BROADCAST JOURNALISM
Broadcast Journalism challenges members to showcase their communication, storytelling, and production skills by creating and delivering a professional news broadcast. Competitors will research, script, and produce a cohesive news segment, culminating in a live presentation evaluated by a panel of judges.
Event Overview
Division: High School
Event Type: Team of 1, 2 or 3 members
Event Category: Presentation
Event Elements: Presentation with a Topic
Presentation Time: 3-minute set-up, 7-minute presentation time (one-minute warning), 3-minute question & answer time
Career Cluster Framework Connection: Arts, Entertainment, & Design
NACE Competency Alignment: Career & Self-Development, Critical Thinking, Communication, Leadership, Professionalism, Teamwork
Equipment Provided by Competitors: Technology and presentation items for preliminary and final round presentation, Conference-provided nametag, Photo Identification, Attire that meets the Florida FBLA Dress Code
Equipment Provided by FBLA: Table for preliminary round presentation; table, power, projector & screen for final round presentation
2025-2026 Topic
Shine a Spotlight on a Local Story
Feature a local organization, business, or club by promoting an upcoming event in your community. Plan your coverage like a real journalist: interview someone involved (before, during, or after the event), capture video footage, and tell a compelling story that informs and excites your audience.
How can your broadcast inspire people to get involved or attend? Use your reporting to make the event come to life. The pre-recorded story must be no longer than two minutes.
District
Check with your District leadership for District-specific competition information.
State
Eligibility
· FBLA membership dues are paid by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on December 1 (or earlier date specified by District Director) of the current program year.
· Members may compete in an event at the State Leadership Conference (SLC) more than once if they have not previously placed in the top ten of that event at National Leadership Conference (NLC). If a member places in the top ten of an event at NLC, they are no longer eligible to compete in that event.
· Members must be registered for the SLC and pay the state conference registration fee in order to participate in competitive events.
· Members must stay within the official FBLA housing block at the official FBLA hotel in order to compete.
· Each district may be represented by participant(s) based on the Florida FBLA scaled quota system found on the Florida FBLA website.
· Each competitor can only compete in one individual/team event and one chapter event (American Enterprise Project, Community Service Project, Local Chapter Annual Business Report, Partnership with Business Project).
· Identification at Check-in: Competitors must present valid photo identification (physical) that matches the name on their conference name badge. Acceptable forms include a driver’s license, passport, state-issued ID, or school ID.
· Only competitors are allowed to plan, research, prepare, and set up their presentations.
· Each competitor must compete in all parts of an event for award eligibility.
· All members of a team must consist of individuals from the same chapter.
· If competitors are late for a presentation time, they may be disqualified or placed later in the schedule. The decision is solely up to the judges.
Recognition
· The number of competitors will determine the number of winners. The maximum number of winners for each competitive event is 5.
Event Administration
· This event has two parts: preliminary presentation and final presentation
· Preliminary Presentation
o Equipment Set-up Time: 3 minutes
o Presentation Time: 7 minutes (one-minute warning)
o Question & Answer Time: 3 minutes
o Internet Access: Not provided
o Important: Time allocations are exclusive. The presentation must begin immediately after the 3-minute set-up time concludes. Time may not be shifted between segments. Competitors will not interact with judges during the set-up period.
o The presentation is judged at the SLC.
o Competitors/teams are randomly assigned to sections.
o Presentations must be delivered using one or two personal devices (laptop, tablet, mobile phone, or monitor approximately laptop-sized).
o If using two devices, one must face the judges and the other must face the presenters.
o Projectors and projector screens are not allowed for use, and competitors are not allowed to bring their own.
o Wireless slide advancers (such as a presentation clicker or mouse) are allowed.
o External speakers are not allowed. Only device audio can be used.
o Power is not available.
o Visual aids, samples, notes, and other physical materials related to the project may be used.
o Items may be placed on the provided table or on the judges table, if space allows.
o No items may be left with the judges following the presentation.
o If performing as a team, all team members are expected to actively participate in the presentation.
o Restricted items: animals (except authorized service animals), Food (for display only; may not be consumed by judges during the presentation), Linds and QR codes (for display only; cannot be clicked or scanned by judges before, during, or after the presentation).
o Information must be supported by credible, well-documented sources.
o Any use of copyrighted material, images, logos, or trademarks must be properly documented.
o Event Specific Information: Competitors should incorporate the following aspects in response to the topic
· Broadcast News Segment
o Present a pre-recorded news segment that meets the topic requirements
o Pre-recorded content must not exceed 2 minutes in total
o Segment should be played during the live presentation
· Presentation: The rest of the presentation time should include the following information:
o Research, Accuracy & Ethical Reporting: Explain how news stories were researched and verified, emphasizing credible sources, factual accuracy, and ethical journalistic standards.
o Production Techniques & Tools: Describe the technologies, tools, and editing methods used to create the segment, highlighting key creative and technical decisions.
o Visual & Editorial Design: Showcase how visuals, graphics, transitions, and overall story flow were used to enhance clarity, engagement, and professionalism in the segment.
· Final Presentation
o Equipment Set-up Time: 3 minutes
o Presentation Time: 7 minutes (one-minute warning)
o Question & Answer Time: 3 minutes
o Internet Access: Not provided
o An equal number of competitors/teams from each section in the preliminary round will advance to the final round.
o Final presentations may be open to conference attendees, space permitting. Finalists may not view other competitors’ presentation in their event.
o The following will be provided for the final round: screen, power, table, and projector. Competitors using laptops or other devices that do not have an HDMI port will need to provide their own adapters. It is up to final-round competitors to determine if they wish to use the technology provided.
o All other details from the preliminary presentation will be followed for the finals.
Scoring
· The preliminary presentation score will be used to determine the finalists.
· The final presentation score will determine the top winners.
· Judges will break a tie.
· Decisions of the judges are final. Results announced at the State Leadership Conference are considered official and will not be changed after the conclusion of the State Leadership Conference.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
· FBLA complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by providing reasonable accommodations for competitors. Accommodation requests must be submitted through the conference registration system by the official registration deadline. All requests will be reviewed, and additional documentation may be required to determine eligibility and appropriate support.
Recording of Presentations
· No unauthorized audio or video recording devices will be allowed in any competitive event.
· Competitors in the events should be aware FBLA reserves the right to record any presentation for use in study or training materials.
Penalty Points
· Competitors may be disqualified if they violate the Competitive Event Guidelines or the Honor Code.
National
If you are competing on the National level, be sure to see the National guidelines at https://www.fbla.org/divisions/fbla/fbla-competitive-events/