Sun Dec 14 00:00:00 UTC 2025: Summary:

CBS News has appointed Tony Dokoupil, currently co-host of “CBS Mornings,” as the new anchor of “CBS Evening News,” effective January 5th. He replaces the outgoing anchor team of John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois. The appointment marks the first major hire for Bari Weiss, the new CBS News editor-in-chief. Dokoupil faces the challenge of boosting the show’s ratings, which currently rank third among network evening news programs, significantly behind ABC’s “World News Tonight.” His selection follows a search that included external candidates like Bret Baier from Fox News. Dokoupil pledges a commitment to trust and the plain truth in his new role. He has pledged “a commitment to trust and the plain truth.”

News Article:

CBS News Taps Tony Dokoupil to Anchor ‘Evening News’ in Bid to Close Ratings Gap

Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

NEW YORK (AP) – CBS News is betting on Tony Dokoupil to revitalize its “CBS Evening News,” naming the current “CBS Mornings” co-host as the program’s new anchor. Dokoupil’s appointment, effective January 5th, marks a significant move for the network as it seeks to challenge ABC’s dominant “World News Tonight” with David Muir in the highly competitive evening news landscape.

Dokoupil steps into the role vacated by John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois, and his hire is the first major decision made by newly appointed CBS News editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss. Weiss emphasized Dokoupil’s commitment to traditional journalistic values in her endorsement.

“We live in a time in which many people have lost trust in the media,” Weiss said. “Tony Dokoupil is the person to win it back.”

The “CBS Evening News” faces an uphill battle. The program currently ranks third in viewership among network evening news broadcasts, trailing both ABC and NBC, with a significant gap to close. ABC’s “World News Tonight” currently commands nearly twice the audience of its CBS counterpart.

Dokoupil, 44, a veteran journalist with experience at MSNBC, Newsweek, and The Daily Beast, has been with CBS News since 2016. His appointment comes after CBS reportedly considered external candidates, including Bret Baier from Fox News.

Dokoupil’s prior experience at CBS has not been without controversy. He was previously reprimanded for a contentious interview with author Ta-Nehisi Coates regarding Israel and the Palestinians.

In a statement, Dokoupil expressed a renewed commitment to journalism: “After 20 years of journalism, traveling through all 50 states and talking with people in hundreds of far-flung American places, I realize why a country this big needs a show this ambitious.” He promised viewers “a commitment to trust and the plain truth.”

The challenge for Dokoupil is significant, as the “CBS Evening News” has struggled to regain its former prominence. Once a leader under Walter Cronkite, the program has faced declining ratings through subsequent anchors. ABC’s “World News Tonight” currently averages 7.83 million viewers nightly, while the “CBS Evening News” lags behind with 4.04 million.

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