“He told me several times to ‘get the F out of the newsroom with that camera.’ I just kind of ignored him because he seemed too serious. Because I knew what I was doing,” Blackburn said.
A shocked Turner
Other CNN executives shown in the footage, besides Isaacson, include Sid Bedingfield, Tom Johnson, Jim Walton, Earl Casey, Jamie Kellner, Eason Jordan, Sue Bunda, and Jane Maxwell.
CNN founder, the late Ted Turner, also makes an appearance in the video, with Blackburn recalling that they knew it was a huge story when Turner initially walked into the newsroom shortly after the first plane hit the tower, “with his hands clasped over his face, just looking up at the monitors, and kind of shaking his head.”
At one point, Blackburn captures Turner, Isaacson, and Jordan discussing whether the other Turner news and entertainment networks should switch to CNN’s coverage, with Jordan later on informing Turner that the first tower had collapsed. A shocked Turner wonders who could have orchestrated such an attack, speculating it was the Taliban.
Blackburn seemed to have some fortuitous luck that morning, capturing key moments related to CNN and its programming decisions, including the discussion of introducing Aaron Brown to CNN’s airwaves; appearances of various CNN on-air talent at that time, including Daryn Kagan, Leon Harris, Bill Hemmer, and Lou Waters; technical issues concerning bringing the network’s signal down from New York City; the CNN Center being closed down and restricted to essential staff only; and food and beverage being transported to the newsrooms.
Interestingly, his camera was also present when a brief verbal fight broke out inside CNN’s control room.
Blackburn was also present as staffers received and reacted to announcements about the ongoing tragedy. This also included initial reports of fire at the Pentagon; the White House being evacuated; the airports closed and all planes being grounded; the collapse of the first tower; and news of a plane down in Somerset, Pennsylvania.
As he went on chronicling what was happening inside the building, he noted a work mode shift, transitioning from a sense of chaos to an acceptance of their new reality, saying, “I believe that that’s what’s amazing about CNN is they knew what’s ahead of them.”
