In a surprising turn of events, John Dickerson, the CBS Evening News anchor, has resigned from his position without providing any specific reasons for his decision. The announcement was made on Instagram, marking an abrupt end to his tenure on the show, which he had co-hosted with Maurice DuBois for just nine months.

On Monday, the 57-year-old journalist shared his news with followers, stating, “At the end of this year, I will leave CBS, sixteen years after I first sat in as Face the Nation anchor.” His heartfelt message expressed profound gratitude towards CBS for the opportunities and experiences he had during his time there. He acknowledged the network’s role in shaping his career and the invaluable lessons learned from his colleagues, both professionally and personally.

Dickerson’s farewell post did not hint at any future career plans or a new professional venture, leaving his next move shrouded in mystery. As he prepares to depart, the broadcast world is left to speculate on what lies ahead for this seasoned journalist.

‘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.’

There was no mention of a new job in the farewell post. 

Dickerson joined CBS News in 2009 and was handed the network’s most prestigious job earlier this year. Having him and DuBois co-host Evening News was seen as a bold experiment. 

The pairing – who replaced Norah O’Donnell – has been a huge ratings flop and it is unclear whether Dickerson was fired. He will host his final broadcast in December. 

Former New York Times journalist Bari Weiss was appointed editor-in-chief of CBS News earlier this month.

John Dickerson, right, announced Monday he is quitting CBS News. He is pictured with co-host Maurice DuBois on the Evening News broadcast, which has been beset by slumping ratings  

Dickerson quit with a statement on Instagram. But he offered no details on whether he had chosen to stand down or been fired 

Weiss, who runs the anti-woke The Free Press news website, has been given a broad remit by the network’s new owner David Ellison to tame liberal excesses at the Tiffany Network in a bid to boost ratings and win back viewers’ trust.

The 41-year-old is seen as a media visionary. She quit her opinion editor role at The New York Times in 2020 over the paper’s narrow liberal views and staff bullying of anyone who dared to voice a different opinion.

Weiss began a small news site called Honestly, which later became The Free Press and was sold to CBS News’s parent company Paramount as part of a $150 million deal.  

Problems at Evening News pre-date Weiss’s arrival by months and it is unclear if she is behind Dickerson’s apparent ouster.

CBS Evening news is watched by around 3.6 million viewers nightly – a 14 percent slump compared to the same time last year.

The news network’s president Tom Cibrowski sought to put a positive spin on Dickerson’s departure, saying he ‘epitomizes the very best in journalism.’

Cibrowski added: ‘We’ll have plenty of time to thank him for his work here and honor his contributions to our success.’

It is unclear if DuBois will host Evening News on his own after Dickerson departs. Weiss is said to have held a meeting with Norah O’Donnell and is even said to have her eye on Fox News anchor Bret Baier for a top job at the network.

Respected anti-woke journalist Bari Weiss (pictured in November 2024) began working as editor-in-chief of CBS News earlier this month. It is unclear if she was behind Dickerson’s departure

Dickerson with colleagues (L-R) Gayle King, Jeff Glor, Norah O’Donnell and Bianna Golodryga hosting mid-terms election coverage in 2018. King is rumored to be next in line for the boot from CBS News 

Baier’s current contract with Fox runs through 2028. 

CBS Mornings star Gayle King is also believed to be in the firing line, with insiders say they expect her departure in the coming months.

Dickerson is married to PR executive Anne Dickerson. The couple have two children and live in Washington, DC. 

He was famed for his nimble interviewing style, with the term ‘Dickersonian’ even coined by The Washington Post to describe his habit of wrong-footing former President George W Bush during his two terms in office. 

Dickerson is the son of Nancy Dickerson, a pioneering female journalist who began working at CBS News in 1954, when almost all of the network’s journalists were men.

She became an associate producer of Face the Nation – a show her son would later host – and became CBS News’s first female correspondent in 1960. 

She died of a stroke in 1997 aged 70.