Former KCCI anchors Kevin and Mollie Cooney reflect on 9/11 coverage 25 years later, tell me about this news in (https://www.kcci.com/article/sept-11-anniversary-former-kcci-anchors-reflect-on-9-11-coverage-25-years-later/73675099)

12-09-2026

This KCCI report centers on longtime Des Moines news anchors and husband-and-wife duo Kevin and Mollie Cooney as they look back on their experience covering the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, reflecting on that pivotal day from a 25-year vantage point.Key elements of the retrospective include:
  • The Reality in the Newsroom: They recount the shock, rapid developments, and confusion of breaking into regular programming on the morning of September 11 to convey the emerging national crisis to viewers across central Iowa.
  • Balancing Roles: As prominent journalists who were also married and raising a family, they discuss the immense challenge of maintaining composure and professional responsibility on the air while processing personal anxiety and fear for their loved ones and the country.
  • The Duty of Local Journalism: They emphasize the critical role local anchors played in a time before widespread digital feeds and mobile alerts, serving as a trusted, steady presence to guide a frightened community through unprecedented tragedy, airspace closures, and local security precautions.
  • Long-Term Impact: Looking back a quarter-century later, the Cooneys reflect on how that day transformed television journalism, altered American life and national unity, and left a permanent impression on both their careers and personal outlook.


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