Aaron Brown was a journalist known for his time as an anchor at CNN, including reporting on the 9/11 attacks from the network’s rooftop.
- Died: December 29, 2024 (Who else died on December 29?)
- Details of death: Died at the age of 76.
- We invite you to share condolences for Aaron Brown in our Guest Book.
Aaron Brown’s legacy
Brown’s first day on air for CNN became the one for which people remember him most. He had joined the network in the summer of 2001 in preparation to launch a new show, “NewsNight with Aaron Brown,” in October. But on September 11, 2001, Brown happened to be driving in New York City at a time when reporters were desperately needed to explain to viewers the chaos of the day’s terrorist attack.
He quickly began broadcasting from the roof of CNN’s Manhattan headquarters, and over the next 17 hours of live reporting, he became one of the most iconic journalists covering the tragedy. Many remember Brown being overcome at the sight of the second tower’s collapse, when he paused and said, “Good Lord … there are no words.” He remained a steady on-air presence in the days after the attack, and he later won the Edward R. Murrow Award for his 9/11 coverage.
Having been thrust into the forefront of CNN’s journalism unexpectedly, Brown remained with the network through 2005. Other notable stories he covered there included Hurricane Katrina, the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, and the 2004 presidential election.
Prior to his work at CNN, Brown had been a familiar face in Seattle, where he spent more than 15 years as a local anchor on NBC and CBS affiliates. In the 1990s, he moved to a national post at ABC News, anchoring the late-night program “World News Now” and reporting for such shows as “World News Tonight” and “Nightline.” In the years after his departure from CNN, he hosted “Wide Angle” for PBS and worked as a professor at Arizona State University.
Brown on his 9/11 coverage
“I wouldn’t be talking to you if there wasn’t this tragedy. I mean I get it, I’m just sort of saddened by it all … But if you’re a reporter you want to report real things that matter. And this is a real thing that really matters.” —from a 2001 interview for Entertainment Weekly
Tributes to Aaron Brown
Full obituary: CNN
