Inside PBS Blog

On September 11th, you reported the collapse of building 7 before it actually collapsed as did the BBC.

You can watch the report by going to youtube and searching for "aaron brown wtc7".

Considering that no modern steel framed building had ever collapsed in this manner before, straight down into its own footprint at the speed of gravity, how do you think that CNN knew in advance of building 7's demise?

Also search at youtube.com for "bbc wtc7". You'll see the BBC reporter telling us that building 7 had collapsed when it is standing right behind her. This created a firestorm in England but was never reported here. The BBC never revealed where they got the notice from that they read on air.

How is it possible for two different news services to report the pre-collapse of a steel framed high rise that was not hit by any aircraft?

The official 9/11 report doesn't mention this building.

You were there, perhaps you can shed some light on this mystery.

Mr. Brown, I watched NewsNight from the nights after 9/11 (and before it was called NewsNight) on through your end -- you and your show were inspirations for this journalist.

What have you done since leaving CNN?

What have you missed most, on a personal level, from being out of journalism for a few years?

Why foreign affairs for the new show not just domestic matters?

Good luck!

Since Brown allowed Colin Powell off the hook after his presentation at the UN, and then proceeded to support the war and occupation, I am curious if he feels any obligation to help the Iraqi people. Tens of millions of lives have been negatively impacted, and I place a lot of blame on the US corporate media.

And, in his new position, is he going to cover the effects of this occupation on the Iraqi people and the Iraqi refugees, or is he going to ignore them like he did on CNN?

Also - when you were interviewed by Amy Goodman in 2003 after the invasion, you responded to her questions about coving the anti-war protests (that were still ongoing):

"It's not the relevant question.... it's over, it's on, it's being done"

I was wondering if you changed your position on that, or if you still feel that Americans should refrain from protesting their government's actions in this regard.

I was also wondering if you ever realized how anti-US Constitution that position that you took in 2003 actually is.

I really miss what you brought to CNN. There hasn't been much on from a news standpoint worth watching other than the excellent Frontline series and Moyers.

What is the gameplan for this series/program? A "weekly foreign affairs documentary series" covers a lot of ground.

Is this going to be a focus on world hot spots and explaining them and their context, or a US policies and impacts in foreign affairs, or a foreign affairs and policies and their impact on US, or ???

I'm thinking that, to lure you back (or maybe it's just been a non-compete that has kept you away?) you've had to have some input in structuring the series - so what will be the focus and why?

What were your best and worst experiences as an anchor on CNN?
What story did you find the most interesting?
What kind of stories are you hoping to cover on the new show? Any chance of doing something on Mongolia?

I guess that's probably too many questions, but what the heck, I'd like to know.

Honestly, I stopped watching the CNN news when you were no longer the anchor and am glad that you are going to be back on the air. July 1 goes on my calendar.

Why did you refuse to have a Vets Against Iraq War on your show on CNN prior to the invasion saying something like they were irrelevent?. Please don't deny that you did that, you will only embarass yourself further..

And why should you have any credibility now when those voices would have been important to hear at the time?

I will personally never forgive you and think you are responsible for stilling those voices in the runup to the war.

Won't watch you on PBS, either. Too late now.

KIRO news is a mess and needs you!!!

In the lead up to the Iraq war, one voice of dissent was that of ex-marine and ex Iraq weapons inspector Scott Ritter. You interviewed him on CNN one night discussing his out of court settlement on a solicitation of a minor indictment rather than the subject at hand, which was his credible opinion that Iraq had actually destroyed the majority of it's weapons. Due you now regret your actions during that night?

for being a flunky for this criminal administration while you were at CNN?

Second question: Why is PBS the dumping ground for lousy CNN "journalists" like you, Tucker Carlson and Judy Woodruff?

I really would like to know because I think the public deserves better. Seems really strange that PBS has the great Bill Moyers, whom you could never equal, and the rest of you CNN discards.

No question. Just a comment.
I loved your segment on CNN. I have missed you and your calm easy going demeanor.
I am looking forward to watching you on PBS.

