Maurice DuBois announced Thursday, Dec. 4 that he is leaving CBS News after more than two decades with the network, marking the second major anchor departure from “CBS Evening News” in less than two months. His final broadcast will air Dec. 18, leaving the storied evening news program without any anchors as the network undergoes a significant overhaul under new leadership.
DuBois, 60, revealed his exit through an Instagram post, expressing gratitude for what he called the honor of a lifetime. The veteran journalist spent 21 years at CBS-owned properties, building his reputation primarily at WCBS, the network’s New York flagship station. His departure comes as CBS News navigates a turbulent period following Paramount Skydance’s $8 billion acquisition of Paramount and subsequent leadership changes.
Tom Cibrowski, president and executive editor of CBS News, praised DuBois in a statement following the announcement. “Maurice has long represented what we do best at CBS News and Stations,” Cibrowski said. “For more than two decades, he has delivered the day’s biggest stories from our studios in New York and in the field.” He added that DuBois is deeply valued and respected as a journalist, expressing hope they could work together again in the future.
The timing of DuBois’ exit follows a similar announcement from his co-anchor, John Dickerson, who revealed in October 2025 that he would be leaving CBS News as well. The two journalists had co-anchored “CBS Evening News” since January 2025, a pairing that lasted less than a year. Their joint tenure began after Norah O’Donnell exited the anchor position, but the unconventional dual-anchor format failed to gain traction with viewers. DuBois made history as the first Black weeknight CBS Evening News anchor.
The broadcast’s ratings have suffered significantly since executives attempted to revamp the format with less emphasis on breaking headlines. For the five-day period ending Nov. 28, “CBS Evening News” averaged nearly 4.26 million viewers, trailing far behind NBC’s “Nightly News” with 6.24 million and ABC’s “World News Tonight” with 8.27 million.
Adding to the uncertainty at CBS News is the recent appointment of Bari Weiss as editor in chief of the news division. Weiss was installed by David Ellison, the new Paramount chief, following the merger. Her hiring raised eyebrows throughout the industry, as she brings no traditional broadcast news experience to the role, though she is known for running the opinion website The Free Press.
According to people familiar with the matter, Weiss has reached out to several prominent television journalists in recent weeks in an effort to recruit anchor talent from outside CBS. However, she has discovered that many are locked into contracts at competing networks. This recruitment strategy suggests the network may be looking beyond its internal roster for DuBois and Dickerson’s replacements, though CBS has not officially named any successors.
Speculation has circulated that Tony Dokoupil, currently a co-host of “CBS Mornings,” could be tapped as the next solo anchor. However, the network has made no official announcements regarding the future direction of the evening broadcast.
The departures occur against a backdrop of broader changes at CBS News and its parent company. Paramount recently settled a lawsuit with President Donald Trump over a “60 Minutes” interview, agreeing to pay $16 million to Trump’s future presidential library. The settlement, which came as Paramount pursued its merger with Skydance, raised questions about editorial independence at the news division.
DuBois’ career in broadcast journalism included work at CBS’s New York station, where he became a familiar face to viewers. His move to the national evening news program represented a significant promotion, though he lacked the national profile of some other network anchors.
The dual-anchor format employed by CBS proved challenging from the start. DuBois brought smooth, efficient delivery to the desk, while Dickerson offered a more analytical presence. However, the division of labor within the broadcast left little room for the in-depth analysis that might have justified having two anchors. Evening news programs have historically struggled with co-anchor arrangements, with few lasting more than a few years.
Questions remain about whether DuBois might return to local news in New York, where his long tenure and viewer connections would make him an asset. However, Paramount has been reducing its employee base as part of cost-cutting measures following the merger. Other prominent local anchors have also departed recently from CBS-owned stations.
DuBois gave no indication in his announcement about his future plans. His Instagram post emphasized gratitude for the opportunity to deliver news and tell stories of extraordinary people over his two decades with CBS. Cibrowski noted that the network would provide details about the next chapter of “CBS Evening News” in the near future, though no timeline was specified for naming replacement anchors or announcing format changes.
The situation leaves CBS in the unusual position of operating its flagship evening news program without named anchors, a predicament that underscores the turbulent state of the division as it attempts to regain competitive footing in the network news landscape.