David Bohrman, the acclaimed news producer and executive, passed away at the age of 69. His career spanned six decades and he made significant contributions to news broadcasting, particularly in the area of technology innovation. Bohrman introduced cutting-edge technology such as interactive video walls, 3D holograms, and real-time visualizations to news programs.
Bohrman was born in 1954 in Los Angeles to parents Delle, a television writer, and Stan, a TV news anchor. His father was known for using “Instant Eye” feature, a groundbreaking introduction of live camera remotes on CBS KPIX in San Francisco. Bohrman interned at his father’s station while studying at Stanford University. He began his professional career at CBS News as a producer and later joined ABC News, where he worked on shows like Nightline and rose to become an executive producer. During the 1988 presidential election, he created ABC News Interactive, which linked election information electronically for the first time.
In 1993, Bohrman joined NBC News as an executive producer for special events, working closely with anchors Tom Brokaw and Brian Williams. In 1998, he joined CNN for the first time, working as a producer on CNNfn and creating shows like MoneyLine News Hour with Lou Dobbs. He briefly left CNN in 2000 to become CEO of Pseudo Programs, an interactive streaming TV network. However, the venture failed due to the dotcom bubble bursting, and Bohrman returned to CNN in 2001, where he created NewsNight with Aaron Brown.
One of Bohrman’s most notable contributions was during the 9/11 terrorist attack. He produced Aaron Brown’s live coverage from New York, including the iconic images of the towers falling behind the anchor. He also produced CNN’s coverage of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. In 2004, Bohrman became CNN’s bureau chief in Washington D.C., where he produced shows for Wolf Blitzer, John King, Anderson Cooper, and Candy Crowley. He introduced the concept of having anchors present election coverage from the floor of party conventions.
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During the 2008 presidential election, Bohrman continued to innovate by introducing the ‘Magic Wall’ into CNN’s election coverage. The interactive real-time display became a staple of election nights in TV news studios around the world. In 2011, Bohrman was appointed as the chief innovation officer at CNN and Turner Broadcasting. He brought new technology to the forefront, including the use of real-time holograms.
In a surprising move, Bohrman left CNN in 2011 to become the president of Al Gore’s news startup, Current TV. He created several shows for the network, which was later sold to Al Jazeera in 2013. After leaving Current TV, Bohrman worked as a freelance producer, assisting networks like NBC News, MSNBC, and CBS News with their election coverage.
David Bohrman is survived by his wife Catherine, children Amber and Harrison, and his grandchildren Sloan and Paige. He leaves behind a profound legacy as a pioneering news innovator who revolutionized the industry with his technological advancements. His contributions will be remembered for years to come.
