Maurice DuBois is leaving CBS News, marking the latest shift as paramount Skydance overhauls its evening news division. DuBois announced his departure Thursday via Instagram, stating December 18 will be his last day at the news association. His exit follows the earlier declaration by “CBS Evening News” co-anchor John Dickerson, who revealed his intention to leave CBS News in October.
DuBoisS departure, along with Dickerson’s, occurs as CBS News operates during a period of notable change. Paramount Skydance recently appointed opinion journalist Bari Weiss as editor in chief of the news division, and these anchor exits will allow her to reshape the broadcast.CBS News has been seeking to redefine its approach,having previously attempted to de-emphasize breaking headlines,a strategy that contributed to ratings challenges for “Evening News.”
DuBois has spent 21 years with CBS-owned properties,establishing himself as a prominent anchor at WCBS,the company’s New York flagship station. “Evening News” averaged 4.26 million viewers for the five days ending November 28, trailing NBC’s “Nightly News” (6.24 million) and ABC’s “World News Tonight” (8.27 million).In the 25-54 demographic, “Evening News” drew 427,000 viewers, compared to 918,000 for “Nightly” and 1.03 million for “World.”
The timing of DuBois’s exit raises questions about a potential return to WCBS, where his long tenure and viewer connection would be valuable. However, Paramount has been reducing its workforce as part of cost-cutting measures, with other local anchors, including Jim Donovan of Philadelphia’s KYW and Elliott Rodriguez at WFOR in Miami, also departing. Weiss has reportedly reached out to several top TV journalists in recent weeks,but many are currently under contract with other networks.