Thank goodness!! I felt like we were on a search for you, and missed you so much after you were gone from the CNN nightly news. You will be a welcome measured, calm voice back in our viewing time. It has been a week of immeasurable loss of another balanced, well-informed, calm voice in the news. Our family will loyally watch your program, surely learn a lot, and wish you well as you prepare. Thank you in advance!! Greta and large extended family in Wisconsin

I too am happy you are back. I didn't always agree with you when you were at CNN, but you won me when you answered my emails. Good luck.

No offense to PBS, but I think you would make a wonderful replacement for Russert.

Welcome back Aaron. I was a loyal viewer of World News Now in the 1990s and was disappointed when I heard the news that CNN had made a switch at the anchor spot, as I felt you were the best anchor on both cable and network. I hope PBS will allow a little more freedom to report on what's not only interesting, but important to the nation. Good luck.

Mr. Brown.
Do you feel bad about taking an huge salary
at CNN for a handful of years, causing them
to lay off a 20 year employee like myself?
What should I do for health insurance now?
How can I save my home from foreclosure?
How do you and other overpaid on camera talent
feel about ruining the news business? Can you
look real journalist in the eye?

I was a faithful viewer of News Night and was sad to see you go. In 2005, I was living in El Salvador. One week in August, while I was sick with dengue fever, Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast. I spent the whole week laid up in bed watching CNN coverage of the tragedy, stunned by what was happening back in my home country and comforted by your reporting.

I see from the photo above that you've been working on your golf game. Welcome back. I hope you guys will do some stories on Latin America.

Chris O.

AARON ;,I WATCHED YOU ON CNN ,I THOUGHT YOU WERE GOOD AT YOUR JOB, BUT I ALWAYS THOUGHT YOU LACKED CONVICTION ,ENTHUSIASM, AND A FIRM PERSONAL POINT OF VIEW ,WHICH ATTRACHS VIEWERS ! ! I,LL BE WATCHING AND WISHING YOU THE VERY BEST OF LUCK ! ! ! !

First, let me say that you were the ONLY reason I kept my cable subscription. Your intelligent analysis was unsurpassed, and I am thrilled that you now have a platform worthy of your insight, wit, and acumen.

This has been an extraordinary year in politics. How would you summarize to date the lessons to be learned so far from Election 2008? From the American perspective? From the global perspective?

Aaron, I watched you pretty much from 9/11 till you left and since then haven't been much inclined to watch CNN at all. Happy to see you'll be back in a national forum and can't wait to see your new show.

I'm more than excited Aaron Brown is coming back on the air. We've missed his show.

During Katrina he almost became a member of the family as my husband watched--for two weeks straight--the intense coverage daily on CNN. I personally miss the nightly headlines from the print papers. There was something oddly personal and human about that and I'm just pleased to hear that PBS is adding (yet another) powerful reporter to their programming. I'll be sure to tune in more!

Hi Mr. Brown,

I very much miss your reporting at CNN so let me encourage you to consider going back to cable news.

As for my question, I thought the live coverage you did with General Wesley Clark at the beginning of the Iraq invasion was superb. What was your impression of the General at the time and what do you think of his transition to politics?

I was angry and devastated when you got bumped from CNN, and did not watch it at all for a long time; watch it minimally now. This was after being a person who had CNN on at least 2 hours a day. I am so glad PBS has the good sense to hire you and Judy Woodruff. Looking forward to your contributions in this new program.

You were terrific on CNN. Too bad they care more about 'stars' and ratings and silliness than quality programming.

We watched you every night on CNN and so appreciated your in-depth coverage. We were CRUSHED when you disappeared and are thrilled that you will be part of PBS. Really looking forward to your contributions that are much-needed in today's journalistic echo chamber.

I am so pleased you will be returning to national television. And I am especially pleased that it will be on PBS--I long ago stopped trusting in the integrity of CNN.

Aaron, I will never forget how your calm and compassionate voice somehow got us all through the chaos of 9/11, when we all had the TV going 24/7 trying to make sense out of the tragedy. If I remember correctly, 9/11 was your first day on CNN, or close to it.

