BSJ Bachelor of Journalism: Broadcast News Production 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What distinguishes a 'voiceover' (VO) from a 'voice-over/sound-on-tape' (VO/SOT) in a broadcast news rundown?
- A VO uses only anchor narration over video; a VO/SOT follows the narration with a recorded soundbite (Correct answer)
- A VO is recorded in the field; a VO/SOT is recorded in the studio
- A VO is used for breaking news; a VO/SOT is reserved for feature stories
- There is no practical difference — both terms are interchangeable
Correct answer: A VO uses only anchor narration over video; a VO/SOT follows the narration with a recorded soundbite
A VO is purely anchor narration over B-roll, while a VO/SOT transitions from that narration directly into a recorded interview clip or soundbite.
Question 2: Which lighting setup is considered standard for a professional broadcast news studio interview?
- Single point softbox lighting placed directly above the subject
- Three-point lighting using a key light, fill light, and back/hair light (Correct answer)
- Ring light positioned directly in front of the camera lens
- Natural window light supplemented by a reflector board
Correct answer: Three-point lighting using a key light, fill light, and back/hair light
Three-point lighting is the broadcast standard: the key light illuminates the subject, the fill reduces shadows, and the back light separates the subject from the background.
Question 3: A broadcast journalist receives confidential documents from an anonymous source exposing government misconduct. What is the journalist's primary ethical responsibility before publication?
- Publish immediately to beat competitors and maximize public impact
- Independently verify the documents' authenticity and seek comment from accused parties (Correct answer)
- Obtain written consent from the anonymous source before airing anything
- Forward the documents to law enforcement for review before broadcasting
Correct answer: Independently verify the documents' authenticity and seek comment from accused parties
Responsible journalism requires authenticating documents through independent verification and giving subjects of criticism the opportunity to respond before broadcast.
Question 4: What is 'B-roll' in broadcast news production?
- The second camera feed reserved as a backup signal
- Supplemental footage edited over a reporter's narration or soundbites to illustrate the story (Correct answer)
- Raw interview footage before it is cut into soundbites
- A secondary rundown prepared in case the lead story falls through
Correct answer: Supplemental footage edited over a reporter's narration or soundbites to illustrate the story
B-roll is the visual footage — establishing shots, action sequences, and relevant imagery — layered over the primary audio track (A-roll) to tell the story visually.
Question 5: In broadcast news, what is the primary purpose of the 'teaser' at the top of a newscast?
- To fulfill FCC requirements for public service announcements
- To preview compelling stories and entice viewers to stay through the full broadcast (Correct answer)
- To introduce the anchors and technical staff to the audience
- To display the station's ratings and market ranking
Correct answer: To preview compelling stories and entice viewers to stay through the full broadcast
Teasers are brief promotional previews of upcoming stories designed to hook viewers emotionally or intellectually and reduce channel-changing.
Question 6: What does 'color correction' accomplish in broadcast news post-production?
- Adding graphic overlays and chyrons to a finished package
- Adjusting exposure, contrast, and color balance so all footage looks consistent and broadcast-legal (Correct answer)
- Converting footage from one frame rate to another for transmission
- Applying a branded visual style unique to the station's news package
Correct answer: Adjusting exposure, contrast, and color balance so all footage looks consistent and broadcast-legal
Color correction normalizes footage shot under different lighting conditions so the final package has consistent, broadcast-compliant luminance and chrominance levels.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes the journalistic concept of 'balance' in a broadcast news story?
- Giving every story exactly equal airtime regardless of its news value
- Presenting multiple significant perspectives on a contested issue so audiences can form informed opinions (Correct answer)
- Always including a spokesperson from the government on any political story
- Ensuring every story ends on a positive note to avoid audience distress
Correct answer: Presenting multiple significant perspectives on a contested issue so audiences can form informed opinions
Balance means fairly representing the significant viewpoints on a contested issue, not mechanical equal time, so that coverage is fair and complete.
BSJ Bachelor of Journalism: Broadcast News Production 5
What distinguishes a 'voiceover' (VO) from a 'voice-over/sound-on-tape' (VO/SOT) in a broadcast news rundown?