Aaron Brown, former CNN anchor and influential newsman, dies at 76 | National & World [Video]

(CNN) — Aaron Brown, the renowned CNN anchor who gained prominence for his coverage of the September 11 attacks and his role in shaping the network’s evening news format, died Sunday at the age of 76, his family said.

Brown’s career in journalism began in local television in Seattle before anchoring ABC’s overnight news program “World News Now.” He later joined CNN, where he became known for his incisive reporting. From 2001 to 2005, he anchored “NewsNight,” a program that combined breaking news with in-depth analysis, and earned acclaim for his ability to handle complex stories with sensitivity and insight.

“In the pre-talk era of broadcast journalism, Aaron was first and foremost a writer and a craftsman. That was one of his many skills that earned the respect of his colleagues across the media landscape,” said former CNN producer Jon Auerbach, who worked with Brown.

“He had a biting sense of humor, …