As Era Of The Star Anchor Fades, CBS’ ‘Evening News’ Overhaul Puts Focus On Correspondents In The Field

The debut episode of a retooled CBS Evening News tonight was notable for what it wasn’t: A showcase for a star anchor.

Rather, it opened with the dual anchor team of John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois getting right to the point in their top story — the “earthquake in the world of artificial intelligence,” or China’s breakthrough DeepSeek that gave a big shake to U.S. markets.

Then it was on to input from Washington, where Margaret Brennan weighed in against a tranquil backdrop of the Lincoln Memorial.

Later, Jim Axelrod did an extended story on Chinese espionage and Elizabeth Palmer reported on Hamas recruitment, later elaborating on their pieces with the anchors in studio. Mark Strassmann did an in-depth Eye On America story on the home insurance crisis, focusing on one man who lost his home only to discover his coverage wasn’t nearly enough to meet the rebuilding cost.

Last week, Norah O’Donnell signed off as anchor of CBS Evening News after five years, but the network, like other more cost-conscious news divisions, has set out to do something different. 60 Minutes executive producer Bill Owens, now doing dual duty supervising the evening broadcast, promised that the retooled half-hour would not be “the traditional headlines that move from one clipped story to the next.” That was very true in the debut, when there was but a brief rundown of top stories. Surprisingly, only then was there a mention of a story centering on Donald Trump.

Owens also has signaled less “filler” and longer segments, giving the evening broadcast some feel of 60 Minutes with the reports even adding credits to the producer and editor. 60 Minutes correspondents also may show up from time to time. That would not be altogether different as O’Donnell also did pieces for the signature franchise, most notably her interview with Pope Francis, but it would draw on what has been top ratings getter of the news division.

CBS Evening News has long remained in third place, to the point where merely choosing another high profile personality was probably unlikely to move the needle. The network’s changes may not be revolutionary — some years ago the idea was floated to have Jon Stewart but they speak to the need to give the evening news format a refresh. Dickerson and DuBois are solid, serious journalists, but in a retooled CBS Evening News that emphasizes substantive stories, they’re also sharing the spotlight.