Aaron Brown, CNN Anchor Known for 9/11 Coverage, Dies at 76

Aaron Brown, a well-known television news anchor, has died. He was famous for covering the September 11, 2001 attacks. He was 76. CNN, citing a statement from his family, confirmed his death on Sunday, but the cause was not disclosed.

Brown began his career as a radio talk show host in Minneapolis before moving into TV in Seattle. He later became the founding anchor of ABC’s World News Now and also anchored World News Tonight Saturday. He was a reporter for World News Tonight with Peter Jennings, Nightline, and other ABC programs.

However, it was at CNN that Brown made his most lasting impact. On September 11, 2001, Brown started his shift earlier than planned. He anchored live from a rooftop in Manhattan as the attacks happened. When the second tower collapsed, his emotional response—”Good lord. There are no words”—resonated deeply with viewers. His coverage of the attacks earned him the Edward R. Murrow Award, along with three Emmy Awards and other honors.

Brown’s late-night CNN show, NewsNight, was famous for its thoughtful commentaries. It also featured a segment called “The Whip,” which quickly covered international news. However, he eventually lost ground in the ratings to Fox News’s Greta Van Susteren.

In November 2005, Brown left CNN amid a network shakeup, with Anderson Cooper taking over his time slot. Brown looked back on his time at CNN. He noted the difficulty of mixing serious journalism with the network’s focus on ratings. “Some of what went on was just television, not journalism,” he said in a 2008 interview.

After leaving CNN, Brown taught journalism at Arizona State University as the first Walter Cronkite Professor. In 2008, he returned to TV on PBS’s Wide Angle, a weekly public affairs show.

Brown’s wife, Charlotte Raynor, paid tribute to his legacy: “Aaron got to do the work that he loved—and he felt lucky to do that work as part of a community of people who were dedicated to good journalism and who became good friends.” She also noted that despite his demanding career, Brown always made time for his family.