Anderson Cooper Signs Off After 20 Years at 60 Minutes
CNN anchor Anderson Cooper delivers final report for CBS's 60 Minutes after two decades with the newsmagazine, reflecting on stories and legendary colleagues.
Anderson Cooper delivered his final report for 60 Minutes this week, ending a 20-year run with television's most-watched newsmagazine that took him across the globe in pursuit of stories that revealed human drama behind major events.
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The CNN anchor reflected on joining the program he had admired since childhood, walking the same CBS hallways once occupied by journalism legends Mike Wallace, Morley Safer, Ed Bradley, and Bob Simon. Cooper described the privilege of earning interview subjects' trust and experiencing moments when the presence of cameras seemed to disappear during intimate conversations.
Cooper's departure marks the end of an era for both the correspondent and the program that has dominated Sunday night television for decades. His reporting took him to war zones, disaster areas, and boardrooms, delivering the hard-hitting investigative pieces that built 60 Minutes' reputation as television's gold standard for journalism.
The correspondent's dual role at CBS and CNN allowed him to bring depth and context to breaking news while maintaining the longer-form storytelling that defines 60 Minutes. His final sign-off — "I'm Anderson Cooper" — closes a chapter that spanned multiple presidential administrations and major global events.
Cooper's exit comes as traditional television news faces mounting pressure from digital platforms and changing viewer habits. 60 Minutes remains one of the few newsmagazines to maintain strong ratings, but the loss of a high-profile correspondent signals broader shifts in how Americans consume news and information.
CBS has not announced Cooper's replacement, leaving questions about how the network will fill the void left by a correspondent who helped define the program's modern era. Cooper will continue his role as anchor of CNN's prime-time lineup, focusing on breaking news and political coverage as the network navigates an increasingly competitive cable news landscape.
