CNN's crisis reporting is mixed - it succeeds when explaining situations and offering guidance, but sometimes lacks objectivity and focuses too much on ratings. Specifically: - Pre-9/11 and Katrina coverage failed to sufficiently investigate or warn of threats. - Iraq invasion and 9/11 attack reporting informed viewers in real-time through on-the-ground reports. - Oil spill and financial crisis coverage defined terms and issues, but primetime shows lack professionalism and evoke more emotion than analysis. - After crises, CNN provides helpful information on moving forward, but could better prepare the public and continue fact-based reporting over ratings.