Bari Weiss becomes new editor-in-chief of CBS News after Paramount buys the company
Paramount announced that it will acquire The Free Press, an independent digital media company founded in 2021. As part of the acquisition, Bari Weiss, co-founder and CEO of The Free Press, will become editor-in-chief of CBS News.
CBS Evening News is undergoing another major transformation.
John Dickerson, who took over as co-anchor of CBS’ evening newscasts in January following the departure of Norah O’Donnell, will be leaving the network at the end of the year.
Dickerson shared the news in an Instagram post on Monday, October 27th.
“I am extremely grateful for everything CBS has given me, the work, the audience attention, and the honor of being part of the network’s history. I am also grateful to my dear colleagues who have made me a better journalist and a better person,” he wrote. “i will miss you.”
Dickerson, who also serves as chief political analyst for CBS News, did not discuss the reason for his resignation. He will continue as co-anchor of “CBS Evening News” through the holiday season, the network said.
CBS News President Tom Cybrowski said in a statement that Dickerson “exemplifies the best of journalism,” adding that there is “plenty of time to thank him for his work here and honor his contribution to our success” before he retires at the end of the year.
The news comes weeks after Bari Weiss was named managing editor of CBS News, an unusual choice for the role given her lack of experience in broadcast journalism. Mr. Weiss founded the media company Free Press, which was acquired by CBS parent company Paramount Skydance, and previously served as an op-ed editor and writer for the New York Times.
Dickerson’s departure is also the latest major change at CBS Evening News after O’Donnell stepped down as anchor in January. After 12 years at CBS News, she announced her retirement in July 2024, saying she felt “it was time to do something different.” In her resignation, she said serving as anchor had been “the honor of a lifetime.”
CBS named Dickerson and Maurice Dubois to replace O’Donnell, who officially took over in January. Dickerson first joined CBS News in April 2009, where he also hosted “Face the Nation.”
