Anderson Cooper signed off from CBS's '60 Minutes' on Sunday, marking the end of his 20-year tenure with an expression of hope that the program retains its editorial independence.
Reflecting on Longevity and Independence
During his final segment, Cooper emphasized the importance of the newsmagazine's enduring quality. "There’s very few things that have been around for as long as ‘60 Minutes’ and maintained the quality that it has," said Cooper. He voiced his wish for the program to evolve while preserving its core. "I think the independence of ‘60 Minutes’ has been critical," he added.
Trust and Quality in Reporting
Cooper highlighted the trust '60 Minutes' has built with its audience as a key factor in its success. "When you see a ‘60 Minutes’ story, and you’re like, ‘That was a really good story.’ It was a good story because it requires time, it requires patience, it requires money," he stated. Cooper hopes this dedication to quality is recognized and continues.
Balancing Commitments and Family
Joining '60 Minutes' in the 2006-07 season, Cooper balanced his role at CBS with his responsibilities as a CNN anchor. He expressed a desire to spend more time with his young children, ages 4 and 6. Speculation surrounds whether recent changes at CBS News under editor-in-chief Bari Weiss and the influence of Paramount Skydance contributed to his departure.
Cooper described the challenge of managing dual roles, saying, "My full-time job has been over at CNN, and still is. It’s been really challenging to do the kind of work you need to do to have a great ‘60 Minutes’ piece on." He often worked on '60 Minutes' segments during weekends and vacation time.
Looking to the Future
As he steps away, Cooper expressed his hope for '60 Minutes' to remain a staple for future generations. "I hope ‘60 Minutes’ is around for when my kids grow up and have kids of their own, and they can watch it with their kids," he concluded.
Source: https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/anderson-cooper-60-minutes-signs-off-20-years-1236752007/
