CNN was the first major network to break the news of the September 11 attacks in 2001 . Anchor Carol Lin was on the air to deliver the first public report of the event . She broke into a commercial at 8:49 a.m. Eastern Time and said : Daryn Kagan and Leon Harris were live on the air just after 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time as the second plane hit the South Tower of the World Trade Center and through an interview with CNN correspondent David Ensor , reported the news that U.S. officials determined " that this is a terrorist act . " Later , Aaron Brown and Judy Woodruff anchored through the day and night as the attacks unfolded , winning an Edward R. Murrow award for the network . Brown had just joined CNN from ABC to serve as the breaking news anchor
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
History of CNN (1980–2003)