NAB Broadcasting Ethics & Professionalism 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A news director receives a tip that a city council member is embezzling funds, but the only source is an anonymous caller. What is the most ethical next step?
- Broadcast the tip immediately to beat competitors
- Corroborate the information with at least one additional independent source before airing (Correct answer)
- Ignore the tip entirely because anonymous sources are never credible
- Publish the tip online without attribution to test public reaction
Correct answer: Corroborate the information with at least one additional independent source before airing
Responsible journalism requires corroboration from independent sources before broadcasting unverified accusations.
Question 2: Under FCC rules, what must a broadcaster do when airing a paid political advertisement?
- Provide equal free time to all opposing candidates
- Clearly identify the ad as a paid political advertisement and disclose the sponsoring entity (Correct answer)
- Obtain FCC pre-approval for all political content
- Refuse to air ads that make unsubstantiated claims
Correct answer: Clearly identify the ad as a paid political advertisement and disclose the sponsoring entity
The FCC requires political ads to include a clear disclosure identifying the sponsor and that the content is paid advertising.
Question 3: A local TV reporter is offered a free vacation by a hotel chain that is also a frequent advertiser. Accepting the trip would most likely violate which ethical principle?
- Accuracy
- Independence (Correct answer)
- Minimizing harm
- Accountability
Correct answer: Independence
Accepting gifts from sources or advertisers compromises a journalist's independence and creates a conflict of interest.
Question 4: What does the NAB Code of Ethics primarily emphasize for member broadcasters?
- Maximizing advertising revenue above all other considerations
- Operating in the public interest, convenience, and necessity (Correct answer)
- Prioritizing entertainment over news programming
- Avoiding all controversial content to prevent FCC complaints
Correct answer: Operating in the public interest, convenience, and necessity
The NAB Code of Ethics emphasizes that broadcasters must serve the public interest, convenience, and necessity as license holders.
Question 5: A radio station's morning host makes an on-air joke that demeans a racial group. The most appropriate management response is to:
- Defend the host's First Amendment rights publicly
- Dismiss the complaint since comedy is protected speech
- Investigate promptly, issue a public apology, and take corrective action with the host (Correct answer)
- Only respond if the FCC files a formal complaint
Correct answer: Investigate promptly, issue a public apology, and take corrective action with the host
Professional broadcasting standards require prompt acknowledgment and correction of content that demeans protected groups.
Question 6: Which practice best exemplifies the ethical principle of 'minimizing harm' in broadcast news?
- Airing graphic crime scene footage to maximize viewer engagement
- Withholding names of juvenile crime suspects and victims of sexual assault (Correct answer)
- Broadcasting all available footage to give the fullest account
- Allowing law enforcement to pre-approve crime story content
Correct answer: Withholding names of juvenile crime suspects and victims of sexual assault
Protecting vulnerable individuals such as minors and assault victims from unnecessary exposure is a core application of minimizing harm.
Question 7: A broadcaster learns that a competitor aired fabricated footage in a major story. The ethical obligation is to:
- Air the same footage to maintain competitive parity
- Ignore it as a competitor's problem
- Report on the fabrication as a newsworthy story about journalistic misconduct (Correct answer)
- Notify the FCC anonymously to avoid conflict
Correct answer: Report on the fabrication as a newsworthy story about journalistic misconduct
Journalistic integrity requires holding all media to accountability standards, including reporting on a competitor's fabrication.
NAB Broadcasting Ethics & Professionalism 2
A news director receives a tip that a city council member is embezzling funds, but the only source is an anonymous caller.
What is the most ethical next step?