“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.”
John Dickerson’s gracious exit from CBS News after 16 years is a class act—his Instagram post highlights genuine appreciation for the institution and colleagues that shaped him, without a hint of bitterness. It’s a reminder that even in a cutthroat media world, some journalists still prioritize professionalism over drama. That said, his departure (effective end of 2025) comes amid broader upheaval at CBS: the Paramount-Skydance merger, a lawsuit settlement with the Trump administration over a 60 Minutes interview, and the appointment of Bari Weiss as editor-in-chief, signaling a potential shift toward more balanced (or at least less predictable) coverage. The CBS Evening News has been stuck in third place ratings-wise, averaging around 3.7-4.6 million viewers in 2025 (down 8-9% year-over-year in key demos), trailing ABC’s World News Tonight (7+ million) and NBC’s Nightly News (6+ million).
No wonder the brass is scrambling for a reboot.