Welcome back. Looking forward to your show. Here's my question: how do you plan to present an international perspective to an American public that has come to view anything "global" with suspicion and antipathy? "Globalization," like "liberal," has become a dirty word. We need you to educate the public.

Here's HOPING that we soon have a new president who will CHANGE that narrow attitude-- a president who sees the big picture , understands the challenges of global issues, and will restore our standing in the world.

Aaron,

Is there any chance at all that you'll be able to do the "Evening Papers" block on your new show? No?

Great to have you back buddy. The slot you used to fill has been horribly empty and shallow since your departure.

Please do yourself (and your ratings) a favor by becoming a member of and actively participating with the rest of us in the blogosphere at dailykos dot com.

It's good to see you back on the front line with your sage insights regarding current events. NPR seems like a good fit. I enjoyed your reporting in Seattle, then later on the national stage.

Ted

Can anybody hold a candle to Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert for accurate, pertinent and timely news coverage? Mr. Brown has a high standard to meet to even come close.

I want to welcome you back from the cold, I was extremely disappointed at your shoddy treatment from CNN,.. I really thought you were the most talented anchor at CNN, I don't think that move would have happened were Ted Turner still in charge of CNN. I haven't watched CNN much since your departure, but 'NewsNight' was something I tried to make a point to watch. I welcomed your thoughtful and intelligent approach to the daily events of the day.

However, I was severely disappointed in your dismissal of anti-Iraq invasion voices, notably Scott Ritter, preferring to discuss a private personal matter unrelated to his area of expertise instead. Were you pressured into that sort of pro-war, pro administration posture? Of course, you are hardly alone in this regard, I'm not trying to single you out. Indeed, the vast majority of the corporate owned mainstream media maintained a similar posture.

My question is this: Do you regret that period? Do you wish you had explored the views of the critics in a less dismissive fashion?

I wish you success in your new endeavour and look forward to your first broadcast.

TV journalism is always improved by your thoughtful consideration and expression.

Aaron, glad you're back. CNN has become dreadful since all the real journalists like you left.

I admired the way you anchored Newsnight. A couple of qualities stood out for me. One was that you seemed to steer away from booking people with opposite viewpoints on the same segment to have them argue. Instead you would book these people on different nights and give each a decent interview. Another quality was that you seemed to put special emphasis on carefully crafting an essay or the way a story is framed. I put you in a league with NPR's Scott Simon in this respect. The people who did segments on your show were good writers also. I wondered at the time how involved you were with the editing.

Now my question: Whose journalism work do you admire these days, and what do you admire about it?

And one more thing: Nice tan.

Mr. Brown,

Do you intend to follow your famous liberal biased reporting at NPR, or turn over a new leaf, & quit burying negative news about liberals, and accentuating bad news about republicans?

How far left do you have to be to find an avowed anti-American hate spewing communist like Keith Olberman has a, in your words..... "It’s a good television program. No, it’s a very good television program. That’s how I want to put that."?

Lastly, Do you still believe that a black person who is comfortable with the white race should be labeled Uncle Toms? Your words......... "I wondered, you know, there's a term in American race relations, Uncle Tom, when black Americans are seen as too comfortable with the white establishment."

I share some of the above commenter's inquiries as to the scope of the foreign affairs coverage that you have signed on to do on PBS, and recognize that Americans must forego the luxury of ignoring - and remaining largely ignorant of - events outside our borders and the views of citizens in other countries. I too will be interested to see whether the program will simply be reportage of foreign internal affairs or whether some emphasis will also be included on others' devolving views of America / hope for change in America.

However, my PRIMARY question is whether your PBS slot will be all-encompassing and/or exclusive, or whether instead you are considering / are allowed to consider other endeavors. PBS has sometimes shared its talent - such as Gwen Ifill - with other stations and it seems the exclusivity of your CNN contract hurt you and viewers alike. Just how exclusive IS your contract with PBS? Would you be available to even appear and lend your views on Olberman or Matthews' shows - let alone take on a second hosting job at another channel as well as on PBS?

