All worksheets / Journalism
Edition 2026Active Merit Badge
Journalism
Official Requirements & Fillable Workbook · 2026 Edition
Journalism is about reporting facts accurately on deadline. You choose either print/digital or broadcast journalism, interview real sources, write lead stories, and produce an editorial. Requirement 3 asks you to cover a live event and submit your story for publication in a school, troop, or community outlet.
Key Requirements Covered:
- News Writing & The Inverted Pyramid
- Interviewing Techniques & Fact Checking
- Press Freedom, Libel & Journalism Ethics
- Multi-Platform Publishing & Broadcasting
4Printable Pages
5Requirements
2024Reqs Revised
What is on the worksheet: Journalism Requirements
Every requirement for the Journalism merit badge, word for word as published, with room to write under each one on the printed worksheet.
1Freedom of the Press, Fact, and Opinion
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.
2Option Selection
Do ONE of the following:
- Option A—Newspaper, Magazine, and Online Journalism. (Ask your parent or guardian's permission for the online option.) Do ALL of the following
- Option B—Radio and Television Journalism. Do ALL of the following
3Option Selection
Discuss the differences between a hard news story and a feature story. Explain what the five W's and H are. 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 online OR audio OR video journalism. Share your article with your counselor.
- b With your parent or guardian'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 or guardian'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 Scouting America local council or district newsletter for consideration.
4Option Selection
Attend a public event and do ONE of the following:
- a Write two articles about the event, one using the inverted pyramid style and one using the chronological style.
- b Using a radio, television, or podcasting 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.
5Careers
Identify three career opportunities that would use skills and knowledge in journalism. Pick one and research the training, education, certification requirements, experience, and expenses associated with entering the field. Research the prospects for employment, starting salary, advancement opportunities and career goals associated with this career. Discuss what you learned with your counselor and whether you might be interested in this career.
Two dates, two different things
Requirements Revision vs. Worksheet Date
Scouting America last revised the Journalism requirements in 2024. That is the badge, not this sheet — an older year does not mean the worksheet is out of date.
Verbatim Fidelity & Verification
This worksheet was checked against https://www.scouting.org/merit-badges/journalism/ in Aug 2026 and reproduces the requirements word for word. Both dates are printed on the sheet, so a copy in a binder can always be placed in time.
Requirement text is © Scouting America, reproduced verbatim. The worksheet layout and design are original to this project.
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