NEW YORK, February 17 — Veteran broadcast journalist Anderson Cooper is stepping down from CBS’s flagship newsmagazine “60 Minutes” after nearly 20 years as a correspondent, The Washington Post reported.
Cooper, 58, joined the program in 2006 under an agreement with CNN, where he has worked since 2001 and has hosted “Anderson Cooper 360°” since 2003. Through a CNN spokesperson, Cooper said he chose not to renew his contract with CBS and intends to spend more time with his young children.
“Being a correspondent at 60 Minutes has been one of the great honors of my career,” Cooper said in a statement. “I got to tell amazing stories and work with some of the best producers, editors, and camera crews in the business. For nearly 20 years, I’ve been able to balance my jobs at CNN and CBS, but I have young children now and I want to spend as much time with them as possible while they still want to spend time with me.”
CBS News, in a statement cited by The Washington Post, thanked Cooper for his contributions, saying he took viewers to far-reaching locations, delivered impactful investigations, and interviewed prominent figures over more than two decades. The network said it understands his decision to prioritize family and added that the door remains open for his return.
In recent years, Cooper’s reporting for “60 Minutes” included coverage of the prediction market Polymarket, in-depth reporting on families affected by school shootings, and a profile of the artificial intelligence company Anthropic.
His departure comes amid broader changes at CBS News. The newsroom is now led by editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, founder of The Free Press, following corporate shifts involving Paramount Global and Skydance Media. According to The Washington Post, CBS News has experienced layoffs and editorial changes as new leadership works to reshape the network’s strategy.
Cooper, the son of Gloria Vanderbilt and Wyatt Emory Cooper, began his journalism career as a correspondent for Channel One News before joining ABC News. During his time at ABC, he also hosted the first two seasons of the reality show “The Mole.” He moved to CNN in 2001 as a weekend anchor and launched his own program in 2003.
The decision marks the end of a significant chapter for one of television’s most recognizable journalists, who has balanced high-profile roles at both CNN and CBS throughout his career.
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