Full Breakdown
Australian Journalists Recall September 11: A First Draft of History
By Drooid · · How we work
The Immediate Shock in Canberra
On the evening of September 11, reporters in the Canberra Press Gallery were following their usual routine of watching a U.S. political drama on television. At about 10:45 p.m., a news bulletin showed a plane striking the World Trade Center in New York. The journalists abandoned their tea, exchanged frantic messages on Nokia phones, and rushed to the newsroom, recognizing that a story of unprecedented magnitude was unfolding.
Political Context and International Ties
The same day Australian media were also covering the imminent collapse of Ansett, one of the nation’s two major airlines, a crisis that would soon devastate workers and the aviation sector. Earlier, Prime Minister John Howard had traveled to Washington, where he was scheduled to address a joint sitting of Congress on September 12. The Tampa incident—when the Howard government refused entry to a Norwegian vessel carrying 433 rescued asylum seekers—had already dominated headlines and continued to shape Australia’s immigration debate.
All-Hands Response and Logistical Challenges
The Herald’s newsroom went into “all-hands” mode. Special editions were printed while online platforms were still nascent. Editors scrambled to contact reporters already in danger zones, including U.S. correspondents and the editor-at-large, who happened to be in New York. The paper’s editor, Robert Whitehead, postponed a family holiday in North Queensland and boarded a 6 a.m. flight back to Sydney. Reporters and staff worked around the clock to verify information, locate missing loved ones, and provide continuous coverage as the situation in New York unfolded.
Legacy After 25 Years
Reflecting on the event 25 years later, the author notes that about 3,000 people died in the attacks, including ten Australians. A story by Michael Koziol is cited, describing how some younger Australians, who were too young to witness the attacks, are now beginning to doubt the historic reality despite extensive footage and photographs. The piece underscores journalism’s role as “the first draft of history,” emphasizing the lasting importance of experienced reporters on the front lines of world-shaping events.
