Noted CNN anchor, Aaron Brown, known for his iconic reporting of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, passed away on December 29, 2024 in Washington, D.C. at the age of 76. The cause of death was pneumonia, as confirmed by his family through CNN.
As the South Tower of the World Trade Center fell, Brown was reporting live from CNN’s Manhattan rooftop, despite not being scheduled to work that day. His poignant words, “The South Tower, the second tower. The one on the left collapsed. It collapsed in a cascade of smoke and sparks. This is devastation,” became etched in the history of American broadcasting. He stayed on the air for 17 uninterrupted hours.
Brown, born in 1948, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, started his journey to national prominence as a radio talk show host in Minneapolis and later in Los Angeles. His television career began at Seattle’s KING 5 in 1976, where he initially worked as an assistant night assignment editor. He moved to an anchor position at KIRO 7 in 1986, spending the next decade building his reputation for thoughtful journalism.
In 1991, ABC News acknowledged his talent and selected him as the founding anchor of “World News Now,” their novel overnight news program. He later anchored the weekend editions of “World News Tonight” before being recruited by CNN in 2001.
Between 2001 and 2005, Brown anchored “NewsNight” on CNN, where he was praised for his narrative style and sensitive handling of complex stories. His coverage of the 9/11 attacks earned him the Edward R. Murrow Award. Reflecting on his coverage of the events, in a 2016 interview, he stated, “It’s the only time I thought, ‘Maybe you just don’t have what it takes to do a story like this.’ Because it just had never occurred to me.”
After leaving CNN in 2005, Brown joined academia as the Rhodes Chair in Public Policy and American Institutions at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. He influenced a new generation of journalists from 2007 to 2014, emphasizing storytelling and ethical reporting. Later, he hosted PBS’s “Wide Angle” from 2008 to 2009, bringing international news to American viewers.
Jon Auerbach, a former CNN producer, appreciated Brown for his emphasis on writing and craftsmanship. Auerbach also admired Brown’s ability to balance his professional and personal life, despite the demanding schedule of anchoring a 10 p.m. show.
Anderson Cooper of CNN remembered Brown as “thoughtful, funny, and diligent,” and praised his unique talent and eloquence. Throughout his career, Brown won three Emmy Awards and left a profound impact on the field of broadcast journalism with his distinctive narrative style.
Brown leaves behind his wife, Charlotte Raynor, his daughter, two grandchildren, a brother, and a sister. His legacy continues through his historic broadcast of the 9/11 attacks and his lasting influence on journalism as a mentor to young professionals in the field. He is survived by his family and his indelible mark on broadcast journalism.
