9/11 at CNN

Twenty years ago today, I finished an overnight shift at CNN’s headquarters in Atlanta and left around 4 am to sleep a few hours before heading back. I was scheduled for a second shift that started at 10 am.  

I woke up at about 9 am and flipped on the television. I stopped brushing my teeth and stood in front of the screen. It took most of a minute for my head to clear and for me to realize what was happening. I had worked on the 93rd floor of the World Trade Center for Voter News Service during the last general election so the scene looked familiar.

I raced back to work. It took twice as long to get inside because of the tight security. Everyone on staff who could get down to the CNN Center had come as well, whether they had a shift to work or not. 

I first walked into the CNN Headline News newsroom. It was surprisingly quiet. My shift was canceled because the network had stopped producing news reports and instead aired a feed of the CNN main channel. All the Turner Broadcast networks, including TBS, did the same thing. All except for one—The Cartoon Network. At Headline News, I overheard several people talking in hushed tones about friends and family who worked near the World Trade Centers. 

I took the escalators up to the main CNN newsroom. There were three times as many people there as usual, and they all seemed to be shouting at once. Rumors were flying about reported attacks against the U.S. (including threats to the CNN Center). Producers debated what should go on air, what we knew and what was speculation. I was used to spending my days in a noisy, volatile newsroom—but within a few minutes, the stimulus was too much. I retreated because the noise was overwhelming.   

A few days later, I wrote: 

We're all working double shifts and are exhausted. There are some video shots the network is not airing because it's just too graphic. Adding to it is the emotional element. One of the best producers here came over to a reporter I was sitting beside and asked if we could do something about stress on those who CAN'T turn it off.  He said he broke down several times last night after going home.  

We all just wanted to cry—every day.

Stephen Goforth