Requirements
1. Explain what freedom of the press is and how the First Amendment
guarantees that you can voice your opinion. In your discussion, tell how
to distinguish between fact and opinion, and explain the terms libel,
slander, defamation, fair comment and criticism, public figure, privacy,
and malice. Discuss how these matters relate to ethics in journalism.
2. Do either A OR B:
(a) Newspaper, magazine, and online journalism
(1) All on the same day, read a local newspaper, a national newspaper,
a newsmagazine, and (with your parent’s permission) an online news
source. From each source, clip, read, and compare a story about the
same event. Tell your counselor how long each story is and how fair
and accurate the stories are in presenting different points of view.
Tell how each source handled the story differently, depending on its
purpose or audience.
(2) Visit the office of a newspaper, magazine, or internet news site.
Ask for a tour of the various divisions (editorial, business, and printing).
During your tour, talk to an executive from the business side about
management’s relations with reporters, editors, and photographers and
what makes a “good” newspaper, magazine, or internet news site.
(b) Radio and television journalism
(1) All on the same day, watch a local and national network newscast,
listen to a radio newscast, and (with your parent’s permission) view a
national broadcast news source online. List the different news items and
features presented, the different elements used, and the time in minutes
and seconds and the online space devoted to each story. Compare the
story lists and discuss whether the stories are fair and accurate. Explain
why different news outlets treated the stories differently and/or presented
a different point of view.
(2) Visit a radio or television station. Ask for a tour of the various
departments, concentrating on those related to news broadcasts. During
your tour, talk to the station manager or other station management
executive about station operations, particularly how management and
the news staff work together, and what makes a “good” station. If possible,
go with a reporter to cover a news event.
3. Discuss the differences between a hard news story and a feature story. Explain
what is the “five W’s and H.” Then do ONE of the following:
(a) Choose a current or an unusual event of interest to you, and write either
a hard news article OR a feature article about the event. Gear the article for
print OR audio OR video journalism. Share your article with your counselor.
(b) With your parent’s permission and counselor’s approval, interview someone
in your community who is influential because of his or her leadership,
talent, career, or life experiences. Then present to your counselor either a
written or oral report telling what you learned about this person.
(c) With your parent’s permission and counselor’s approval, read an autobiography
written by a journalist you want to learn more about. Write an article
that tells what you learned about this person and the contributions this person
has made to the field of journalism.
(d) Attend a Scouting event and write a 200-word article (feature or hard news)
about the event. Use either the inverted pyramid style or the chronological
style. Review the article with your counselor, then submit it to your community
newspaper or BSA local council or district newsletter for consideration.
4. Attend a public event and do ONE of the following:
(a) Write two newspaper articles about the event, one using the inverted
pyramid style and one using the chronological style.
(b) Using a radio or television broadcasting style, write a news story, a feature
story, and a critical review of the event.
(c) Take a series of photographs to help tell the story of the event in pictures.
Include news photos and feature photos in your presentation. Write a brief
synopsis of the event as well as captions for your photos.
5. Find out about three career opportunities in journalism. Pick one and find out
the education, training, and experience required for this profession. Discuss this
with your counselor, and explain why this profession might interest you.
Resources:
Scouting.org Merit Badges - Requirements
boyscouttrail.com Merit Badges