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I am one of Aaron Brown's faithful viewers who right now is not feeling silent rage, merely sadness. As of yesterday, I won't be depending on Aaron to end my news day and certainly won't be watching CNN during his time slot. Like other news junkies have commented, I won't be boycotting CNN, and I've come to admire Anderson Cooper as a reporter, but Anderson is much too hyper for my taste at 10pm or later. CNN has let go one of its best.
Since first seeing Aaron Brown on ABC's overnight newscast, I've been a big fan, admiring his droll wit and intelligence. As anchor of News Night, he brought to the day's news a context all too often missing during original reporting during the day, a literary writing style and a curiosity enough like mine that he asked questions I wanted answers to. And more often than not, he wouldn't let interviewees avoid answering without a challenge, a rare quality in today's journalists. Actually, I think guests actively enjoyed being on his show because he asked probing and substantive questions related to their reason for being there rather than silly gossipy, or breathless "how did it make you feel," questions.
CNN also will suffer for the loss of Aaron Brown's gravitas/personal sources, which I'm surprised Mr. Speer sought to question. What more does one need than a long, distinguished career to establish credibility and connections? CNN's coverage of the goings on in the Bush Administration already is so weak since Judy Woodruff left. I've started watching a lot more MSNBC because the coverage there is so much better informed.
For me and his legion of fans, I hope that some other television news outlet very soon finds a place for Aaron Brown's style and quality of journalism. Learning about what's happening and how it may affect our world is stimulating in itself and is Aaron Brown gives us.
