
Although CBS News President Tom Cobrowski confirmed Dickerson will remain co-anchor until the holidays and will be publicly recognised for his work, the network has not yet revealed a successor or concrete changes to the CBS Evening News format. RODoNews Media watchers will be watching closely for announcements in the coming weeks.
Bottom line: John Dickerson’s departure marks an early and visible sign of the leadership shift under Bari Weiss at CBS News. It not only indicates changes at the anchor desk but also signals a broader attempt to redefine the network’s identity and competitiveness in primetime news.
