Reporting on the Long-Lasting Impacts of 9/11

Last night, 2,977 lights rose above New York Harbor, one for each life lost on September 11, 2001, before forming the Twin Towers against the New York City skyline.

The commemorative installation was created in collaboration with members of the 9/11 community, including family… pic.twitter.com/Nb4lmMICHJ

— EarthCam (@EarthCam) September 10, 2026

Nothing made sense on that Tuesday morning 25 years ago.

On September 11, 2001, I was awakened by my mother telling me that planes had slammed into buildings. I was living with my parents after moving from Atlanta to work as a copy editor at the Houston Chronicle. I was groggy, half-awake, and mistakenly thought the accident was in Houston.

I immediately turned on my TV and saw images that looked like scenes out of a disaster movie. The towers falling wasn’t an accident, and the unthinkable was happening in New York City, Washington, D.C., and on a field in Pennsylvania.

About 3,000 people lost their lives in the attack on America. I was shocked and confused. How could this have happened? Why? I soon got a call from my boss at the Chronicle, telling me to come to work hours early because the newspaper was publishing a special edition.

The 30-minute drive to the newspaper’s offices was strange. No planes were headed to the airport near my neighborhood. Houston highways were empty in the middle of the day. Downtown was eerily quiet, too; people left work early and picked up their kids from schoo. A false rumor spread (pre-social media) that the attackers were going to target other U.S. cities, including Houston, which has a lot of tall buildings.

The entrance to my workplace was very different. Usually, while wearing my badge, I would wave at the Chronicle’s security and make my way to the newsroom. But this time, guards looking very serious carefully checked everyone’s security badge one by one.

Everything changed. How could this have happened?

After 25 years, we’re still asking questions. Just this week, it was reported that newly released documents reveal that officials misled New Yorkers about toxic air quality around Ground Zero. Many Americans still suffer health problems related to 9/11 hazards.

The alleged planner of the attacks, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, remains held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. ABC News reported that he is set to go to trial in a military court in 2028, nearly 30 years after 9/11.

Airport security remains intense, at best (although some rules seem to be easing now). Memorials stand around the country, and the world. And families who lost loved ones that horrific day are still grieving, and asking why.

Over its 20 years, the Pulitzer Center has supported reporting examining democracy, the impacts of 9/11, and terrorism:

Afghanistan and Iraq: The war on terror after 9/11 involved major military operations in both countries, which continue to experience upheaval today. See Pulitzer Center-supported reporting on the war-torn nations here and here.

Widespread surveillance: After 9/11, the United States increased funding for intelligence-gathering operations, raising questions about Americans’ privacy rights. More than two decades later, the addition of AI has added a new, controversial dimension to surveillance.

Guantanamo’s 9/11 Case Enters Its Most Critical Phase: Grantee John Ryan’s project reports on the U.S. military tribunal system’s quest for justice after the terror attacks.

The Free Speech Files: Published in the Gateway Journalism Review, journalists explore threats to the First Amendment as the United States marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

Seeing Political: Photographer Louie Palu goes behind the scenes of democracy at work in the U.S. Capitol.

The horror of September 11 remains with us in ways big and small, even after the commemorations, remembrances, and moments of silence end. We can’t forget, and that’s a good thing as we honor the 3,000 people lost and the heroes who literally picked up the pieces after the towers fell.

See more Pulitzer Center-supported reporting on Democracy and Authoritarianism.

Homepage photo caption: American flags are displayed at a 9/11 monument in New York City in 2023. Image by SayDavid/Shutterstock.