Media documentation of the September 11 attacks
During the coordinated terrorist assaults on September 11, 2001, the Islamic extremist organization al-Qaeda was responsible for the deaths of 2,977 individuals, injuries to more than 6,000 people, and inflicted infrastructure and property damages exceeding $10 billion. The toll has continued to evolve as additional victims have succumbed to illnesses linked to the attacks.
Some survivors and witnesses recorded their personal accounts, generating widely circulated photographs and videos that assisted in victim identification, investigative processes, and historical documentation. Media coverage incorporated images captured by onlookers, freelance photographers, and professional news teams. This extensive visual archive played a significant role in journalism accolades awarded in 2002, with ABC and NPR earning Peabody Awards for their reporting, alongside six Pulitzer Prizes recognizing outstanding coverage and photography related to the events.
Photography
The World Trade Center attack is regarded as the most extensively photographed catastrophe ever, largely due to its occurrence in a public space during daylight hours. Initially, there was no formal government initiative to record the event visually. Soon after, then-Mayor of New York City Rudy Giuliani issued an executive directive prohibiting amateur photography of the disaster site, officially designating it as a "crime scene."
Photojournalists such as Kelly Guenther and Suzanne Plunkett responded promptly; Guenther captured a striking image of the second plane approaching over the Statue of Liberty, while Plunkett documented evacuation efforts amidst the towers' collapse. Several photographers were reassigned from other assignments—including fashion shoots—to cover the developing crisis. For instance, Associated Press photographer Richard Drew abandoned a fashion event upon hearing about the attacks to capture scenes at Ground Zero.
Cameras and film recovered from Ground Zero—including those belonging to Bill Biggart—were carefully cleaned and developed, revealing some of the last images taken by these photographers. Editors faced challenging choices regarding publishing graphic visuals depicting victims trapped or falling; while many agreed such images were essential to convey the magnitude of the tragedy, they often refrained from placing them on front pages.
Additional photographic material emerged later, including webcam recordings that captured aspects of the disaster. Selected photographs were exhibited internationally in shows like After September 11: Images from Ground Zero. Collections curated by photographer Joel Meyerowitz and the Museum of the City of New York concentrated on documenting rescue operations and recovery work at Ground Zero.
Well-known images
| Photograph Name | Photographer | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Impending Death | Thomas Dallal | Depicts the North Tower of the World Trade Center following impact by American Airlines Flight 11, showing individuals trapped on upper floors. | Awarded second place in Pictures of the Year International, utilized for victim identification. |
| The Falling Man | Richard Drew | Portrays an unidentified person falling from the North Tower to their death. | Its publication generated controversy and public outrage. |
| Raising the Flag at Ground Zero | Thomas E. Franklin | Captures three NYC firefighters hoisting the American flag at Ground Zero after the attacks. | Inspired both a semi-postal stamp and a 40-foot bronze sculpture. |
| Victim 0001 | Shannon Stapleton | Shows the body of Father Mychal Judge, carried from the North Tower; he was the first fatality recovered. | Often described as an American version of Pietà. |
| Dust Lady | Stan Honda | Features survivor Marcy Borders covered in dust and debris after the collapse; this image has become widely recognized. | Commonly used in retrospective media coverage of 9/11. |
Videography and news documentation
Only a handful of videographers are known to have recorded the initial impact of the first plane on the North Tower. Among them were French filmmaker Jules Naudet, who was producing a documentary about the New York Fire Department; German artist Wolfgang Staehle, who was livestreaming views of the Manhattan skyline; and Czech tourist Pavel Hlava, who inadvertently captured the moment while creating a video postcard. In contrast, the collision of Flight 175 with the South Tower was extensively documented by numerous amateur videographers and media outlets. The Pentagon attack was captured by two security cameras, whereas Flight 93’s crash in Pennsylvania is visible in only one video as a mushroom cloud. Local law enforcement personnel, including NYPD cameraman Glen Pettit, also recorded portions of the events.
