Maurice DuBois announced on Thursday that he will be stepping down as co-anchor of CBS Evening News effective December 18. This change comes amid shifting leadership in the news division and Paramount’s acquisition by Skydance, making his departure a somewhat expected development.
Expressing his sentiments on Instagram, DuBois reflected on his two-decade career in journalism, stating, “It has been the Honor of a Lifetime. 21 years altogether, including my time at WCBS-TV in New York City. What a privilege! To be welcomed into your homes night after night, delivering the news, meeting extraordinary people, and telling their stories. I’ll leave filled with gratitude, cherished relationships, and amazing memories.” He reassured viewers that he would continue to appear on The CBS Evening News until his departure.
His co-anchor, John Dickerson, is also set to leave CBS News at the end of the year, adding to the changes in the network’s lineup.
The future of the evening news broadcast is under the lens of the new editor in chief of the news division, Bari Weiss, who is expected to lead a significant overhaul. Tom Cibrowski, the president and executive editor of CBS News, acknowledged DuBois’s invaluable contributions to the network, saying, “Maurice has long represented what we do best at CBS News and Stations.” Cibrowski expressed gratitude for DuBois’s impactful storytelling over the years and conveyed a desire for future collaboration.
Despite DuBois and Dickerson’s efforts to elevate the program’s format towards more correspondent storytelling, the broadcast has continued to struggle in viewer ratings, remaining in a third-place position behind competitors ABC World News Tonight and NBC Nightly News.
Having anchored at WCBS-TV since 2004, DuBois leaves behind a legacy that is cherished by colleagues and viewers alike. The changes at CBS News mark a new chapter, with hopes for revitalization and growth as the network reassesses its approach in the competitive landscape of evening news broadcasts. This transition period provides an opportunity for innovation and potentially renewed audience engagement.