story1446.xml
Title
story1446.xml
Source
born-digital
Media Type
story
Date Entered
2002-08-24
911DA Story: Story
I was sitting at my desk, having a cup of coffee and surfing the news wires on Sept. 11, 2001 when I saw a AP News Alert. I always open them, but when I did I read: "Plane hits World Trade Center."
We usually have CNN on in our newsroom all day, but for some reason the TV wasn't on. I walked out to the TV, turned it on, just in time to see smoke pouring out of Tower 1. I went to my publisher's office and told him the news. He flipped on his TV and after a few moments, we witnessed the second plane hitting Tower 2. "One might be accident, but two can't be," I told him. "I'll start calling people in."
I don't why, but I instinctively knew that this would be the biggest day of my 9-year career in journalism. After a few other stops, I went back to the newsroom, where a small group of employees from various departments had gathered to watch the events unfold. It was as quiet as I have ever heard it. The phone - which rings non-stop during the day - didn't ring. The fax barely moved.
I remember going into my office, closing the door and thinking of those who were dead or in harm's way. I hit my knees and prayed for them and for the strength to lead my staff and family. When I came out, my phone started ringing - first, my wife, then fellow news staffers wanting to know what we were doing.
I told my wife we would be OK and that she shouldn't expect me to be home tonight or maybe for a few days. My employees I told to come in and we'd sort things out later.
The rest of the day was a blur, except for one moment. I went home to change clothes after we put out an extra edition, at about 6 p.m. I hugged my wife and 1-year-old daughter. I thought about how oblivious she was to everything that was going on - and how I wish I could be the same way.
I went back to work and put out another paper, this one a special morning edition, and at about 4 a.m. Sept. 12, I was finally free to go home. I decided not to clean off my desk, but stopped before I switched off my lights. Moving over to my desk, I found that same cup of coffee I poured nearly a day earlier. I realized the magnitude of what had happened. I realized we would soon be at war. And I realized that many families lost their leaders on that day.
We usually have CNN on in our newsroom all day, but for some reason the TV wasn't on. I walked out to the TV, turned it on, just in time to see smoke pouring out of Tower 1. I went to my publisher's office and told him the news. He flipped on his TV and after a few moments, we witnessed the second plane hitting Tower 2. "One might be accident, but two can't be," I told him. "I'll start calling people in."
I don't why, but I instinctively knew that this would be the biggest day of my 9-year career in journalism. After a few other stops, I went back to the newsroom, where a small group of employees from various departments had gathered to watch the events unfold. It was as quiet as I have ever heard it. The phone - which rings non-stop during the day - didn't ring. The fax barely moved.
I remember going into my office, closing the door and thinking of those who were dead or in harm's way. I hit my knees and prayed for them and for the strength to lead my staff and family. When I came out, my phone started ringing - first, my wife, then fellow news staffers wanting to know what we were doing.
I told my wife we would be OK and that she shouldn't expect me to be home tonight or maybe for a few days. My employees I told to come in and we'd sort things out later.
The rest of the day was a blur, except for one moment. I went home to change clothes after we put out an extra edition, at about 6 p.m. I hugged my wife and 1-year-old daughter. I thought about how oblivious she was to everything that was going on - and how I wish I could be the same way.
I went back to work and put out another paper, this one a special morning edition, and at about 4 a.m. Sept. 12, I was finally free to go home. I decided not to clean off my desk, but stopped before I switched off my lights. Moving over to my desk, I found that same cup of coffee I poured nearly a day earlier. I realized the magnitude of what had happened. I realized we would soon be at war. And I realized that many families lost their leaders on that day.
Collection
Citation
“story1446.xml,” September 11 Digital Archive, accessed December 19, 2025, https://911digitalarchive.org/items/show/13849.