I don't know why you left CNN -- whether you were pushed or slid out the back door -- but I thought you were competent, yet brazenly sanctimonious and smugly arrogant. As a journalist myself, I kept thinking when I watched you, "Jesus, I bet it's an ordeal working with him."
If I was to direct you this time around, I'd say, "Liven yourself up! Drink lots of coffee before the show or something. This slow-motion know-it-all character has to go. Stop acting and speaking down to your audience like they were children. Maybe you do know more than the average bear, but don't act like everyone else should be swooning over your every word."

Main Entry:
en·gage
Pronunciation:
\in-?g?j, en-\
Function:
verb
Inflected Form(s):
en·gaged; en·gag·ing
Etymology:
Middle English, from Anglo-French engager, from en- + gage pledge, gage
Date:
15th century

transitive verb1: to offer (as one's word) as security for a debt or cause2 aobsolete : to entangle or entrap in or as if in a snare or bog b: to attract and hold by influence or power c: to interlock with : mesh; also : to cause (mechanical parts) to mesh 3: to bind (as oneself) to do something; especially : to bind by a pledge to marry4 a: to provide occupation for : involve b: to arrange to obtain the use or services of : hire 5 a: to hold the attention of : engross b: to induce to participate 6 a: to enter into contest or battle with b: to bring together or interlock (weapons)7: to deal with especially at lengthintransitive verb1 a: to pledge oneself : promise b: guarantee 2 a: to begin and carry on an enterprise or activity b: to take part : participate c: to give attention to something : deal 3: to enter into conflict or battle4: to come together and interlock (as of machinery parts) : be or become in gear

One of my favorite features of your nightly news broadcasts on CNN was your preview of the next day's front pages of local papers around the country. Your commentary, if any on a given night, was brief, but always insightful.

I would be very interested to know your take on the news coverage in the run up to the invasion of Iraq and the war coverage in general.

Hi Aaron,
Happy you're back! I loved on CNN when you had that NPR guy playing annoying music (Jim Nader?)! Will "Wide Angle" explore how Leonard Nimoy got a record contract, why Bing Crosby sang "Hey Jude,' or the criminality of John Ashcroft singing--anything? I will plug my ears and wait for your answer!

All the best,

Susan Durbani
New York

Yaaaaaaaaayyyy!!

So glad to see Aaron back.

This man is one of the most intelligent, thoughtful, articulate, insightful, and comforting journalists in media (all forms) today.

CNN revealed its shallowness when they shell-gamed AC into a spot he didn't earn. He can never participate in the world of journalism when Aaron Brown is present.

Thank you PBS.

Mr. Brown:

Both my wife and I were very upset by your departure from CNN. You provided an extraordinarily powerful antidote to the screaming and yelling (mostly about nothing) that typifies cable news today.

My sense in watching was that you knew that Anderson Cooper, who appeared more regularly on your show, was being groomed to replace you. I assume you knew, as well, but was very gracious to, and supportive of, him. Did you know?

I would have liked to have seen more of the newspaper segment you did, but extend it to the pages where the real stories occurred, inside the paper. Did you have a limit as to what you could show?

What have you found to be the desires of the journalism students you deal with daily? Do they want to be Jon Stewart, Anderson Cooper, Nancy Grace or Tim Russert?

Do you think there's been a bit too much time spent on Russert? It's not like the Pope died. (I'm more affected by the fact that I'm 59 and he was 58...and he had no idea it was coming. There wasn't a whole lot of talk about that.)

Finally, can newspapers transition to electronic media? The loss of readership is a powerful statement about the way our personal news gathering has gone. Is there a future for general news, or is the proliferation of siloed journalism all we can hope for?

Thanks, and best of luck on PBS. You have been missed.

Bob

Aaron has been teaching at Arizona State University for the last year. He teaches a class about major events in television news history and goes from Kennedy's assassination all the way through his coverage of 9/11. Conspiracy theorists are wasting their time. Aaron has seen a lot of amazing things in his life, through his coverage of many major world events over the last few decades. Ask about that.

