On the evening of September 11, 2001, newsrooms around the world faced an unprecedented challenge in reporting a rapidly unfolding crisis without the benefit of today’s digital tools and instant communication. Sandra Sully, then presenting Network 10’s Late News in Sydney, recounted the experience of covering the attacks on the World Trade Center and other sites in the United States in a media environment starkly different from today’s.

At 10:46 p.m. Sydney time, the first plane struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Within minutes, Sully’s newsroom began receiving fragmented reports, leading them to break the news to Australian viewers just seven minutes after the initial impact. However, the nature of the event remained unclear. Initial uncertainty surrounded whether the incident was accidental, the type of aircraft involved, and the broader implications of the crash. Unlike the constant flow of information available through smartphones and social media today, the international news wires — crucial for breaking news updates — quickly became overwhelmed and slowed, leaving journalists with scant verified information.

Sully drew upon historical context, recalling the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, a previous terrorist attack that killed six and injured over a thousand people. With little concrete information available, this earlier incident offered a reference point as she and her team sought to understand the scale and potential intent behind the unfolding events.

The situation shifted dramatically at 11:03 p.m. Sydney time, when a second plane collided with the South Tower. This confirmed that the United States was under coordinated attack. Around this time, the newsroom began mobilizing additional staff to cover the crisis, recognizing the scale and severity of the situation. Sully was left anchoring the broadcast alone for a period, relying on CNN’s off-air feed to relay direct updates without commentary or bias.

Network 10’s coverage was bolstered by journalists on the ground in the United States. Michelle Stone, reporting from New York, pivoted from covering the US Open tennis tournament to covering the attacks firsthand. Meanwhile, Deborah Knight, traveling with Australian Prime Minister John Howard in Washington, was able to report from the nation’s capital. Over the course of the night, key developments included the Pentagon being struck at 11:37 p.m. Sydney time, the collapse of both World Trade Center towers within just over 90 minutes, and the crash of United Flight 93 in Pennsylvania after passengers resisted the hijackers. The attacks ultimately claimed nearly 3,000 lives.

Reflecting on the experience a quarter-century later, Sully emphasized how the media landscape has transformed. Where journalists once struggled with limited and delayed information, today’s news consumers are inundated with an abundance of content—ranging from accurate reports to misinformation and manipulated media amplified by artificial intelligence. This saturation presents a new challenge: distinguishing verified facts from falsehoods amid an overwhelming flood of data.

Sully underscored the enduring importance of professional journalism, characterized by source verification, editorial oversight, and accountability, in navigating this complex information environment. While recognizing that no news organization is infallible, she argued that trusted media outlets play a vital role in establishing what is known, clarifying uncertainties, and helping the public discern credible information from speculation or deception.

The experience of covering the September 11 attacks highlighted a fundamental journalistic responsibility that remains unchanged despite technological advancements: to seek out the facts, verify them carefully, communicate clearly what is confirmed, and acknowledge what remains unknown. In a media era where information is both scarce and excessive, this commitment to accuracy and integrity remains essential.