Anderson Cooper to Depart “60 Minutes” After Two Decades
After two decades of reporting for CBS News’ acclaimed program “60 Minutes,” Anderson Cooper is set to leave the show at the end of the current season. The celebrated correspondent has made the decision to focus more on his family, particularly his young children.
### Decision to Leave for Family Time
In a statement regarding his departure, Cooper expressed his deep appreciation for his time with “60 Minutes,” describing it as a highlight of his career. He noted, “Being a correspondent at ’60 Minutes’ has been one of the highlights of my career. I got to tell amazing stories and work with some of the best producers, editors, and camera crews in the business.” Cooper has managed to balance his roles at both CNN, where he serves as a primetime anchor, and CBS News for nearly 20 years. However, citing the needs of his children as a priority, he concluded that it was time to step back from his CBS responsibilities.
“As my kids are growing, I want to spend as much time with them as possible while they want to spend time with me,” he added.
### CBS News Acknowledges His Contributions
In an official statement, CBS News expressed gratitude for Cooper’s extensive contributions to the program. They recognized his ability to take viewers on global journeys and his knack for telling unforgettable stories. “For more than two decades, Anderson Cooper has taken ’60 Minutes’ viewers on journeys to faraway places, told us unforgettable stories, reported consequential investigations, and interviewed many prominent figures,” the network stated. They concluded by leaving the door open for his potential return, saying, “’60 Minutes’ will be here if he ever wants to return.”
### Recent Appearances and Impact
Cooper’s decision comes after he recently appeared on the show to introduce a segment created by renowned documentary filmmaker Ken Burns, offering insights into what might surprise America’s Founding Fathers in anticipation of the nation’s 250th anniversary. This appearance was part of his ongoing contributions to the program as he prepares for his exit.
Cooper joined “60 Minutes” in the 2006-2007 television season, marking a collaboration between CBS News and CNN. Prior to his current role, he contributed to “60 Minutes II,” a spinoff that aired previously.
### Challenges Facing “60 Minutes”
Cooper’s departure occurs during a transformative period for “60 Minutes,” which first aired in 1968. Last spring, the program faced significant changes with the exit of its third executive producer, Bill Owens, who stated that he was restricted in how he could manage the program. Owens’ exit happened amid a lawsuit against Paramount, the parent company of CBS News, filed by former President Donald Trump. This legal action was related to an interview conducted with Vice President Kamala Harris during the 2024 campaign.
The lawsuit was settled for $16 million last summer, although it did not include an apology to the former president. At the time of the settlement, Shari Redstone, who was serving as the chair of Paramount’s board, recused herself from discussions related to the case, coinciding with ongoing reviews by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) concerning a merger between Paramount and Skydance Media.
Shortly after the settlement was reached, the FCC approved the merger, indicating a future of potential shifts within the network and its programming.
Cooper’s exit from “60 Minutes” signals a notable change in the landscape of the long-running program, as it looks to navigate recent challenges while also celebrating the contributions of one of its prominent correspondents.
Source: Original Reporting
About The Author