With that said, I have a question for Aaron.

What is the single most important piece of advice someone has given you and how has that played into any decisions that have affected your career?

When Aaron Brown was the anchor on CNN, I watched every evening. When he left, so did I and I haven't watched since. If it were just me, that wouldn't be of consequence, but if one checks CNN's ratings... Enuf said.

Now that you are teaching journalism, what advice are you giving fledgling reporters on how they should approach the demands of the new world of online journalism? Could a young reporter still hope to have a career like yours, or are the expectations different in an online world?

Glad you're back, but please do us all a favor. Make it a rule not to invite on your program any screamers, interrupters, discredited public officials, political theorists and commentators who events have proved dead wrong, or any spokesperson who can't get through a sentence without using the words "challenging," "dialog," "inclusive," "concerned," "troubling," and "reaching out."

1. I'm really pleased by this move. Brown has long been a favorite in this household.
Question: How will you address major, seismic trends confronting American foreign policy (which have not been adequately addressed in recent US foreign policy, in my judgment)? examples- global water shortages, growing food insecurity in Africa, the economic cost to America of continued unstinting support to Israel, the imbalance between international corporate giants and limited American government authority and capacity to deal with them.

In the national trauma that was 9/11 that left our entire country in shock and angry, I think collectively we wanted someone to be held accountable. The national concious was in a slumber and ther was an overall feeling of cheerleading by the media, The run-up to the war did not place alot of scruitiny on the administrations intelligence by Legislature and more importantly the media, whom in America are celebrated for their getting to the bottom of it when something stinks.
I remember you holding everyone who reported on News Night to account for getting the stories right and being unbiased.
What question(s) do you wish you would have asked and been more diligent with in regards to the Iraq war and intelligence regarding the war?

On a personal note: The thing I loved about your shows both on ABC and CNN is the end of show "Newspaper" front pages for tomorrow.
You and Wes Clark did a great job of reporting on the Invasion and the two of you were a great team.
And, I bet you have been tough on yourself about some of the meida shortcomings regarding the run-up to the war... Don't be... In those months that followed 9/11, It seems the entire country wanted to believe in this administration...But as they say in Tennessee or Texas.. Fool me once, shame on...Fool me twice shame... Or anyway...Fool me, Won't get Fooled again!
I leave you with this nugget...Brownie! You're doing a heckuva good job!

How odd that Aaron Brown, who never showed the kind of impartiality expected of an anchor in the lead up to the Iraq War, is now given a foreign policy platform. His pro-Israel bias shone through again and again over the months of the war. Israel was sacrosanct, off limits, never discussed and never critiqued. All the fiery malice was directed toward the Arab states. What a plum for him now, to have a soapbox to push the greater Israel agenda. We'll hear all about how the Gazans deserve to starve, the Lebanese deserved cluster bombs, the West Bank deserves to have its water rerouted and its borders engulfed by the Wall.....and how brilliantly Israel executed its bombing attack on Iran....."I can see it now"

It is good to know that I can watch you on PBS. It's been awhile and a lot of journalism all about the journalist since you left. Foreign affairs documentaries, huh? Great!
My question to you is: WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG?

Mr. Brown,

I've watched you since you worked at ABC at WNN. Your style of reporting and the tone of your broadcasts have always be refreshing in a sea of discord. I am sure you were pressured to change NewsNight's format. It took great integrity to maintain the program that you created. Also, to withstand the end of the CNN relationship with dignity (They would never have treated Bernard Shaw that way!).

We miss your program and look forward to watching you on Wide Angle - on PBS - where you belong!

What will your "angle" be?

Best Wishes!

I always loved your low-key and engaging style amid all the hyperbolic and screaming news bobble-heads we see on Fox and increasingly on all cable news channels, and really missed you when you were ousted...

I would like to think you'll have more freedom here at PBS to actually tell the truth about what's happening to the American dream...

But aside from Amy Goodman and some local shows, PBS seems to have caved to the Right Wing politicians and leaders who tried to destroy it and toned down any negative commentary to a low mute...

