Catherine Herridge is departing Fox News for CBS News, both networks announced on Thursday.
While Herridge’s contract expired last summer, she was working at the network in good faith and her leaving was in the works “long before” fellow journalist Shepard Smith left, an individual with knowledge of her departure told TheWrap.
She will begin at CBS News in November as a senior investigative correspondent based in Washington D.C. There, she will report original investigations and cover national security and intelligence matters that impact the country, according to CBS News. She was with Fox News since 1996.
Last week, her national security reporting for Fox News was recognized by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society with the “Tex” McCrary Award for excellence in journalism. During her remarks, she noted, “The medal of honor recipients have taught me even more about public service through the character development program. That inside each one of us is the potential to do great things, it just needs to be ignited.”
Thursday, Fox News Media president Jay Wallace said, “As a founding employee, over the last 23 years, Catherine Herridge has been an asset to Fox News. From her breaking news headlines at the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice to her reporting after the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the investigation into Princess Diana’s death, she has always been at the forefront of every beat she has covered.”
He added staff at Fox News are “grateful for Catherine‘s many contributions to the network” and “wish her continued success.”
“Catherine Herridge is a skilled investigative correspondent who has consistently brought depth and originality to her reporting. We are very excited that she will be joining the outstanding team at the Washington Bureau,” said Christopher Isham, CBS News vice president and Washington bureau chief.
Herridge herself released a comment, too, saying: “CBS News has always placed a premium on enterprise journalism and powerful investigations. I feel privileged to join a team where facts and storytelling will always matter.”
Her departure comes after that Smith, another high-profile founding member of Fox News’ news division. An individual with knowledge of her departure told TheWrap she didn’t even know Smith was stepping down while she was making her exit plans.