TV reflects on 9/11 with special coverage
September 11, 2002
On Wednesday, September 11th, television takes a somber look at a day that changed America forever. This same day last year, New York City took a hit for the free world when two hijacked planes crashed into the World Trade Center, killing thousands and wounding the spirit of the nation.
Several stations plan all-day coverage commemorating the tragedy. Programming includes performances, documentaries, interviews, and special events from locations such as Ground Zero and Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
The following is a summary of the day-long coverage on several television stations:
“From Ground Zero, The Early Show with Dan Rather and Jane Clayson” airs from 7 A.M. to 12 P.M. Later, Rather hosts “The CBS Evening News” for an hour (6:30 P.M.). Scott Pelley interviews President Bush on “60 Minutes II” (8 P.M.). Afterward is a re-broadcast of the documentary “9/11,” which presents the tragedy from the survivors’ point of view and contains footage from inside the World Trade Center (9 P.M.). The documentary is the work of filmmakers Jules and Gedeon Naudet, brothers who were profiling a rookie New York City firefighter. While filming, they noticed the plane that would hit the Twin Towers. The firefighter and the Naudets hurried to the scene and the Naudets continued filming. Screen actor Robert De Niro hosts the film.
The morning begins with Katie Couric and Matt Lauer hosting “Today,” followed by Tom Brokaw (7 A.M. to 1 P.M.). Later, Tom Brokaw hosts “NBC Nightly News” for an hour (6:30 P.M.). On “Dateline NBC,” Tom Brokaw interviews air traffic controllers in Boston, Cleveland, New York, and Washington (8 P.M.). The controllers witnessed the events of Sept. 11 and reveal how they shut down all national airspace for the first time in the history of aviation. At 9 P.M., Brokaw continues hosting with “Concert for America,” which was taped on Sept. 9 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. The concert contains performances by Aretha Franklin, Placido Domingo, Gloria Estefan, Enrique Iglesias, Al Green, the National Symphony Orchestra, among other entertainers.
Reporters cover the events marking the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. Diane Sawyer, Charles Gibson, and Peter Jennings present day- long coverage of commemorative programming (7 A.M. to 5 P.M.). Included is a special forum, entitled “Answering Children’s Questions,” moderated by Jennings. Evening programming commences from 7 to 11 P.M., including accounts of the attacks. “Nightline” with Ted Koppel airs at 11:30 P.M.
Live from Ground Zero, Brit Hume anchors a Sept. 11 special, “The Day America Changed” (8 P.M.). The program takes a look at the events of Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001 and the resultant tragedy. Also, Bill O’Reilly reports the reaction of American Muslims, and explores terrorists living in America. The special also contains segments from other reporters, including Shepard Smith, Greta Van Susteren, Geraldo Rivera, and Linda Vester. Vester interviews the wife of the man who led the revolt against the hijackers onboard the plane that crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Included in the special is a performance of “The Last Fallen Hero” by Charles Daniels.
September 11-focused editions of regular programming broadcasts from 5 A.M. to 11 P.M. Some or all of the Fox News programming may also air on regular Fox stations.
Anchors Paula Zahn and Aaron Brown bring daytime coverage from 6 A.M. to 6 P.M. Brown and Connie Chung continue from 7 to 9 P.M. before “Larry King Live” comes on.
September 11-focused editions of regular programming broadcasts from 5 to 7 P.M., including an interview with the chairman of the brokerage firm Cantor Fitzgerald, which lost 658 employees in the Sept. 11 tragedy.
The day starts off with anchors Lester Holt and Jerry Nachman reporting from 8 A.M. to 4 P.M. Following that, the station simulcasts NBC coverage, anchored by Brian Williams (4 to 6:30 P.M.). Afterward, September 11-focused programming airs in the evening.
Fred Graham and Catherine Crier anchor from 8:30 to 11 A.M., Rikki Kleiman follows from 1 to 3 P.M., and Lisa Blom and James Curtis continue from 3 to 5 P.M. Afterward is “Catherine Crier Live” (5 P.M.).