CBS Night Information will likely be revamped after the election, with John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois anchoring from New York and main an ensemble that features Margaret Brennan commonly main protection from Washington, D.C. and Lonnie Quinn offering climate segments.
Norah O’Donnell, who has anchored the newscast for the previous 5 years, introduced earlier this week that she is stepping down after the election to function a senior correspondent centered on main one-on-one interviews and longform reporting.
Along with the brand new format, the plans are to infuse the printed with extra 60 Minutes content material and correspondents, with that present’s govt producer Invoice Owens increasing his position and serving as supervising producer of the night newscast. Correspondents from the present will likely be submitting for the Night Information “after they have large information to interrupt,” in response to a memo that went out to staffers at present from Wendy McMahon, the CEO of CBS Information and Stations.
The adjustments are a departure from the solo anchor format that has been a typical function of CBS Night Information all through its historical past, save for a quick and ill-fated effort to pair Connie Chung with Dan Quite within the Nineties.
CBS Night Information additionally will return to Manhattan, the place it has historically been based mostly. Shortly after O’Donnell turned anchor in 2019, the present was moved to the nation’s capital, hoping to face out from its rivals.
“With Norah’s choice to tackle a brand new position at CBS, we’ve determined to rethink and redesign the Night Information, pushed by our targets to maximise the facility of our individuals and our most necessary franchises, to supply brave and distinctive journalism that informs and enlightens, and at last, to compete aggressively… on broadcast and past,” McMahon stated.
Owens will proceed to function govt producer of 60 Minutes, however he had beforehand served as senior broadcast producer of the CBS Night Information when Bob Schieffer was anchor.
“As supervising producer, Invoice will handle the general editorial route of the printed, infusing 60 Minutes’ DNA and values into this system whereas introducing a brand new format and staff,” McMahon wrote.
The revamp displays the newest evolution of broadcast networks’ night information broadcasts, which as soon as had been influential in setting the nationwide dialog. The migration of audiences to a plethora of various choices has eroded the viewers, albeit CBS Night Information, in third place to its broadcast rivals, nonetheless instructions a bigger viewership than a lot of cable information.
All through the information enterprise, although, there was intensive give attention to prices, and CBS Information is predicted to undergo one other spherical of cutbacks, given the general plans for Paramount World. O’Donnell already needed to take a pay minimize when her final contract was negotiated in 2022, in response to sources, and there was rising strain on different on-air expertise. The transfer to a multi-anchor format additionally alerts the shift away from the star anchor, commanding a lavish wage and serving because the face of the community itself.
In asserting the brand new format, CBS Information emphasised its “ensemble of journalists,” as McMahon stated that the purpose is “to raise the most effective of their fields each night time for our viewers.” Steve Hartman will proceed the “On The Highway” segments and Jim Axelrod will proceed “Eye on America” studies, with plans for added correspondents to contribute commonly.
Dickerson will proceed to anchor on CBS Information 24/7, the community’s streaming service. He beforehand served as moderator of Face the Nation, co-host of CBS This Morning and 60 Minutes correspondent.
DuBois additionally will proceed to anchor at WCBS-TV, the place he has labored since 2004.
Quinn will ship climate information and forecasts from a brand new AR/VR studio, and he additionally will proceed to have a presence on WCBS. Brennan, who’s chief international affairs correspondent, additionally will proceed in her position as moderator of Face the Nation. She has hosted that broadcast since 2018.
The community additionally stated that Man Campanile, a veteran producer at 60 Minutes, will grow to be govt producer of the CBS Night Information. Jerry Cipriano will return to CBS Information as senior information editor and senior producer of the printed.
In a press release, Owens stated that the printed “received’t be the standard headlines that transfer from one clipped story to the subsequent. There will likely be a brand new format and cadence for a way we ship the information, and Man and Jerry are the most effective companions to do that with.”