The Naudet brothers were following firefighters from Engine 7, Ladder 1 in Lower Manhattan when Jules Naudet unexpectedly filmed Flight 11’s impact. Over the course of the attacks and subsequent evacuation, they amassed roughly 180 hours of footage, intentionally avoiding scenes showing victims in distress. This comprehensive material became an important resource for both news media and historical archives.
News agencies swiftly deployed reporters to cover the rapidly developing crisis. CBS News photojournalist Mark LaGanga was initially assigned to cover what was believed to be a minor airplane accident, only grasping the full magnitude after capturing footage of the North Tower’s collapse. Some recordings remained private for many years; for example, former NYU student Caroline Dries filmed from her apartment but chose not to release her footage for nearly ten years, reflecting the deep emotional weight and importance of such recordings.
Television networks
Television reporters quickly began live broadcasts from sites near the attacks, capturing immediate reactions from citizens, emergency responders, and government officials. This led to spontaneous and emotionally intense coverage. Programs like The Late Show with David Letterman focused on expressing raw emotional responses rather than constructing detailed narratives. NBC News anchor Tom Brokaw remarked that many anchors were delivering live reactions amid limited verified information. Numerous networks provided around-the-clock coverage as the full extent of destruction became clear and connections to Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda surfaced. On that day, approximately 80 million viewers tuned into prime-time broadcast or cable news.
Stations such as WNYW's Good Day New York broadcast footage almost immediately after events unfolded, while CNN maintained a live feed of the Twin Towers beginning at 8:49 AM, just minutes after the first impact. Other channels including VH1, MTV, ESPN, and ESPN2 incorporated content from CBS and ABC News to relay information. Nielsen ratings indicated that at least 80 million Americans watched evening news coverage, while estimates from the University of Georgia suggested nearly two billion people worldwide viewed the attacks live or through news programming.
The satellite transmission from WPIX froze on its final image—a remote camera shot of the burning towers from atop the WTC mast—and remained displayed for much of the day until alternative transmission methods were established. This still image marked when power was cut to WPIX shortly before the towers’ collapse.
According to a Pew Research Center study, over 89% of Americans gave favorable reviews to media coverage, with 90% obtaining their news through television broadcasts. Nevertheless, during the initial five hours of live reporting, cable news outlets circulated rumors or speculative reports eighty-four times, issuing multiple corrections as verified facts emerged.
Radio
While broadcasting The Howard Stern Show on 92.3 WXRK, Stern and his crew became aware of the crash as they viewed television coverage in their New York studio. Stern commented on how their spontaneous, candid reactions contrasted sharply with the more controlled and measured tone typical of TV news. Listeners called in with immediate speculation and firsthand observations from areas near the attacks, making the broadcast a significant snapshot of the nation's mood during the crisis.
Other radio personalities recounted the sudden transition from regular shows to live disaster coverage. A host based in Jersey City, who had a clear sightline to the World Trade Center, remembered discussing unrelated subjects when calls about a potential helicopter crash started coming in. Meanwhile, a Los Angeles broadcaster described repeatedly calming herself while handling incoming calls and extending airtime past usual sign-off to deliver timely updates.
Stations serving New York City such as WINS 1010 and WCBS 880 concentrated on providing local information, including updates on transit shutdowns, evacuation instructions, and details on how to report missing individuals or contribute to relief efforts.
Airplane radios, intercoms, and air-phones
The hijackers’ unfamiliarity with the aircrafts’ radio and intercom systems led to some of their remarks being inadvertently transmitted to air traffic controllers. Flight attendants used the air-phone system, allowing authorities to monitor the hijackers’ movements. Phone conversations from aboard the planes have become crucial firsthand accounts, such as a voicemail left by United Flight 175 passenger Brian David Sweeney starting with: "Jules, this is Brian. Listen, I'm on an airplane that's been hijacked."
