Tue Mar 04 01:40:00 UTC 2025: ## NPR’s 9/11 Failure and Triumph: From Missed Breaking News to Live Coverage Heroics
**Washington, D.C.** – A new book reveals the inner workings of NPR’s coverage of the September 11th attacks, highlighting a stunning initial failure to respond to the breaking news and the subsequent heroic efforts to rectify the situation.
On the morning of September 11th, 2001, as the first plane hit the World Trade Center, NPR’s *Morning Edition* was airing a story about Chicago’s public school system. The program, known for its meticulously crafted segments, initially failed to interrupt its scheduled programming, a decision that shocked both staff and listeners.
Bob Edwards, the host, informed his boss, Jay Kernis (then NPR’s senior vice president of programming), of the event, but the initial response was slow and lacked urgency. The network’s rigid adherence to its scheduled format, described by some as “nine-minute sausages,” prevented immediate live coverage. This inaction infuriated many affiliated stations, some of whom switched to CNN.
The catastrophic nature of the event only became fully apparent when the second plane hit. The stunned reaction of the *Morning Edition* team spurred Bruce Drake, vice president of NPR news, to order immediate live coverage. However, even then, the transition was hampered by a lack of resources, technical difficulties, and a perceived reluctance to deviate from the show’s established structure.
Edwards initially hesitated, citing a lack of resources and the difficulty of sustaining live coverage with limited information. However, under pressure and with the help of producers, Edwards and other reporters ultimately launched a live special report. This involved connecting with reporters in the field, including Jacki Lyden, who provided a vivid eyewitness account from Brooklyn. Producers also performed impressive behind-the-scenes work, contacting and interviewing eyewitnesses near Ground Zero.
By 10:00 a.m., *Morning Edition* had successfully transitioned to comprehensive live coverage, showcasing the network’s impressive journalistic capabilities. Edwards, initially hesitant, proved adept at handling the situation, and the program remained on the air until 1:00 p.m., providing vital updates and eyewitness accounts throughout the unfolding tragedy.
The account details a pivotal moment in NPR’s history, revealing both the network’s initial missteps and its subsequent, remarkable resilience in the face of unprecedented circumstances. The experience prompted a reassessment of NPR’s approach to breaking news coverage.
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