After sixteen years, a prominent CBS News anchor is exiting their slot amid a network takeover. So, was the takeover the final straw, and where will this anchor head to next? Keep reading for all of the details of this shocking exit.
CBS News Anchor Exits After 16 Years
When it comes to news anchors, viewers come to depend on familiar faces. This is true for Good Morning America (GMA), as dedicated fans get worried when someone is MIA. Robin Roberts is someone that people adore, and when she goes away, even for a day or two, there are many questions. Same with The Today Show’s Al Roker, who has battled health problems for a very long time. Love or hate these news shows, the familiarity is what keeps viewers coming back daily or weekly. Unfortunately, one longtime CBS News anchor has opted to exit after nearly two decades behind the desk.
On Monday, October 27th, 2025, John Dickerson shared that he would be departing the show. This will all go down at the beginning of 2026, much like Hoda Kotb. The NBC anchor shared she was leaving her position in the fall of 2024 and stayed until the new year. No one has been able to replace her just yet, and with good reason. As for John, he broke the sad news via his social media alongside photos of him working throughout the decades. In his exit message, he wrote this:
“Local news: At the end of this year, I will leave CBS, sixteen years after I sat in as Face the Nation anchor for the first time. 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.”
The news that John will be leaving CBS News comes as it was announced that Paramount and Skydance have merged. John made his way to CBS in 2009 on Face the Nation. He also contributed to 60 Minutes and was an anchor for CBS Mornings. John will keep viewers informed and in the know through the holidays, and after that, he will leave. As for what is next for him, that has not been revealed just yet.
Viewers React
After the word came out that John Dickerson was leaving CBS News, were viewers shocked? Or, did they expect that this would come sometime soon? It appears that many were saddened to learn that John was saying goodbye and felt that it was a huge loss to the network. However, they respected the integrity that he had and knew it was for the best that he left:
- This is a huge loss for CBS.
- All the best. It’s really good to hear that integrity still matters.
- A great journalist and a staple for CBS News for so many years. John you will be missed 🙏
- The best of the best! You are a great journalist Mr Dickerson and we have all been smarter, wiser and better informed thanks to your grace and integrity.
Hopefully, John will not be off the air for too long, so his fans will get to see him regularly. Are you shocked that he is leaving CBS News, or were you expecting this to happen? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Amanda has been a professional freelance writer for over a decade, holding both a BA and an MA. Her passions include animals, iced coffee, gnomes, summer, music, and ‘Vanderpump Rules’.