Written By Rick Ellis, Tuesday, April 15th, 2003

Some of the people at CNN must feel like they've been beaten like a piñata over the past few months. The network has been publicly linked to possible mergers with ABC and CBS, the news management has changed and there is a perception that the ratings are slumping due to a surging Fox News Channel. Connie Chung was dumped from her high-profile primetime show, and founder Ted Turner continues to complain that if he had the money to buy back the network from current owner AOL/Time-Warner, he would.

Stuck firmly in the center of this maelstrom is newsman/anchor Aaron Brown. He hosts the primetime centerpiece "Newsnight With Aaron Brown," and as the most prominent figure in CNN's lineup, he continues to take the brunt of the complaints from critics and some viewers. The rap against him is that he's too "cerebral," "obtuse" or "casual." Some at the network itself even wonder out loud if CNN would be better off (at least in the ratings) if the show was headed by a louder, more energetic type of anchor.

I happen to think they're nuts.

I've been a fan of Mr. Brown's since I first caught him on ABC's overnight news program, World News Now. WNN was tasked with filling a lot of hours while not expending much in the way of resources or budget. The resulting show was quirky, funny, informative and sometimes just plain odd. Brown's initial co-anchor was Lisa McCree, and the two of them were the ultimate on-air odd couple. But the chemistry worked, and the show was successful enough that it ultimately drove CBS and NBC out of the overnight news business.

Brown went on to a stint as a frequent replacement anchor on some of ABC's other news programming, before he returned to the Pacific Northwest.

When CNN hired him as their primary news anchor, it was a decision that was either the bravest move in cable news history, or the most misguided. Brown has a strong core of supporters in the news business, and a lot of fans from his ABC days. Still, the initial question was simple: "Can he do the job? Can he lead the network?"

At this point, it's apparent that he can indeed do the job. He was rushed on the air during the September 11th tragedy, and his performance during that crises showed that he has the anchoring chops and journalistic ability to do the job as well as anyone in the business. Despite a few setbacks (such as his well publicized decision to continue playing golf during the opening hours of the space shuttle disaster), his performance has been solid.

But his recent work during the Iraqi war coverage has sparked some complaints from CNN loyalists who believe his often careful and deliberate style of speaking is off-putting to an audience looking for a hard-hitting journalistic dynamo. "Compare Aaron's style to Lester Holt (from MSNBC) or nearly anyone at Fox," said one colleague of Brown's. "He's lethargic by comparison, and it's killing us."

The reality is that the problem with CNN isn't Brown, it's the overall tone of the network. Frankly, I enjoy his alternative approach to the job of news anchor. He's bright, thoughtful and willing to look at things in unexpected ways. His on-air discussions with military experts have provided some of the best coverage of the Iraqi war, and his ability to see beyond the obvious is a trait which sets him apart from other anchors.

Unfortunately for Brown, CNN's overall ratings problems have prompted a reexamination of his performance. During the past several weeks, a number of pieces have been written about him and whether or not he's an asset for the network. The underlying premise of all of the pieces is simple. "Would CNN be in second place if Brown weren't in the picture?"

I think critics have the question turned entirely backwards. The question isn't "Should CNN replace Aaron Brown?" The question should be "How can CNN build on Aaron Brown?"

CNN's biggest strength has always been its ability to showcase strong anchors and reporters in a news format. The network is not a televised radio talk format (like Fox News during primetime), and it isn't a repackager of news produced by the parent company (like MSNBC). CNN has always brought a mix of unusual and talented voices to the screen, and Brown is a personification of that tradition.

What has crippled the network is its inconsistent and often weak programming decisions (think Connie Chung), as well as its knack for misplacing talented staff in the programming shuffle (think Anderson Cooper). CNN also has picked up this unfortunate habit of hiring a seemingly endless procession of disposable women news readers. While none of them are terrible, I watch the channel all the time and I couldn't keep track of them with a whiteboard and a pack of multi-colored markers. It's this lack of on-air bench strength that is crippling CNN, and exacerbating its unfortunate programming decisions.

My hope is that CNN will stand by Brown, and focus on rebuilding other parts of its schedule. It's tempting to make some high-profile changes, as a way of showing the world that management is taking a hands-on approach to solving the network's problems. But if Brown is let go, I can guarantee that in a year or two, these same critics will be writing another story..."Why did CNN ever get rid of Aaron Brown?"