Associated Press journalists who witnessed the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, shared their accounts of the day in a series of interviews marking the 25th anniversary of the event. Reporters and photographers who were on the ground in New York City described the transition from routine assignments, such as covering Fashion Week or primary elections, to documenting the attacks. The recollections detailed the immediate confusion following the first impact and the subsequent realization that an attack was underway.
The attacks, carried out by al-Qaida militants, resulted in the deaths of nearly 3,000 people at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and across four hijacked jets. For the journalists present, the day was marked by the collapse of the twin towers, an event retired photographer Amy Sancetta described as having an "unearthly" sound. Others recalled the specific atmosphere of lower Manhattan, noting that debris fell like a snowstorm and office papers floated through the air.
Photographer Richard Drew, who was originally assigned to Fashion Week, captured the image known as "The Falling Man," depicting a person falling headfirst from the north tower. Drew noted that he operated in "professional photographer mode," using his camera as a filter against the reality of the scene. Meanwhile, reporter Larry Neumeister described waiting outside a hospital with doctors and nurses who had prepared lines of wheelchairs for survivors that never arrived. He was later told by a doctor that people either escaped the site or were killed, with "no in-between."
The accounts from these journalists provide a record of how the attacks were documented. These reporters were responsible for images and descriptions of an event that resulted in the deaths of 2,977 people. The testimony highlights how professional observers, including Karen Matthews who was holding her three-year-old daughter while taking notes, experienced the event simultaneously as parents and information providers.
The reporting effort required journalists to navigate a loss of cell service and physical danger from falling debris. For instance, journalist Jeremy Brown, who was 26 at the time, described sheltering in the loading dock of 7 World Trade Center as a wave of debris approached. The physical evidence of that day—the tapes, batteries, and soot-covered cameras—formed part of the basis of the historical record.
For the public, the work of these journalists meant seeing images like "The Falling Man" in their local newspapers on September 12, 2001, or reading the first-hand accounts of the "nightmare" in New York. The effects included a shift in editorial standards, as some publications initially rejected Drew's photographs out of concern for the public's emotional response. As the 25th anniversary approaches on September 11, 2026, these retrospective accounts serve as a reminder of the role of eyewitness reporting. Individuals who lived through the event continue to note a permanent loss of a sense of security, a sentiment echoed by Matthews. Missing from these reports are specific upcoming legislative or court dates related to the anniversary.