John Dickerson Leaves CBS News, Raises Questions About ‘Evening News’

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 co-anchored with Maurice DuBois as part of a format overhaul since earlier this year.

“I am deeply grateful for everything CBS has given 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 have made me a better journalist and a better person,” the host said in a social media post on Monday. “I will miss you.”

Dickerson, who also provides a half-hour streaming-only slot after “Evening News,” has been moved throughout the CBS News portfolio over the years. Recognized for his writing and commentary skills, as well as his insight into politics, he was moved from a successful run as moderator of “Face the Nation” to a stint at “CBS This Morning.” He acted as a political analyst and also contributed to ’60 Minutes’. His mother, Nancy Dickerson, was CBS News’ first female correspondent.

CBS News President Tom Cibrowski said in a statement that Dickerson had “decided” to relinquish his role at the Paramount Skydance news operation. At the same time, it’s no secret that “Evening News” has suffered in ratings since executives at CBS News tried to focus less on breaking headlines. Dickerson and DuBois made for an unorthodox combination, with the latter offering a smooth delivery and the former serving as a more kinetic screen presence. CBS News has reached out to talent agencies in recent weeks to seek conversations with new prospects, according to people familiar with the matter.

Dickerson reveals plans to leave as CBS News shifts under the auspices of its new editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss. The digital entrepreneur, who launched the conservative-leaning The Free Press, which Paramount Skydance recently bought for $150 million, arrived at the news department with a mandate to shake up the business. Claudia Milne, head of standards at CBS News, has 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, unsure about working for a news department with a top editor who has already established positions on many of the big issues of the day.

CBS News is also facing layoffs under Paramount Skydance, which has pledged to cut costs at the media conglomerate since the Ellison family bought the company from Shari Redstone, the previous controlling shareholder.

Before joining CBS News as political director in 2011, Dickerson worked 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 20 years.