I expect truth, and plenty of it from PBS, and not some of the double-talk I've seen lately...

One night in April 2003, Aaron Brown ran footage of some very heavily armed American soldiers in a neighborhood in Baghdad looking for bad guys, presumably. They were going house to house banging on the front gates demanding to search private homes. Then, when nobody came out to let them in, they were screaming in English, "Open the f****** door! OPEN THE F****** DOOR!!" When this got no response, they crashed through the gate and smashed in the people's front door and burst into the living room to find a cowering family, women crying, children screaming in fear. Scenes like this, shown many times on American news and all around the world, showing American soldiers raiding people's homes and terrorizing the occupants, make me wonder why Aaron Brown didn't seem to have much of a comment, something along lines of "If our guys are doing this in Iraq, it's not going to go well for them or anybody else." Most viewers could tell that just looking at even CNN's somewhat sanitized coverage.
Usually I admired Brown's sensible commentary but I was amazed and disappointed at how he fell in line with the cooked-up war hysteria surrounding the invasion of Iraq.

I am delighted that Aaron Brown is returning to nighttime TV. I was very sorry when he left CNN. What kind of a program is this new venue>

Aaron Brown, welcome back! I was sad to see you leave CNN. My favorite parts of your show were your commentaries and tomorrow's newspapers. You have a way with words, and appear to appreciate the written word, as I do. Could you share a list of your most favorite books, let's say the top 5? Thanks.

I'm also glad you're returning to my TV. I hope, and believe, you'll fit in well with the PBS audience and that you'll enjoy a long career there.

I, too, pretty much stopped watching CNN after your departure, and particularly missed your calm demeanor and, of course, the final few minutes with the nation's newspapers.

I hope that your new show allows you the freedom to report on all the world, not just the hot spots that receive all the press. Yes, those are important, but I feel there's more to the world than Iraq and Zimbabwe, and I hope there's time in your program to mention events in Fiji and Croatia, even if they're only important to the people who live in unpopular states.

I'm in the US, and you can be my window on the world if you choose.

Mr Brown--

Having been a WNN and NewsNight viewer, It will be a pleasure to have you back on any basis.

Suggestions for topics to cover...

Why some people, though small in number, dearly believe and promote vast right or left wing conspiracy theories, and who profits from selling them landfills worth of DVDs, books and seminars to perpetuate them?

Why extreme right and left bloggers, authors and *serious* news commentators and reporters each think the other side has "the Mainstream Media" in their back pocket of the other?

And, how many of these books from both right and left pundits end up clogging the $4.98 section at Barnes & Noble?

How the internet has enabled anyone with a computer to state any reckless thought as an absolute fact, to be defended by a carpet-bombing of rhetoric against anyone's character who even dares to question the facts of said statements?

Then again, the above question could be applied to most all political campaigns, especially on a national level. A reading of history would sadly prove this is nothing new.

Mr. Brown, do you see why we need more voices like yours back on a venue like PBS where you'll receive exposure, and hopefully, far less interference?

--A Registered Independent

I am so happy to see that you will be back on the national stage again with PBS. Having watched you for years in Seattle on KING and KIRO, I was sad when you left the market as did Lou Dobbs. Then you both showed up on CNN. Yea and double Yea. I watched your program every night as well as Dobbs. However, I realized that you were the person that kept his wit and reporting style true to you. Dobbs trurned into a big mouth that hit every talking point he could lay his tongue into. Then you left CNN and the only person that I would watch was Larry King. I enjoy Larry but his producers schleped into the Tattle Tale Big Breast guest ploy almost every night. CNN is now the worst network on the air. Jocks, Talking Heads, Big Hair reporters spouting nothing but ... nothing.

Now I can at least look forward to intellegent reports and topics from you on PBS. Congrats to being back on the national stage with a quality network.

