A Major Media Move — Matt Gutman Leaves ABC News for Powerful New Role at CBS News

In a seismic shift shaking the broadcast news landscape, veteran journalist Matt Gutman is departing ABC News after nearly two decades to take on a multifaceted, high-profile position at CBS News. Announced on December 9, 2025, Gutman has been named CBS News chief correspondent—a role that positions him as a central figure in the network’s journalism lineup. Starting January 5, 2026, and based in Los Angeles, Gutman will report across flagship programs including CBS Mornings and CBS Evening News. He will also serve as lead correspondent for the long-running true-crime series 48 Hours, contribute to upcoming seasons of the iconic 60 Minutes, and step in as a fill-in anchor for major broadcasts when needed.

This move marks the first major on-air talent acquisition under CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, who assumed leadership amid a broader network overhaul. Weiss praised Gutman in a statement, saying, “Matt Gutman goes there. He brings the audience along with him to whatever story he is covering, and he approaches his work with the qualities we look for in all our journalists: fearlessness, energy and relentlessness.” CBS News president Tom Cibrowski echoed the enthusiasm, noting Gutman’s “innate ability to take viewers into a story,” whether from conflict zones or rescue operations.

Gutman’s career trajectory has been defined by immersive, frontline reporting. Born December 5, 1977, he graduated from Williams College and began as a freelance print reporter in the Middle East, covering the Second Intifada for the Jerusalem Post from 2001 to 2005. He later worked for USA Today before joining ABC News Radio in 2006. Transitioning to television in 2008 as a Miami-based correspondent, Gutman quickly became a staple on programs like Good Morning America, Nightline, World News Tonight, and 20/20. Promoted to chief national correspondent in 2018, he reported from over 50 countries, tackling major stories with a signature intensity.

His portfolio includes extensive coverage of the Israel-Hamas conflict—he was among the first journalists in Israel following the October 7, 2023, attacks—and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Gutman reported on the COVID-19 pandemic, the death of George Floyd, natural disasters like Texas floods and California wildfires, mass shootings, and the dramatic 2018 Thai cave rescue of young soccer players, which inspired his bestselling book The Boys in the Cave. A second book, No Time to Panic, detailed his personal battle with panic attacks. Gutman’s accolades include multiple Emmys, Edward R. Murrow Awards, duPonts, Gracies, and NABJ honors.

Yet, his tenure at ABC wasn’t without challenges. In 2020, he was suspended for erroneously reporting that all four of Kobe Bryant’s children died in the Calabasas helicopter crash—only Bryant and daughter Gianna perished. A brief 2021 suspension followed for violating COVID protocols. More recently, in September 2025, Gutman faced criticism for describing texts from the alleged assassin of conservative advocate Charlie Kirk as “very touching,” prompting an apology for his wording.

The transition to CBS has ignited industry chatter, viewed by many as a bold statement of the network’s revitalization efforts under Weiss and new ownership influences. Gutman expressed excitement: “I am thrilled to be joining CBS, a network with TV news’ most storied past, and most exciting future… to tell the most important news stories… and to tell it straight.” Joining established 48 Hours correspondents like Peter Van Sant, Erin Moriarty, Natalie Morales, and Anne-Marie Green, Gutman is poised to infuse the series with his investigative prowess.

For Gutman, this isn’t merely a network switch—it’s an elevation to the heart of broadcast journalism’s most prestigious outlets. As CBS navigates a competitive era with evolving viewer habits and internal changes, his arrival signals ambition to reclaim dominance through fearless, audience-engaging storytelling. Industry observers anticipate Gutman’s versatile skills will bolster ratings and depth, cementing his status as one of television news’ most influential voices in the years ahead.