Pure music that.

Aaron Brown was the supreme interviewer -- on CNN or anywhere. He knew what questions to ask and how to ask them. Every good interview, just getting started, ran out of time.

I had my own problems with his looking at the monitor for three seconds too long when coming out of a taped piece, mugging for the camera with hand-on-chin, and thinking we don't know. I also had a problem with the, let's face it, environmentally-unfriendly laminating of a dozen or so newspaper front pages for the time-filler, end-of-show piece.

And what's with his embarrasing on-air lecturing of at least one reporter during a live-shot, in the name of "only the facts" journalism?

But Aaron Brown, if his rumored ego and arrogance are either untrue or now history, has a solid PBS presence written all over him -- possibly as an occasional Lehrer contributor just for starters.

Otherwise, yes, cable news will be cable news. But at least Keith Olbermann and his staff rescue it for us nightly!

Nebraska StatePaper.com has captured my feelings:

Score another victory for the mud-brained champions of mediocrity - otherwise known as the management at CNN. Bowing to the perceived benefit of catering to fans of hair spray and insipid blather, the network is planning to remove Aaron Brown from his anchor spot on NewsNight. First, the network fiddled with the program's format, then added Anderson "Look, Mom! The wind's blowing!" Cooper. The other night Paula "Oh, tell me how you feeeel" Zahn was at the desk. Mostly, we feel embarrassed for her when she styles her hair with a cake mixer then proceeds to ask really sappy questions. Brown represents down-to-earth, intelligent interviewing. He understands context, and how the things that happen in the world reflect on the human condition, including the human comedy. Somewhere, amid programming aimed at IQs exceeding room temperature, Brown will find a place. We hope it is one that will let him do what he does best - present news as reality, rather than soap opera.

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.

I think this is a very good article. It's not about blaming CNN or Anderson Cooper it is about where the future in news is headed and will we get quality news or the same old celebrity crap that passes for it.

you're nuts - aaron brown is great. i finally started watching nightly news again. anderson cooper is really great also, but completely different. he is better in the field - brown is a better anchor. we need both styles. cnn blew it.

Cooper is far more viewable than Brown-- a clear factoid.Also i think Cooper's enormous popularity in his passionate report on Ruanda's genocide, Katrina's disaster & of course his appearance on the GURU of career builder: OPRAH, made him a star! I mean, who knows Brown??? C'mon--if you had a choice--(stretch your hands)-- Cooper or tupee wearing Brown?

Bashir

I was sad to hear that Aaron Brown will be replaced. I enjoyed his program and looked forward to it nightly. Cooper lacks his insight and compassion. Brown was one of the few reporters left on television who had credibility.

aaron brown was a comfort through cnn coverage of 9/11. i felt his increasing appearances were reward for all that; but i missed excellent news coverage dependable and without unimportant "fillers" : food, health, hollywood,etc., and find i cannot just go to cnn headline news when that is all i want, as i used to.

anderson cooper's coverage of the vicious beating in new orleans was punishment to witness repeatedly and without resolve. his empathy came before the horrors of survivors and corpses, victims losing their pets and families lost from one another while cnn provided, i trust, very real help.

i much prefer the dry factual information from professional, seasoned weather bureau people to idiots out there in hurricanes, like:cute? not.

i turn to msnbc for news when i'm not with our Senate on c-span2. and morning c-span washington journal until the senate is in session. i was a peter jennings' news devotee and now brian williams because he reported truth of new orleans' "security" mercenary frightening presence when very little was said nor is still about that ONE MORE MISTAKE OUR GOVERNMENT MADE not-handling at all the hurricane destruction, then safety and care of people, all living things. as crass as iraq.

i cannot abide smarmy warm or cheery reportage. "just the facts,ma'am" is vital. and information:truth i find here in salon/washington post and truthout.org and am grateful for this chance to say. jim lehrer news hour, keith olbermann's attention to administrations' manipulations are priceless. i resent most when this administration claims "the american people want" because they are never speaking for me.

thank you sincerely, joan fassett.