Finally - smart news is returning to television. I have missed NewsNight and have yet to find a good site for daily news. I loved your work on World News Now, World News Tonight Weekend and later on CNN. CNN made a huge mistake canceling NewsNight. I have since moved on to other new organizations for my news. Looking forward to this new venture of your's but am glad you are, also, through your teaching, passing on your knowledge of the news business on to the next generation. Just as Peter Jennings was a mentor to you, you now have that opportunity to pass on your knowledge. From the days of Cincy Freedom roaming the streets of Cincinnati, your great travel advice to my family when we visited New York, and your great emails from places around the world (most notedly, Pakistan, when you to the great "get" from Musharaff) I've always enjoyed your interaction with your audience. Thanks for caring about what we would like to hear about but also telling us what we need to know in case we are not aware of how important that subject is. Wishing you all the best on "Wide Angle" and here's hoping it is the beginning of a new success for you.

Diana Reynolds
Cincinnati

What a coincidence that wide Angle was created in 2001, the same year you started at CNN, it was waiting for you since then.
I'm thrilled beyond words for your coming back to us, especially away from cable.
Would you be having (Incorporated somehow in the schedule) a follow up on the Post Dramatic Stress disorder that effects our kids in Afghanistan and Iraq?
See you soon.

Aaron Brown, we loved you at KING and at KIRO; you were a voice of moderation, a touch of class and voice of reason at CNN.

CNN panicked when FOX cleaned its clock and replaced you with its gray haired goofball reporter and a fitting teammate for Lew Dobbs. His schoolboy antics are pitiful and worthy of Rupert Murdock.

Do you think that there is any hope outside of PBS for responsible television journalism? Edward R. Murrow must be turning in his grave. I am getting my news and views on the web and from Jim Lehrer these days.

Welcome back!

It has been interesting to see all the comments (pro and con) regarding Aaron Brown's new program on PBS. I, too, am looking forward to his return.

I am amused by some of the reactions accusing him being responsible for the run up to war (gee, what happened to Dubya and "fatso" Cheney?).

In addition, there were mentions of Communists in the media(Keith) and I am sure Aaron will soon be branded. Actually, I was rather surprised as I thought the only Communists left were Fidel and Raul. Are we back to there being Communists under every "liberal" bed. We still have a two-party system. Republicans and Communists! I thought all those fear-mongerers were dead by now. Evidently not! I am also surprised that the fear-mongerers even know about Aaron Brown's return. I didn't think they watched anything except Fox Pseudo News.

Mr. Brown
I am a LONG time fan of yours since your days on local TV Seattle. I just today found out about your new PBS show and will be looking forward to it.

I welcome your return to major league TV. I watched you religiously on CNN and have wondered why they dumbed you?

I also wonder what is your current position on the war in Iraq? Also, I wonder whether you regret being misled by Dumbya and his neocon henchpeople?

Welcome to PBS - seems like a perfect spot for you. I can remember you years ago as a week-end anchor for a non-cable news program and I always watched that show to see if you found a way to show us your sense of humor. You were pretty sneaky about it, sometimes.

I have learned so much about world news and conditions since I discovered the NewsHour so, so many years ago. I have the feeling that corporate news owners "squash" network news coverage, and ask that it be watered down and lacking controversy, so as to not alarm anyone. Could you address that?

Thanks so much - looking forward to viewing you again!

as a journalist, why have u ignored the apodictic principle (of desirable/necessary truth) that no land has the right to attack another land under no known circumastances?
if this premise had been honored in '03, ICC coud have been called on to arrest alleged criminals.
ICC could have put a ransom on saddam's head of bns. it wouldn't have, i deduce, taken long for saddam to run to den haague for protection.
after all, he only had 6bn enemies.
collectively punishing mns of people for alleged crimes of a few td criminals makes no sense; it's a crime.
from these facts one can affirm that it did not matter whether bush lied or told truth; all wars r based on lies, demonization, rationalization, prediction, greed, etc.
but, of course, saddam being tried in haague, would have occluded the invasion/occupation.
so, US did not want saddam; it wanted the real estate. thank u

What do you think of the impact of comedy format news, such as The Daily Show, on the dissemenation of information?

