BSJ Bachelor of Journalism: Broadcast News Production 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the role of a 'chyron' or lower-third graphic in broadcast news?
- A copyright watermark applied during post-production
- On-screen text that identifies people, places, or provides context to viewers (Correct answer)
- A colored bar used to signal breaking news
- A technical overlay visible only to control room staff
Correct answer: On-screen text that identifies people, places, or provides context to viewers
Lower-third graphics (chyrons) display name identifications, titles, and contextual information to help viewers understand who is speaking and what is happening.
Question 2: Which type of microphone pickup pattern is most appropriate for a one-on-one broadcast news interview in a noisy outdoor environment?
- Omnidirectional
- Cardioid or hypercardioid (Correct answer)
- Figure-eight (bidirectional)
- Boundary microphone
Correct answer: Cardioid or hypercardioid
Cardioid and hypercardioid patterns reject sound from the sides and rear, isolating the interviewee's voice in noisy outdoor settings.
Question 3: A newsroom receives unverified video of a dramatic event from a social media user. Before airing, what is the minimum standard verification step?
- Post it immediately since competitors will air it first
- Confirm the video's origin, metadata, and cross-reference with independent sources (Correct answer)
- Add a disclaimer graphic and air it unverified
- Run it only during the midnight broadcast to limit risk
Correct answer: Confirm the video's origin, metadata, and cross-reference with independent sources
Responsible broadcast newsrooms verify UGC by checking metadata (upload time, geolocation), cross-referencing with eyewitnesses, and confirming authenticity before airing.
Question 4: In a television news studio, what is the function of a 'prompter operator' during a live broadcast?
- Controlling the on-air graphics and lower thirds
- Managing the speed and scrolling of the teleprompter script for the anchor (Correct answer)
- Cueing live guests when to begin speaking
- Operating the studio camera closest to the anchor desk
Correct answer: Managing the speed and scrolling of the teleprompter script for the anchor
The prompter operator adjusts the teleprompter scroll speed in real time to match the anchor's reading pace, ensuring smooth delivery.
Question 5: What distinguishes a 'hard news' story from a 'feature' story in broadcast journalism?
- Hard news uses video; features use only audio
- Hard news covers timely, significant events requiring immediate reporting; features are evergreen and human-interest focused (Correct answer)
- Features always run longer than hard news packages
- Hard news must include at least three sources; features need only one
Correct answer: Hard news covers timely, significant events requiring immediate reporting; features are evergreen and human-interest focused
Hard news is defined by timeliness and public significance, while feature stories explore human-interest angles and can be held for the right broadcast moment.
Question 6: Which frame rate is the US broadcast standard for television news production?
- 24fps
- 25fps
- 29.97fps (Correct answer)
- 60fps
Correct answer: 29.97fps
NTSC-based US broadcast television operates at 29.97 frames per second, which is the standard for news production and transmission.
Question 7: What is the purpose of a 'two-shot' in a broadcast news interview setup?
- Simultaneously recording from two separate cameras for redundancy
- A camera angle showing both the reporter and the interviewee in the same frame (Correct answer)
- Splitting the screen to show two different news locations at once
- A shot composed to include two sequential soundbites back to back
Correct answer: A camera angle showing both the reporter and the interviewee in the same frame
A two-shot captures both participants in a single frame, establishing the conversational dynamic between the reporter and the subject for editing context.
BSJ Bachelor of Journalism: Broadcast News Production 3
What is the role of a 'chyron' or lower-third graphic in broadcast news?