According to the 9/11 Commission Report, passengers on Flight 93 made more than 30 calls to relatives and emergency responders (including 22 confirmed air phone calls, two cell phone calls, and eight of unspecified type). Verizon Wireless verified that multiple cell towers serviced Flight 93 during this time. Additionally, there were three calls from Flight 11, five from Flight 175, and three from Flight 77. Recorded calls also came from flight attendants: Betty Ong on Flight 11 and CeeCee Lyles on Flight 93.
Pagers
During this period of technological transition, many victims relied on pagers rather than cell phones to reach out to loved ones. Some pager messages were later obtained by Wikileaks and published in 2009; however, their authenticity cannot be entirely verified. Analysis revealed that phrases like "plane has crashed" peaked around 9 a.m., accompanied by terms such as "unconfirmed reports." Throughout the day, recurring messages included "please call home," "call me ASAP," "call your mother," and "call your wife." One survivor situated on the North Tower’s 43rd floor recalled receiving a pager alert announcing that a plane had struck the World Trade Center.
Journalists also utilized pagers for communication with newsrooms. A reporter from WTOP used his pager to transmit unverified information gathered from police scanners about a second plane reportedly heading toward the Pentagon.
Telephones
Telephone networks played a crucial role in maintaining communication among victims, their families, and emergency responders during the attacks, although they endured substantial damage. Verizon's primary network hub closest to the World Trade Center was destroyed, resulting in the loss of 300,000 voice lines and 4.5 million data circuits, along with the shutdown of 10 cellular towers. This disruption impacted approximately 14,000 businesses and 20,000 residential customers, causing major interruptions to the communication infrastructure.
Mobile Phones
At the time of the September 11 events, mobile phone technology was still emerging and had limited functionalities. Only around one million smartphones were in circulation, with few capable of capturing or transmitting images and videos. Nevertheless, the increasing use of mobile phones facilitated impromptu communication networks that circumvented centralized systems. The majority of content generated consisted of voicemail recordings, which have been preserved as part of archives reflecting victims’ and survivors’ immediate reactions. Tom Scheinfeldt, director of the September 11 Digital Archive, highlighted in 2008 that these voice messages stand out due to their immediacy and authentic portrayal of real-time responses from everyday people.
Many individuals relied on mobile phones to reach out to relatives before, during, or after the attacks. For instance, a survivor from the 1993 World Trade Center bombing called her mother to describe conditions and say farewell. Those close to ground zero often held their phones but faced difficulties connecting with potential victims because of network congestion. One evacuee noted that only about one in twenty calls successfully went through amid the overloaded system.
Verizon, which was the largest cellular provider at the time with 24 million subscribers, saw a nationwide surge in traffic ranging from 50% to 100% after the attacks. Despite damaged phone infrastructure, survivors trapped under debris used mobile phones to contact authorities and loved ones during rescue operations.
Public Payphones
In both Washington, D.C., and New York City, coin-operated payphones located near businesses and on streets became essential communication tools during emergencies. Verizon offered free local calls on roughly 4,000 payphones situated in areas affected by the attacks to facilitate easier communication. Residents near ground zero reported long queues at payphones since many mobile devices were inoperable while landlines and payphones remained functional. Media coverage documented large crowds waiting to use payphones when cellular networks were overwhelmed; reporters also depended on these payphones for their reporting needs.
Radio Communications
Following the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, radio repeaters were installed to enhance communications for the New York City Fire Department inside the towers. However, these systems were not fully activated, leading fire chiefs to mistakenly assume they were nonfunctional; as a result, their utilization was limited despite some firefighters being able to access them. After the attacks in 2001, volunteer amateur radio operators played a vital role in supporting emergency operations in Lower Manhattan and at the Pentagon. Groups such as the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES), which had been preparing for a planned drill, were rapidly deployed nationwide to assist with communication and coordination efforts alongside local and federal agencies.