it mattered to me not an iota whether bush lied or told truth.
for one thing, question arises can a person armed w. truth beat his wife, rob a bank, etc?
neither can a nation wage war based on truth. after all, all wars i know of were based on lies, prediction, demonzation, rationalization, greed, etc.
so, any nation justifying its wars on truth (truth1) is wrong/criminal
in another words, there is no truth; there is a TRUTH1, TRUTH2, TRUTH 3 and so on.
declare own truth1 and off one goes attacking anybody at any time.
this can't be right.
also, there should not be collective punishment for alleged crimes by individuals. thank u

I have missed your heartfelt and sensitive reporting on CNN and would like to know what the end of that phase of your career (as well as your transition to your new PBS series) was like for you. Welcome back!
Tracy in Arlington Massachusetts

Dear Mr. Brown,

Growing up I was never into politics or really cared about the News, until I was inspired by your passion and beauty in News Reporting. I was 14 years old when you first took the the air. You always forced me to really think and ponder and you brought truth to the news. I am now almost 21, and your reporting at CNN truly did change my life. You inspired me to want to go into political journalism. I am now working hard in college and hope that some day I can be half as good at you at reporting. I will stay true to my beliefs and opinions as you have shown on your own.

My question to you is: What current news anchor(s) inspire you and make you think? And what advice would you give to aspiring political journalists?

Thank you very much for everything you have given America and I am very excited to see you on PBS!

I have an idea I believe might be worth exploring on Wide Angle. It is the over population problem which most politicians refuse to touch but which is also at the core of many of the major problems in the word today.

After 9/11/2001, I, like many others, found myself unemployed and unemployable. Many of the people I know personally as well as others I have met were white collar workers with at least a BA or BS who had their jobs outsourced overseas after 9/11/2001. At the same time, the issue of illegal immigration was becoming a growing issue.

Obviously the illegal immigration issue is primarily one of illegal immigrants from Mexico to the United States. In the case of overseas outsourcing of the white collar jobs, it has been India and China more than any other that have been the source. This got me to thinking. What do all three of these countries, Mexico, China and India, have in common? They are three of the most over populated countries on the planet.

Shortly after this occurred to me, the United States hit the 300,000,000 mark for it's population. That got me to further thinking about over population. Soon I began to think of all the major problems confronting not only the US, but often other countries besides the US. Certainly the US economy has suffered due to the drain of jobs overseas as much of the money earned by illegal immigrants from Mexico makes its way to Mexico. But other major problems such as global warming, the overall world economy, crime, health, endangerment of species...just about any major problem one can think of can be attributed in some way to the worlds human over population.

If that doesn't ring true for you, please consider this. Imagine any one of the major issues of today. Now imagine what that issue would be like if the world's human population were say, half of what it currently is now. Now how much of a problem would your pet world problem be?

Though these countries may be the worst, it's not only China, India or Mexico that are the problem. I believe that one of our best solutions to the growing problems today is to begin scaling back the rate of reproduction so that we reduce, not merely stop growth, of the human population. I also believe this might be worth exploring on Wide Angle, if not as the main subject, then at least as part of another.

Aaron,

We've really missed your calm and professional journalism since you left CNN. That network is much the worse for lack of your influence.

No surprise I guess that you'd find a home on PBS, as it seems to be the only place left for real news on TV.

Hi Aaron,

Feel like I know you so will use your first name. Have been a fan since you worked on local TV in Seattle. Was very upset when CNN cancelled what I considered the best news program going. And now, tonight, was happy to see a segment from you on the Australian Network (on cable here in Rawai Beach, Phuket, Thailand) of your PBS series on the subject of Iraqi Refugees, especially in Jordan and Syria. As usual I found you well informed, able to get intelligent answers from those you were interviewing and in less than an hour learned more about this problem than I had in the past. So thank you and good luck with your future programs.
(P.S. miss your glasses and what's with the hair - lol - not that I haven't aged and when I look in the mirror wonder who that guy is whose staring back at me!).

Tom Rice
formerly Port Gamble, Washington
now Raiwai Beach, Phuket, Thailand

but I'm glad he's back. CNN hasn't been the same. I've always respected Aaron as a man and a journalist.