John Dickerson Departs CBS News After 16 Years—Inside His Next Chapter

John Dickerson is leaving CBS News at the end of the year. Sixteen years in, he announced his exit just after Bari Weiss stepped in as editor-in-chief. The timing is hard to ignore, and it signals a real shake-up at the network.

How Dickerson broke the news

He shared the decision on Instagram and also told the CBS Evening News staff directly in a meeting. His post wasn't just a goodbye note; it looked back at his run, including his first time sitting in on Face the Nation with Admiral Mike Mullen, plus snapshots with folks like Stephen King, David Letterman, Jon Batiste, and Christian Bale.

"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."

The CBS chapter, in brief

• Started at CBS anchoring Face the Nation, then moved through a bunch of roles over the years.
• Served as chief political analyst and, more recently, as a co-anchor on CBS Evening News.
• Marked career beats with interviews and moments ranging from Admiral Mike Mullen to encounters with Stephen King, David Letterman, Jon Batiste, and Christian Bale.
• Sixteen years total at the network.

What changed behind the scenes

Dickerson's exit comes on the heels of Bari Weiss being named editor-in-chief of CBS News earlier this month. Per reports, she's planning to make changes on the evening side, with the show's recent ratings sliding. With Dickerson leaving, CBS is now hunting for a new co-anchor for CBS Evening News.

Bottom line: a long-running, familiar face is stepping away, and it's happening right as CBS News is recalibrating under new leadership. Expect the evening lineup to look different sooner rather than later.