> At a Glance
> – Tony Dokoupil begins anchoring CBS Evening News weeknights at 6:30 p.m. local time
> – His top mission: “rebuilding” audience trust by being transparent and inclusive
> – The move follows six years on CBS Mornings with Gayle King and Nate Burleson
> – Why it matters: In an era of media skepticism, Dokoupil aims to create a “shared reality” for viewers nationwide
Tony Dokoupil steps into the CBS Evening News anchor chair with a mix of excitement and nerves, promising viewers transparency and political diversity as he inherits the historic desk once occupied by Walter Cronkite and Dan Rather.
A New Mission: Rebuild Trust
Dokoupil tells News Of Los Angeles that his “most important mission” is restoring faith in journalism.
> “The First Amendment guaranteed freedom of the press. It did not guarantee trust.”
He plans to earn that trust by:
- Telling viewers what he knows and how he knows it
- Admitting when the broadcast gets it wrong or is unsure
- Welcoming guests across the political spectrum with varied viewpoints
From Mornings to Evenings
After six years co-hosting CBS Mornings, Dokoupil’s primetime debut was bumped up when he anchored a special report on Jan. 3 covering the U.S. strike in Venezuela and the apprehension of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife.
The regularly scheduled “Live from America” road tour-set to launch Monday-was pushed to later in the week.
Corporate Scrutiny and Editorial Independence
Dokoupil’s arrival coincides with heightened scrutiny of CBS News and parent Paramount Skydance:
- New editor-in-chief Bari Weiss recently pulled a 60 Minutes segment on deported Venezuelan men, citing need for “further reporting”
- Paramount paid $16 million to settle a lawsuit filed by Trump over a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris, fueling speculation the payout sought favor with the Trump administration during merger review
Dokoupil insists he answers only to the audience:
> “I work for the viewer, period, full stop.”
Aiming for a Shared Reality
The anchor sees nightly news as a civic glue:
> “America does not get better unless we have a better sense of a shared reality.”
Key Takeaways
- Dokoupil prioritizes transparency and ideological diversity to regain viewer trust
- CBS Evening News with Tony Dokoupil airs weeknights at 6:30 p.m. local time
- The broadcast faces corporate pressures but the new anchor pledges editorial independence
With his promise of openness and inclusivity, Dokoupil hopes to make the newscast both informative and unifying for a divided nation.
