Explain why then-candidate Donald Trump's appearance as host on NBC's Saturday Night Live in November 2015 meant that his rival Republican candidates for the presidential nomination could then request airtime on NBC also.

What will be an ideal response?


Section 315 of the Communications Act outlines what are called the "equal opportunity" or "equal time" rules. If a broadcasting station permits one legally qualified candidate for any elective public office to use its facilities, it must afford an equal opportunity for all other legally qualified candidates for the same office. Appearances on TV entertainment programs count as a "use" under Section 315. Since Trump was a legally qualified candidate when he hosted, his appearance triggered a 7-day window in which his rival Republican candidates for the nomination could request equal time. NBC didn't have to guarantee those candidates slots on SNL (as the candidates are not entitled to the same platform)-but the station did have to guarantee equal time and cost (in this case, free).

Communication & Mass Media

You might also like to view...

______________________ is an approach that emphasizes the need for organizations to adapt to their practices to a global marketplace.  

Fill in the blank(s) with the appropriate word(s).

Communication & Mass Media

Which of the following is not an advantage of cohort analysis?

a) Highly flexible b) Provides insight into the effects of organization’s ownership on employees c) Can be less expensive then experiments or surveys d) Can be used with either original data or secondary data

Communication & Mass Media

The rainbow metaphor and imagery has been associated with which community?

a. Neofeminist b. African American c. LGBT d. Christian fundamentalist

Communication & Mass Media

Identify the flaw in the following specific purpose statement for a classroom speech: "Should juvenile prisons be eliminated?"

A. It contains figurative language. B. It is stated as a question rather than as an infinitive phrase. C. It is too technical for this audience. D. It is too political for a classroom speech. E. It isn't informative enough.

Communication & Mass Media