Chris Wallace has announced his departure from CNN after three years, expressing a desire to explore opportunities in a rapidly evolving media landscape at the age of 77.
He remarked, “When I look at the media landscape right now, the people who are going independent, whether it’s podcasting or streaming, that seems to be where the action is,” during a statement on Tuesday.
Wallace is a prominent name in broadcast journalism, coming from a lineage of excellence, as he is the son of renowned CBS News anchor Mike Wallace.
His extensive career includes stints at both ABC and NBC News, and he was the host of “Fox News Sunday” for 18 years before joining CNN in 2021.
Initially hired to take a leading role on CNN’s streaming service CNN+, Wallace found himself needing to adapt quickly when the service was shuttered just a month after its debut in 2022.
This situation led him to create a hybrid role that consisted of a Saturday morning political show and a broader interview series on Max, along with making appearances as a commentator for the network.
Wallace characterized his exit as amicable. CNN’s CEO, Mark Thompson, praised him as “one of the most respected political journalists in the news business” and extended his best wishes for Wallace’s future endeavors.
Thompson is likely facing tough choices ahead, given the significant decline in CNN’s ratings and a shift towards prioritizing digital content.
In conversations about his next steps, Wallace mentioned that having the freedom to choose his projects at this stage in his career is particularly appealing.
He does not anticipate major changes in his approach, likely maintaining his focus on interviews and political analysis without favoring any political side. Interest from various entities in working with him has already been noted.
Rather than retiring, Wallace seems energized by the possibilities ahead; his family has a history of working well into later years, as exemplified by his father’s long career with “60 Minutes.”
He added, “nobody in my family wants me to retire.”
