Former CNN Anchor Aaron Brown Passes Away at 76

Aaron Brown, a seasoned television news anchor who skillfully guided CNN viewers through the tragic events of September 11, 2001, has passed away.

According to family spokesperson Molly Levinson, Brown succumbed to pneumonia on Sunday in Washington, where he resided. He was 76 years old.

Brown’s journey began in Minneapolis as a radio talk show host before transitioning to television in Seattle. He became the founding anchor of ABC’s “World News Now” and also helmed “ABC’s World News Tonight Saturday.” Additionally, he contributed as a reporter for “World News Tonight with Peter Jennings,” “Nightline,” and other programs on ABC.

However, it was at CNN where he truly left a significant impact—even before his formal onscreen debut.

On the fateful morning of September 11, 2001, Brown took to the air earlier than planned, anchoring from a rooftop in Manhattan as the terrorist attacks unfolded. When the second tower collapsed that day, Brown articulated the horror shared by countless viewers.

“Good lord,” he remarked. “There are no words.”

His reporting during the attacks garnered him the Edward R. Murrow Award, alongside three Emmy awards and other accolades throughout his career.

Brown’s unique and intellectual 10 p.m. CNN newscast “NewsNight” attracted a dedicated viewership who appreciated his insights and the segment “The Whip,” which quickly summarized top international news. However, he faced stiff competition from Fox News’ Greta Van Susteren.

Brown departed CNN during a November 2005 reshuffle, with his timeslot going to the rising star Anderson Cooper.

Reflecting on his time at CNN, Brown noted the struggle of balancing serious journalism within a “highly ratings-driven environment.”

“I don’t wish to criticize cable news broadly, but aspects of it were essentially just television, not journalism,” he shared with The Associated Press in 2008.

“While I didn’t engage in what one might call the ‘high art’ of journalism all the time, I sensed that I was ill at ease in that more sensationalist realm, and I believe viewers could perceive that I wasn’t adept at it,” Brown remarked during that interview.

After his tenure at CNN, Brown spent years teaching at Arizona State University as its inaugural Walter Cronkite professor of journalism. In 2008, he returned to television, joining PBS’ “Wide Angle,” a weekly program focused on public affairs.

“Aaron had the opportunity to engage in the work he cherished—and he felt fortunate to do so within a community dedicated to quality journalism that became like family,” Brown’s spouse, Charlotte Raynor, stated.

She added that despite his fluctuating work hours over the years, Brown always managed to create meaningful moments with their daughter Gabby and her.

Brown is survived by his wife, Charlotte Raynor, a daughter, two grandchildren, a sister, and a brother.

By Jim Salter and R.J. Rico