Requirements March 1931 until December 1941

1. "Cover" satisfactorily the following assignments:

(a) News incident.
(b) Routine club or society meeting.
(c) Lecture, sermon, or political address.
(d) Theatrical performance.
(e) Subject or event to be suggested by examiner.

2. Write:

(a) An editorial.
(b) A publicity article.
(c) A feature, or human interest story.

3. (a) Explain the respects in which the articles in requirement one and two are different; (b) secure the publication of at least one of these articles.

4. (a) Describe the elements of a good lead paragraph; (b) explain the use and importance of headlines; (c) prepare for the linotype operator three good headlines for stories submitted in requirement one.

5. Read and correct proof, using the conventional proofreader's  signs. (Manuscript of two typewritten pages to be furnished by examiner.)

6. Submit four styles of advertising copy for a local magazine or newspaper.

7. (a) Submit suggestions for photographic or cartoon copy; (b) explain briefly the various engraving processes.

8. Prepare a dummy for the printer representing one issue of an eight-page paper, magazine, catalogue, or circular.

9. Produce copy to show what is meant by each of the following terms: linotype, hand-set, galley proof, electrotype, form, mat, stereotype, case.

10. Explain what steps are necessary to copyright a manuscript, and tell what rights are granted by a copyright, and for what period.

11. Serve as a reporter (either voluntary or paid) for local school, farm, club, trade, or other paper for a period of six weeks after becoming a First Class Scout, or until at least six news items shall have been accepted.

12. Present a scrap-book prepared in the customary way to include unpublished copy as well as clippings of published material filed under date and place of publication.

The following requirement may be chosen as an alternative to the above twelve:

Conduct an authorized, chartered amateur publication under the standards set by the National Council, Boy Scouts of America, for at least five consecutive issues. Scouts who are members of the Editorial Staff (editor-in-chief and not more than three assistants)  of an authorized, chartered Local or Area Council publication and who work under supervision of Local Scout authorities may also receive the Merit Badge in Journalism.