CBS News appears to be zeroing in on Anderson Cooper as a top candidate for the role of host for CBS Evening News. According to a recent report, the network’s new Editor-in-Chief, Bari Weiss, is particularly interested in Cooper, who is well-known for his work on CNN and as a correspondent for 60 Minutes. Sources have informed Status that Weiss is keen on reshaping Evening News following her recent appointment. Cooper’s lucrative $18 million annual contract with CNN is reportedly nearing its end, making the timing potentially ideal for a transition.

Anderson Cooper’s appeal is undeniable, having been recently recognized as America’s most-loved news anchor in a DailyMail+ Power List released in August. Meanwhile, CBS Evening News co-host John Dickerson has announced his departure, concluding a tenure that struggled with low ratings. It has been revealed that Dickerson, a CBS veteran of 16 years, had been discreetly negotiating his exit for several weeks before making it official. This shift comes in the wake of significant changes at CBS, following its parent company Paramount’s merger with David Ellison’s Skydance in July.

Under the leadership of Bari Weiss, who is known for her critical stance on traditional media practices, an overhaul of Evening News seems imminent. The show has seen a decline in ratings since Dickerson and co-anchor Maurice DuBois took over from Norah O’Donnell earlier this year. Besides Cooper, other potential candidates to fill Dickerson’s shoes include Fox News’ Bret Baier, CBS Mornings host Tony Dokoupil, and Norah O’Donnell herself.

Baier – whose contract with Fox News runs through 2028 – responded to reports of the interest in him Monday during an interview with Meghan McCain, saying he was ‘fl attered by all the press and everything like that, but I’m in a multi-year contract with Fox.’ He added, ‘ we’ll see what happens at the end of that.’ Internally, Dokoupil is another top candidate, Status reported.

He has helmed CBS Mornings alongside Gayle King since 2019. King’s contract is also up at the end of the year. O’Donnell, meanwhile, stepped away from the Evening News desk late last year after six years as host. Sources told Status that she is also being considered. Dickerson’s exit marks the first major talent change at the network since Weiss was installed as editor-in-chief. The multiyear deal he signed when he and DuBois were picked to host Evening News will be paid out in full, Status reported. The network has announced no new plans for DuBois.

CBS News standards chief Claudia Milne resigned earlier this month , telling her coworkers: ‘We live in complicated times. For our company, for our industry and for our country. In the spring, 60 Minutes Executive Producer Bill Owens and CBS News CEO Wendy McMahon both resigned over concerns with the company’s direction. Each was responsible for the Evening News revamp in January, which saw one anchor replaced with two despite decades of tradition. The Daily Mail has reached out to Paramount and CBS News for comment.