David Bohrman, a renowned television news executive and producer, passed away on Sunday at the age of 69. Bohrman was credited with introducing several innovations in live and special events coverage, including the Magic Wall, which is now a standard feature on election nights. He was also known for producing more than a dozen presidential debates during his time at CNN. Among his significant contributions was introducing the first live hologram in news coverage, with Will.i.am appearing on election night in 2008.
Bohrman started his career at KNXT-TV in Los Angeles and went on to work for NBC News and ABC News, where he helped create World News Now and worked on the original staff of Nightline. He was also a mentor to many and was known for embracing the latest technology to enhance storytelling. During his tenure at CNN, he launched shows like The Situation Room, State of the Union, NewsNight with Aaron Brown, and The Moneyline NewsHour.
Bohrman’s contributions were not limited to CNN or television news. He also served as the president of Current TV after Al Gore and Joel Hyatt sold it. Bohrman consulted for various networks and news ventures, including NBC News in 2016 and CBS News in 2020, particularly during election season coverage.
Bohrman won several awards throughout his career, including six Emmy awards, two Peabody Awards, a George Polk award, and four duPont awards. He is survived by his wife Catherine, children Amber and Harrison, and granddaughters Sloan and Paige. Bohrman’s death marks a significant loss for the television news industry, which has lost a visionary leader.
