Lament for Aaron Brown

Sometimes I feel like I’m in the middle of a Greek tragedy. Oh I haven’t killed my husband or my mother – nothing like that. I mean it more in a figurative sense --- as I watch my past and my present – but probably not my future – self destruct.

I’m talking about the traditional news media – specifically radio and TV news. The professional world I have loved all these years as a reporter and anchor and producer. So OK - what else is new? There are columns and blogs and watercooler discussions that start off this way all the time – have been for years now. But this time I’m not talking in broad generalities. This lament was triggered by a very personal sense of loss -- after the CNN bell tolled for Aaron Brown. I have watched his program at 10PM Eastern for years -- and totally appreciated his adult way of dissecting the big news of the day (and sometimes the little stories as well) -- and putting some non-ideological spin on matters that needed that experienced raised eyebrow.

I wonder if the numbers CNN raves about after Anderson Cooper was added to the broadcast were for Cooper -- or just because the last few months have had so many big stories -- tragedy after tragedy, the White House follies, the Supreme Court nominations. Or maybe some of both.

CNN - like so many other news organizations -is fixated on somehow changing the way news is disseminated -- in a desperate attempt to lure younger viewers. The plain truth is this group of 20 somethings is NEVER going to watch TV as its parents do. And if anyone really remembers what it was like to be young -- he or she will also recall a total disinterest in hard news -- except for earthshaking events. News awareness comes when you get responsibilities -- when your life might be impacted by news events or politics. And that's with or without the internet and the wirelessly connected Gen Y-ers.

Aaron Brown ran a grown-up newscast. With a dollop of fun and sarcasm thrown in for relief. Yes - he's a bit quirky. But for goodness sake -- what is Anderson Cooper? His reports from the hurricane-damaged sites were wonderful and involved and emotional -- all the things a good reporter in those situations should be. But when you transfer that kind of stumbling conversational approach to the anchor desk -- especially for a supposed newscast of record at the end of the day -- it goes beyond quirky.

Perhaps there is room for both kinds of approaches in news; after all what news should NOT be is all the same -- that cookie cutter approach we see in so many consultant-driven local newscasts. But to tell Aaron Brown there is no place for him at CNN anymore -- that really tells his audience how little "news" matters there -- and how much it's become all about something else -- even beyond the bottom line which drives all news organizations now. What exactly that "something" is -- I don't know. But it sure isn't about doing the best newscast you can do.