Former CNN anchor Aaron Brown waits off stage before presenting his keynote address at the annual Thomas W. Pyle First Amendment Forum at Southern Oregon University Wednesday evening.
Brown answers questions from the audience.
Aaron Brown's experience as a cool-headed journalist showed last evening as he addressed a standing room only crowd at Southern Oregon University. The former CNN anchor started out by taking a moment to look out at the faces in the audience -- students, faculty, and predominantly older Ashlanders. Without missing a beat he then quipped, "It must be a slow night in Ashland."
It might have been slow night in Ashland, but it was pretty lively when a few people decided to use the opportunity as a political soapbox. There were a couple of outraged citizen who stood up and lectured Brown about all sort of evils -- corporate media, the War on Iraq, taxes, greed, or whatever else was on their minds. This sort of spirit makes Ashland unique, but I felt a little sorry for Brown who had to bear the brunt of criticism for the failure of cable news.
Brown's address was honest and heartfelt. He knows his business. He didn't come across in the least bit as someone who was feeling sorry for themselves, angry, or overly self-absorbed. Brown's talk was a refreshing and sobering reminder of what the role of the media in a democratic society should be all about.
Brown believes in television news and represents a tradition in broadcasting -- one that Americans have come to depend on in news anchors such as Cronkite, Brinkley, Jennings, Rather, Koppel, or Brokaw. Brown belongs to the golden days of television journalism, where content and delivery in times of emergency and crisis requires great commitment and resolve. However, since his departure from the CNN anchor spot in November, Brown may very well represent the last of an era in broadcast journalism.
Television news is changing fast in an attempt to capture younger audiences. It now remains to be seen if the industry is up to the challenge. Medford Mail Tribune Staff Writer, Chris Conrad, summed up the tone of Brown's message when observing:
He [Brown] suggested his eventual demise at CNN resulted from criticizing the network’s obsession with lurid celebrity gossip while
short-changing meaningful news.
This may very well be the case, but it is clear that broadcasting has lost an individual with intregity and a passion for journalism.