In a surprising move, Ingrid Ciprian-Matthews, the president of Paramount Global's news unit, has announced her decision to step down from her position at CBS News. Ciprian-Matthews, a veteran journalism executive, plans to serve as a senior advisor for coverage of the upcoming 2024 presidential election before departing from the company.

The decision to shake up the senior executive structure at CBS News in the midst of an election year is unusual. However, this move comes as the news network's parent corporation, Paramount, has agreed to merge with Hollywood production studio Skydance Media, signaling the likelihood of cost-cutting measures.

During her short tenure as president, Ciprian-Matthews oversaw the successful revitalization of "CBS Mornings," which has become more competitive with its ABC rival, "Good Morning America," among the highly sought-after 25-54 age demographic. Additionally, CBS Evening News anchor Norah O'Donnell secured a coveted interview with Pope Francis, and the network's Washington coverage was bolstered by notable reporters such as Ed O'Keefe, Major Garrett, and Robert Costa.

Typically, network news presidents serve for three years or more, making Ciprian-Matthews' departure unexpected. In a memo reviewed by Variety, she explained her decision, stating, "We all know our industry and company are going through a transformation and a number of short- and long-term decisions need to be made." Ciprian-Matthews emphasized the importance of transparency in this juncture and expressed her intention to allow the suitable party to guide these decisions.

Wendy McMahon, president and CEO of CBS' news, stations, and syndication operations, confirmed Ciprian-Matthews' transition into her new role as senior advisor over the coming weeks. However, no immediate replacement has been named for the president position at CBS News.

This marks the third change in leadership at CBS News since 2021, reflecting the challenges TV-news outlets face as streaming platforms disrupt traditional programming. Ciprian-Matthews assumed the role of president after the previous departure of Neeraj Khemlani, who managed Paramount's news and local TV operations. Susan Zirinsky, a long-time CBS News veteran, had also held the top responsibility role before them.

CBS News has been actively working to improve the performance of "CBS Mornings" and "CBS Evening News," which have typically lagged behind ABC's and NBC's morning and evening offerings. However, the news division continues to enjoy high viewership for its Sunday news programming, including "CBS Sunday Morning," "Face The Nation," and the long-standing newsmagazine "60 Minutes."

Under McMahon's leadership, CBS News has merged its local and national news operations, following the strategies employed by NBCUniversal and Disney. The goal is to create a "local-to-national" news business model that delivers big national and international stories while leveraging CBS' local stations for on-the-ground coverage during important events.

Although the combination of local and national news operations aims to cater to streaming audiences, it also brings a certain level of diminished stature for local news journalists who traditionally worked their way up to network positions. The current landscape prioritizes attracting viewers who are less likely to discern between a CBS News correspondent and a local reporter.

While Ciprian-Matthews' departure marks the end of an illustrious career, CBS News' decision not to immediately fill the vacant president position is noteworthy. With the 2024 presidential election underway, the network will have to grapple with drawing broader audiences and securing higher ratings, vital elements for success in the TV business.