CNN
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Aaron Brown, the prominent CNN anchor who gained fame for his coverage of the Sept. 11 attacks and his central role in shaping the network’s evening news format, died Sunday at age 76, his family said. Announced.
Brown’s career in journalism began on local television in Seattle, where she became the founding anchor of ABC’s nightly news show “World News Now” and anchored “World News Tonight Saturday.”
He then joined CNN, where he became known for his incisive reporting. From 2001 to 2005, he anchored NewsNight, a show that combined breaking news with in-depth analysis, and was recognized for his ability to handle complex stories with sensitivity and tact.
CNN’s Anderson Cooper called Brown “a great writer and broadcaster.”
“He was thoughtful, funny, hard-working and had a truly unique talent and beautiful way of using words,” Cooper said.
On September 11, 2001, Brown appeared on CNN for the first time. He wasn’t scheduled to be on the air that morning, but the news broke. And on that day and in the days that followed, he quickly became a guiding force for millions of viewers.
Mr. Brown’s coverage of the September 11 attacks from the roof of CNN’s Manhattan office at 5 Penn Plaza near Madison Square Garden earned him credibility during one of the darkest moments in American history. CNN’s John Vose, also reporting from New York, said that he was established as someone who would That day. Brown broadcast the attack live for 17 hours.
“During the live broadcast, he just stopped and looked at it, and he paused, and he shared this moment where everyone was like, ‘Good Lord.’ There are no words,” Vows said, recalling how Brown reacted by taking off his reporter’s hat when the World Trade Center’s south tower collapsed.
Thrown into unknown territory on the first day of the show, Brown touched the hearts of viewers with his calm handling of the unfolding horror.
“South tower, second tower. The one on the left collapsed. It collapsed in a cascade of smoke and sparks,” Brown said in the segment. “This is a disaster. Normally there are 50,000 people going to work in the trade center building.”
The next week he went to Washington, DC. “He walked into the hotel lobby and everyone in that lobby stood up and applauded and congratulated him on his live broadcast,” Voese added.
A month after September 11, Pulitzer Prize-winning television critic Howard Rosenberg praised Brown in a Los Angeles Times column, calling him “the most solid man in television.” .
Brown is “no-nonsense…trustworthy. A French horn in an industry dominated by kazoos.”
After all, Brown was “in a bad situation at the right time,” Rosenberg wrote.
Brown epitomized ABC’s Peter Jennings (an “Anchorman anchor,” in Vose’s words), shaping the public’s perception of the tragedy with his calm demeanor and humane approach.
“He didn’t like to be in the spotlight outside of his working hours,” Vows said, but while he shied away from fame, he was known for his dedication to teaching and storytelling, and that Brown’s His achievements are still being passed down.
Brown won the Edward R. Murrow Award for his 9/11 coverage.
Despite the praise, he was modest about his work and believed his reports paled in comparison to the heroism displayed by first responders.
“When that building collapsed, I think I understood the meaning of a hero more than at any point in my life before or since. It’s not that we didn’t want to tell this story; it’s that the story itself It’s just too good to talk about,” Brown said in 2016.
“A million thoughts were running through my head about what was going to happen…I had no idea it was going to collapse,” Brown said. “That’s the only time I thought, ‘Maybe you don’t have what it takes to tell a story like this,’ because it never occurred to me.”
Brown left a lasting impact on those he worked with, Vose said.
He recalled that Brown taught him that “I don’t know” is perfectly acceptable in an industry that often demands certainty and quick action.
“That’s one of the greatest things he taught me as a reporter. But he also definitely helped me improve my game and become a better reporter and teach me things that only you can ask him. It also taught me to be prepared for questions,” Vause added.
“He was a tough guy to work with, but he was also very coachable,” he said. “Every time I had a live shot with Aaron, it felt like I was playing a midterm final.”
In the days before the birth of broadcast journalism, Mr. Brown was “first and foremost a writer and a craftsman,” a skill that earned him respect from colleagues across the media world, said a former CNN producer who worked with him. said John Auerbach.
“He had a wry sense of humor, and Aaron knew the value of that in an era before people talked about work-life balance. Even though it can be tough to anchor a show at 10 p.m. , Aaron was able to devote time to things that are important to him outside of the studio, such as his wife, daughter, or golf,” Auerbach said.
“If you were a regular on his show, he could bring everyone in,” Voese said. “He had a very dry sense of humor, a very dry sense of humor at times. But you were almost part of the family. And you knew the jokes. .”
David Fitzpatrick, a producer who worked closely with Brown at CNN, said Brown “always wanted the best people.” They collaborated on acclaimed reporting on the 2004 Indonesian tsunami disaster.
“I was really happy when he complimented me,” Fitzpatrick said. “He was the quintessential anchor in his heyday. His legacy stands for concise writing, concise presentation, and calm demeanor in the face of crisis. Impactful and insightful. , Thoughtful.”
Throughout his tenure, Brown was recognized for his commitment to journalistic integrity and his ability to connect with audiences at important historical moments.
Former CNN producer Amanda Turnbull praised Brown’s strong grasp on the news, saying, “His storytelling was factual, but the way he spoke was always deeply human.”
Turnbull recalled how he instilled a culture of empathy in his coverage, often reminding his team: “If you want to be great, prepare to fail.”
Former CNN correspondent Susan Candiotti said Brown “showed such chemistry in front of the cameras.” “He had a real ability to connect with his audience. It felt as if he was speaking directly to you. His essays, his writing, had a particular force on the dominant narratives of the time. I painted a picture that gives you something to think about.”
Candiotti recalled Brown’s response to former Beatle George Harrison’s death in November 2001.
“He has created a wonderful piece of work that recalls Harrison’s life, his contributions to music, and his place in the lives of the generations who remember him,” Candiotti said. “And even if you didn’t know much about him before this, Aaron made sure you did until the end.”
Brown attended the University of Minnesota and hosted a radio talk show in Minneapolis as a young man before joining the Coast Guard Reserve, the university said. Throughout his career, he won numerous awards, including three Emmy Awards.
Although he dropped out of university, he later became a respected lecturer in journalism.
“I felt like I’d come full circle with him in a lot of ways,” Vause said.
After leaving CNN, Brown served as the Rhodes Chair in Public Policy and American Institutions at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, where his influence on broadcast journalism continued to resonate.
“Aaron was able to do a job he loved, and do it as part of a community of people who are dedicated to good journalism and who have become good friends,” said his wife, Charlotte Rayner. I felt very lucky,” he said.
“Throughout his career, Aaron worked morning shifts, night shifts, and of course ‘Overnight’ (a program he loved working on), but he still made time for both ordinary and special time with his daughter Gabby. I always found a way,’ and so did I,” Rayner said.
“The past few years have been the sweetest times for Aaron and I, as we’ve all been able to live in the same city.”
CNN’s Adam Levine and Laura Dolan contributed to this report.
This story has been updated with additional information.
