Anderson Cooper exits '60 Minutes' after nearly 20 years

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 18 February 2026 |  JP Global Monitoring

Anderson Cooper says he will not renew his contract and is leaving 60 Minutes to focus on family and his primetime role at CNN. A rotating correspondent since 2006-07, his exit follows internal changes at CBS under editor-in-chief Bari Weiss.

Summary

NEW YORK — Veteran journalist Anderson Cooper is leaving CBS News’s flagship newsmagazine 60 Minutes after nearly two decades as a correspondent, confirming a major shift at one of American television’s most storied programs. Cooper announced the decision on February 16, saying he would not renew his contract and plans to focus more fully on his family and his ongoing role as a primetime anchor at CNN.

Cooper has been a rotating correspondent on 60 Minutes since the 2006-07 television season under a unique arrangement that allowed him to balance his duties at CNN with contributions to the CBS program, where he reported on topics ranging from global conflicts to social and cultural stories.

Internal changes at CBS News have drawn scrutiny

His exit comes amid significant internal changes and controversy at CBS News under newly appointed editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, whose leadership has prompted staff departures, editorial disputes, and strategic shifts at the network. Critics have linked Cooper’s departure not only to his personal priorities but also to unease among journalists about the channel’s direction.

Industry shifts reshape legacy newsrooms

Some industry observers see Cooper’s move as indicative of broader industry trends. The departure marks the first major correspondent exit under Weiss and is fueling speculation about the future editorial focus of 60 Minutes and CBS’s broader newsroom. Weiss, appointed in October 2025, has faced pushback over decisions including the last-minute shelving of a high-profile segment, which later aired after a delay.

Cooper, 57, cited a desire to spend more time with his young children as a central factor in his decision, while CBS News expressed gratitude for his two decades of service and left open the possibility of his return. He is expected to appear in the remaining segments through the current season, which runs into May 2026.

WHY THIS MATTERS: Pakistani newsrooms tracking talent shifts at legacy media can glean lessons about how leadership changes influence newsroom morale, content strategy, and anchor retention at major outlets. Cooper’s exit underscores the ongoing recalibration of traditional broadcast journalism amid competition from digital and cable platforms, a trend that reverberates across global news markets, including in Pakistan.

ATTRIBUTION: Reporting compiled from current coverage by The Washington Post, Reuters, Associated Press, People, and other verified news outlets.

PHOTO: AI-generated; for illustrative purposes only.