CBS Staffers Question Tony Dokoupil's Readiness for Evening News Anchor Role
Current and former CBS News staffers have anonymously criticized anchor Tony Dokoupil's rapid rise and suitability for the role, citing imposter syndrome and hiring as a fallback choice. The network defended Dokoupil amid reports of editorial missteps and viewership challenges. Nielsen data shows modest gains but persistent trailing behind competitors.
Substrate placeholder — needs reviewMore than a dozen current and former staffers at CBS News spoke anonymously to Vanity Fair, questioning Tony Dokoupil's readiness to anchor CBS Evening News. A former producer who worked with Dokoupil told Vanity Fair that Tony has the biggest case of imposter syndrome out of any anchor or correspondent he has ever worked with.
The former producer added that Tony knows he wasn’t ready for the chair.
Bari Weiss initially pursued Bret Baier and Anderson Cooper for the CBS Evening News anchor position before selecting Tony Dokoupil, according to Vanity Fair insiders. Weiss personally intervened in the script during Dokoupil's first broadcast on CBS Evening News. Her edits were mistakenly inserted twice into the teleprompter during that broadcast.
Dokoupil told viewers 'First day, big problems here' during his first broadcast on CBS Evening News. CBS News told the New York Post that Tony Dokoupil is an exceptional talent and experienced journalist who continues to build a program designed to reach audiences wherever they consume the news.
One CBS journalist told Vanity Fair that Tony Dokoupil's segment praising Marco Rubio amounted to glazing Marco f–king Rubio.
An unnamed producer told Vanity Fair that Tony Dokoupil’s rapid rise from weekend news to CBS This Morning co-host is due to his good looks. The unnamed producer stated that Tony Dokoupil is better looking than former CBS Evening News co-anchor John Dickerson.
Nielsen data shows the Tony Dokoupil-led CBS Evening News has ticked up in total viewers over the past three weeks compared to its predecessor last year.
CBS Evening News under Tony Dokoupil has repeatedly failed to reach 4 million viewers. CBS Evening News trails ABC World News Tonight and NBC Nightly News in viewership.
Key Facts
Story Timeline
6 events- 2026-04-24
Nielsen data shows CBS Evening News has ticked up in total viewers over the past three weeks compared to last year.
1 sourceNielsen - Recent (undated)
CBS Evening News under Tony Dokoupil repeatedly fails to reach 4 million viewers and trails ABC and NBC.
1 sourceunattributed - Recent (undated)
More than a dozen current and former CBS News staffers speak anonymously to Vanity Fair about Dokoupil.
1 sourceVanity Fair - Recent (undated)
Tony Dokoupil's segment praising Marco Rubio draws internal criticism.
1 sourceCBS journalist via Vanity Fair - Dokoupil's first broadcast (undated)
Bari Weiss intervenes in script, edits inserted twice in teleprompter; Dokoupil comments on-air about problems.
1 sourceVanity Fair - Hiring process (undated)
Bari Weiss pursues Bret Baier and Anderson Cooper before selecting Tony Dokoupil.
1 sourceVanity Fair insiders
Potential Impact
- 01
Competitive positioning in evening news race remains challenged, impacting ad revenue potential.
- 02
Potential further internal discord at CBS News affecting morale and editorial direction.
- 03
Leadership under Bari Weiss could face scrutiny over hiring and intervention decisions.
- 04
Modest viewership gains could stabilize but ongoing trailing may pressure network strategy.
- 05
Public perception of Dokoupil and CBS Evening News might shift due to reported criticisms.
Transparency Panel
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