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CBS Evening News: A new era in evening news
Revamping a classic for modern times
CBS is gearing up to re-enter the competitive arena of evening news with a fresh take on its long-standing program, CBS Evening News. The network aims to overhaul the show’s anchors, format, and segments, transforming the half-hour broadcast into a more valuable resource for today’s news consumers. This ambitious project seeks to revive the cultural significance the show once held during the 1960s and 70s.
A new team and a new vision
Following the 2024 election, current anchor Norah O’Donnell will transition to a senior correspondent role at CBS News. The show will then come under the leadership of Bill Owens, the executive producer of 60 Minutes. Owens plans to collaborate with a new on-air team, including co-anchors John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois, chief weathercaster Lonnie Quinn, and Washington-based Face The Nation moderator Margaret Brennan. The goal is to create a program that breaks news and offers in-depth analysis, rather than merely summarizing the day’s events in under 30 minutes.
“We are removing the clutter,” Owens states. “We are focusing on serious reporting, getting back to our beats, and listening to our reporters in the field.”
Integrating 60 Minutes expertise
Correspondents from 60 Minutes will frequently appear on CBS Evening News to share breaking news or preview upcoming stories. This collaboration aims to provide anchors with more time to delve into significant stories and offer on-the-ground reportage. The program will return to its New York City base, after being relocated to Washington, D.C. during O’Donnell’s tenure.
Owens is optimistic about the show’s future, saying, “I believe we can resurrect it, do it a bit better, and make people feel smarter.”
Challenges and past attempts
CBS has previously tried to modernize Evening News for contemporary audiences, but with limited success. Katie Couric’s tenure as anchor in 2006 aimed to refresh the format with more human interest stories and interviews. Despite her efforts, the changes did not resonate with viewers, and Couric left after five years.
Since then, the program has struggled to please the network, consistently ranking third behind ABC’s World News Tonight and NBC’s Nightly News. Frequent changes in anchors, including Harry Smith, Scott Pelley, Anthony Mason, and Jeff Glor, have likely contributed to viewer erosion. O’Donnell will depart after more than five years in the anchor chair.
The battle for evening news supremacy
During the week of July 22, CBS Evening News averaged 4.38 million viewers, compared to nearly 6.19 million for NBC Nightly News and 7.59 million for World News Tonight. Many believe the evening-news format needs reinvigoration. The network news anchors of today lack the prominence and viewer loyalty of past figures like Dan Rather, Peter Jennings, and Tom Brokaw.
O’Donnell’s decision to step away from the program after the 2024 election has sparked speculation about CBS’ motives and the relevance of the evening-news anchor in an age where information is readily available on smartphones well before the 6:30 p.m. broadcast.
A commitment to winning
Wendy McMahon, president and CEO of CBS’ news, stations, and syndication businesses, is determined to succeed. “I have a desire to win,” she asserts. “What part of this suggests cuts or less ambition or less commitment?”
Under McMahon, CBS has worked to integrate its national news correspondents with local station journalists. Personnel are taking on more responsibilities, with Dickerson continuing to anchor a weekday show on CBS News’ streaming outlet and DuBois maintaining some anchoring duties at WCBS. Owens will continue to oversee 60 Minutes.
A new approach to news delivery
The use of DuBois and Quinn, both longtime presences at New York’s WCBS, is indicative of CBS’ new approach. The network recently launched a “whip-around” streaming newscast with co-anchors Vladimir Duthiers and Reed Cowan, who guide viewers to breaking news and reports from CBS stations.
CBS News viewers may have already seen the new team in action. Dickerson, DuBois, and Brennan recently anchored coverage of significant events, including the assassination attempt on former President Trump and President Biden’s decision to exit as the White House nominee of the Democrats.
Infusing 60 Minutes elements
Owens aims to incorporate elements of the 60 Minutes mission into the newscast. Cecilia Vega, a 60 Minutes correspondent, recently appeared on CBS Evening News to reveal a video raising questions about the Saudi government’s involvement in the 9/11 attacks. This news was part of a 60 Minutes piece she is preparing for the fall.
Owens will have support from Guy Campanile, a 60 Minutes producer, who will become executive producer of the program’s day-to-day operations. Jerry Cipriano, a former Evening News writer and editor, will return as senior news editor and senior producer, focusing on story selection. Adam Verdugo, O’Donnell’s current executive producer, will stay with the program through the 2024 election to assist with the transition back to New York.
The future of CBS Evening News
While there may not be a signature 60 Minutes stopwatch on CBS Evening News, the network’s efforts to remake the format are bound to attract attention. In an era where streaming video and social media dominate, CBS’ attempt to revitalize a familiar format will be closely scrutinized. Executives hope that curious viewers will stay and appreciate the new direction.
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