CBS Evening News Co-Anchor Maurice Dubois Resigns Amid Program Overhaul
Maurice Dubois, co-anchor of CBS Evening News, is stepping away from the network as it undergoes significant changes. He shared his resignation on Thursday, noting that he would wrap up his tenure on December 18, after 21 years at CBS.
Dubois, known for his role at New York’s WCBS-TV, took on the Evening News co-anchor position last January alongside John Dickerson. In his announcement, he reflected fondly on his time at the network, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to share the news and connect with viewers.
Meanwhile, Dickerson revealed in late October that he would be leaving the network at the year’s end, hinting at an imminent wave of layoffs at CBS News.
Speculation surrounds Dubois’ resignation, suggesting it may signal further layoffs under new editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, potentially occurring before Christmas. The Evening News has struggled with ratings, with management describing the dual-anchor format as “awkward,” citing a perceived lack of chemistry.
CBS News President Tom Cybrowski emphasized Dubois’ value as a journalist, wishing him future success while hinting at the intention to revamp the program and bring in a fresh anchor to lead the show, which has roots tracing back to the iconic Walter Cronkite.
As for who might step in next, CBS Morning co-anchor Tony Dokoupil has emerged as a possible successor. There’s also talk about Norah O’Donnell returning, though insiders suggest that may not be likely. Reports indicate that Bari Weiss is considering ABC News correspondent Matt Gutman for the role as well.
Changes at CBS Evening News have been anticipated due to its significant viewership decline, having lost around 1 million viewers over the past year. The show, which averaged approximately 4.1 million viewers according to Nielsen, has struggled compared to rivals ABC’s “World News Tonight” and NBC’s “Nightly News.”
Internally, the “Evening News” has faced criticism for being difficult to watch, with some former executives describing it as “rudderless.” The exits of Dubois and Dickerson were expected, but the lack of immediate announcements regarding their replacements caught many by surprise. There’s speculation that CBS may utilize an alternative interim anchor until a permanent host is chosen.
