Anderson Cooper will exit '60 Minutes' to focus on family and CNN role

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CNN anchor Anderson Cooper is walking away from his second job at “60 Minutes” in the latest sign of upheaval at the storied news magazine.Cooper said in a statement Monday he is leaving the CBS News program because he wants to spend more time with his two young children.He joined the program in 2007 while maintaining his role as prime-time anchor at CNN.“Being a correspondent at ’60 Minutes’ has been one of the great honors of my career,” Cooper said.

“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 jobs at CNN and CBS, but I have little kids now and I want to spend as much time with them as possible, while they want to spend time with me.”Cooper’s departure could be the first of a number of changes for “60 Minutes” as Bari Weiss, who joined CBS News as editor in chief last October, is poised to substantially overhaul the prestigious news magazine.

CBS News overall is expected to be hit with a round of layoffs in the coming months, as TV ratings and ad revenue continue to decline and Weiss looks to make greater investments in digital operations.Hollywood Inc.

The editor-in-chief held her first division-wide meeting to discuss the road ahead.Cooper, 58, was courted for the anchor role at “CBS Evening News” last year before the network parted ways with the anchor duo of Maurice DuBois and John Dickerson.Cooper signed a new deal with CNN instead, and CBS News gave the anchor job to Tony Doukopil.CBS News thanked Anderson for his contributions to “60 Minutes.”“We’re grateful to him for dedicating so much of his life to this broadcast and understand the importance of spending time with family,” a network representative said in a statement.

“’60 Minutes’ will be here if he ever wants to return.”“60 Minutes,” the most-wa...