From 2001 to 2005, Aaron Brown hosted CNN’s flagship prime-time news show, NewsNight, which aired at 10 p.m. His dry wit and distinctive style were central to the show, which also featured The Whip, a segment reviewing global news with CNN correspondents stationed around the world.

Brown’s unique approach, blending news with subtle commentary, led some to liken his program to something one might hear on NPR. Walter Isaacson, who served as CNN’s chairman at the time, referred to NewsNight as a “little gem,” highlighting Brown’s “quirky sensibility.”

However, Brown’s style wasn’t for everyone, and he was aware of how his approach divided audiences. In a 2002 interview with Adweek, he shared that research had shown his viewers typically fell into three categories: those who found him interesting, those who thought he was a jerk, or those who loved to hate him. “No one is ever neutral about me,” he said. “I can live with that.”

Often compared to Peter Jennings for his fact-based reporting, Brown stood apart in a media landscape increasingly dominated by debate and analysis. Over the course of his career, he earned multiple accolades, including three Emmy Awards and the prestigious Murrow Award.

John Vause, a CNN anchor and correspondent who worked alongside Brown during the 9/11 coverage, recalled that while Brown could be tough to work with, he was also a strong mentor. “It was almost like doing your midterm finals, every time you were doing a live shot with Aaron,” Vause said.

Over time, NewsNight began to decline in the ratings as Aaron Brown found himself losing ground to Fox News’ Greta Van Susteren. In 2005, CNN replaced him with Anderson Cooper, who had gained significant recognition for his coverage of Hurricane Katrina. Brown was let go from CNN two years before his contract was set to expire, with the network shifting its focus from fact-based reporting to talk shows and analysis. Brown later expressed frustration about being assigned to anchor extensive coverage of the highly publicized murder trial of actor Robert Blake.

“It was totally ridiculous,” Brown told Variety in 2007, after he was freed from his CNN contract. He admitted he didn’t enjoy the coverage and doubted its authenticity, acknowledging that the content didn’t resonate well with him or the viewers.

In 2008, Brown returned to television as the host of Wide Angle, a PBS public affairs series focusing on global issues. Following his departure from CNN, he was appointed the inaugural Walter Cronkite Professor of Journalism at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, a position he held until 2014.

His wife, Charlotte Raynor, expressed in a statement that Brown was grateful to have worked in a community of journalists who were passionate about their craft and became lifelong friends. Brown is survived by his wife, daughter Gabby Brown, and two grandchildren.