Anderson Cooper Leaves 60 Minutes: End of an Era at CBS News After Nearly 20 Years

Anderson Cooper, a prominent American journalist and author, has officially announced the end of his nearly two-decade-long collaboration with the program '60 Minutes' broadcast by CBS News. This decision, communicated to the public on Monday, concludes a rare arrangement in the media industry where Cooper appeared simultaneously on two competing networks. However, the journalist remains affiliated with CNN, where he hosts his flagship program 'Anderson Cooper 360°'. Cooper emphasized that working as a correspondent for such a prestigious magazine was one of the greatest honors of his professional career. Despite the emotional tone of the farewell, this departure coincides with significant structural changes at CBS News. The network is currently undergoing deep restructuring under the leadership of its new editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss. These changes result from the takeover of the conglomerate by entities Paramount and Skydance. Behind the scenes, there is talk of tensions regarding editorial independence and staff cuts that have already affected many experienced newsroom employees. The program '60 Minutes', broadcast continuously since 1968, is the oldest and most respected news magazine in the USA, known for its uncompromising investigations and interviews with key figures from the worlds of politics and culture. Cooper stressed that the main reason for not renewing his contract is personal circumstances. As a father of two young children, the journalist wants to reduce the intense lifestyle associated with frequent reporting trips for CBS. His last piece for '60 Minutes' – an interview with documentary filmmaker Ken Burns – aired last Sunday. Media experts point out that losing such a strong personal brand could be detrimental to CBS during a period of struggle to maintain its traditional television audience. „For almost twenty years, I managed to combine work at CNN and CBS, but now I have small children and want to spend as much time with them as possible.” — Anderson Cooper 20 years — Cooper's long-standing collaboration with the 60 Minutes editorial team Although the journalist is saying goodbye to CBS's Sunday lineup, his position at CNN remains secure. The cooperation between the two stations, which allowed for this unique professional dualism, was the result of special agreements between corporations Warner Bros. Discovery and CBS. Currently, in the face of media market consolidation, such cooperation models are becoming increasingly rare, further highlighting the uniqueness of Cooper's career over the past two decades. [{'aspect': 'Employer 1', 'before': 'CNN (Anchor)', 'after': 'CNN (Anchor)'}, {'aspect': 'Employer 2', 'before': 'CBS News (Correspondent)', 'after': 'None (resignation)'}, {'aspect': 'Number of Positions', 'before': '2 main stations', 'after': '1 main station'}]