This summer marked the sixth year Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota  partnered with ThreeSixty Journalism to host its  annual News Reporter Academy and TV Broadcast camp. The camps aims to empower the next generation of storytellers and change the dominant narrative on all things health.

High school students who participated in News Reporter Academy and TV Broadcast camp had the opportunity to work directly with leading communications professionals in the Twin Cities and draw on their own life experiences in telling stories related to racial and health equity.

The theme of this year’s camp was mental health. Associates from Blue Cross’ Racial and Health Equity team helped students explore how racism, homophobia, and social isolation contribute to mental health inequities in Minnesota. Students reported on community-led efforts to address mental health inequities, including initiatives led by Blue Cross such as the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Center for Rural Behavioral Health, and work funded by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation and Center for Prevention.

Systemic racism, historical trauma, generational poverty, and unequal access to quality health care are driving forces behind negative mental health outcomes in BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities. ThreeSixty Journalism students applied their writing and communications skills to create greater understanding while destigmatizing conversations related to mental health.

“These young journalists have been able to provide critical context for understanding mental health inequities in our state and uplift the voices of community leaders working to create healing and transformation,” says Bukata Hayes, vice president of racial and health equity and chief equity officer at Blue Cross. “Having storytellers who come from communities most impacted by health inequities is essential to moving beyond the deficit-based narratives that have defined our communities for far too long.”

ThreeSixty provides the opportunity for students to find their voice and grow as future journalists and communications professionals. This year’s partners included KARE-11 TV, WCCO-TV, KSMP-TV, KSTP-TV, Star Tribune, Pioneer Press, MinnPost, Unicorn Riot, and BMA Cable Networks.

2023 TV Broadcast Videos

• TV Camp: Indian Health Board
• TV Camp: Hennepin County
• TV Camp: Rural Behavioral Health
• TV Camp: Lung Mind Alliance and Touchstone Health
• TV Camp: MN Dept. of Human Services
• TV Camp: Esperanza United
• TV Camp: Esperanza United
• TV Camp: Gender Care Services

Pioneer Press

• ThreeSixty Journalism: Extending gender care services is a mission for two Minnesota advocates
• ThreeSixty Journalism: Indian Health Board offers valuable support
• ThreeSixty Journalism: Esperanza United engages metro youth through domestic violence education
• ThreeSixty Journalism: DHS prioritizes teen mental health
• ThreeSixty Journalism: Reducing mental health stigma in rural Minnesota
• ThreeSixty Journalism: Hennepin County helps teens

MinnPost

• Education breaks cycle of gender-based violence 
• Benefits to offering LGBTQ+ youth gender-affirming care
• Passion drives Neerja Singh as mental health advocate
• Minnesota DHS prioritizes teen mental health 
• Minnesota doctor’s rewarding, difficult journey in Native care 
• Don’t settle on the system : In Hennepin County, programs alone can’t solve homelessness
• Hennepin County helps teens struggling with mental health
• Indian Health Board offers valuable support for Native American Minnesotans
• Reducing mental health stigma in rural Minnesota 
• Mental health resources needed in Greater Minnesota 
• Following a need: Extending gender care services is a mission for two Minnesota advocates
• Minnesota nonprofits fight tobacco to help people with mental illness   
• Hope is key 

Star Tribune

• ThreeSixty Journalism
• Mental health resources needed in rural Minnesota
• Education breaks cycle of gender-based violence
• Passion drives Neerja Singh
• Offering LGBTQ+ youth gender-affirming care
• Counselor's rewarding, difficult journey in Native care
• Minnesota nonprofits fight tobacco to help people with mental illness
• Don't settle on the system

Learn more

ThreeSixty Journalism, a nonprofit program of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of St. Thomas, uses the principles of strong writing and reporting to help diverse Minnesota youth tell the stories of their lives and communities.