Maurice DuBois, a renowned TV anchor celebrated for his composed presentation of even the most distressing news, is set to depart from CBS News as part of a significant restructuring of the “CBS Evening News” format, which has experienced notable declines in viewership. DuBois announced his last day at CBS, under the Paramount Skydance division, will be December 18, marking the end of his 21-year tenure at CBS-owned platforms, particularly as an anchor for WCBS in New York.
This shift in leadership comes on the heels of John Dickerson, DuBois’s co-anchor on “CBS Evening News,” revealing his decision to exit CBS News in October. The departure of both anchors is unusual, particularly in the absence of named successors, reflecting the current turmoil within CBS News. The network has appointed Bari Weiss, a non-traditional journalist and opinion editor, as chief editor of the news division, which could allow for a significant overhaul of its approach to news coverage.
The ratings for “Evening News” have dwindled, as executives at CBS News shifted their strategy away from heavy emphasis on breaking news stories. Recently, the program averaged just 4.26 million viewers for the week ending November 28, a stark contrast to NBC’s “Nightly News” at 6.24 million and ABC’s “World News Tonight” at 8.27 million. In the crucial 25 to 54 age demographic, considered vital for advertisers, “Evening News” attracted merely 427,000 viewers compared to 918,000 for NBC and 1.03 million for ABC.
There is speculation about DuBois potentially returning to WCBS, given his strong connection with local viewers, although budget cuts at Paramount are prompting reductions in their workforce. This trend echoes a broader pattern within the industry, as several prominent local anchors, such as Jim Donovan from KYW in Philadelphia and Elliott Rodriguez from WFOR in Miami, have also left their positions.
This overhaul at CBS News might open new doors for DuBois and other anchors as the media landscape continues to evolve, fostering opportunities for fresh talent and innovative approaches to broadcast journalism.