NAB Case Analysis & Practical Application 3

Question 1

A small-market TV station's sole news van breaks down the night of a major local fire. The news director wants to use citizen-submitted smartphone footage. What is the primary editorial obligation before airing?

Accepted Answer

Verify authenticity, obtain rights, and assess content for accuracy before broadcast

Answer

Stations must verify UGC authenticity, secure rights, and assess accuracy before broadcast to uphold journalistic standards and avoid liability.

Question 2

A radio station's general manager is pressured by a major advertiser to pull a news segment critical of the advertiser's business practices. What is the appropriate response?

Accepted Answer

Maintain editorial independence and air the segment without advertiser interference

Answer

Editorial independence requires that advertising relationships not influence news coverage decisions, a core principle of broadcast journalism ethics.

Question 3

A TV station's license is up for renewal and a community group files a competing application alleging the station has not served local needs. What standard does the FCC use to evaluate the incumbent's performance?

Accepted Answer

Whether the station has served the public interest, convenience, and necessity

Answer

The FCC evaluates license renewals based on whether the station has served the public interest, convenience, and necessity throughout the license term.

Question 4

During a live call-in show, a caller begins reading out another person's home address and threatening language. What must the board operator do?

Accepted Answer

Delay broadcast and dump the content using the profanity delay system immediately

Answer

Board operators must use delay systems to dump threatening or harmful content before broadcast to protect third parties and avoid station liability.

Question 5

A station wants to air a paid political advertisement that contains a demonstrably false factual claim. Under federal communications law, what is the station's obligation?

Accepted Answer

Air the ad without editing since stations cannot censor legally qualified candidate ads

Answer

Stations legally cannot censor or reject ads from legally qualified federal candidates, even if the content is false, under the no-censorship rule of Section 315.

(NAB) National Association of Broadcasters Certification Practice Test

(NAB) National Association of Broadcasters Certification Practice Test

NAB Case Analysis & Practical Application 3