Babaamaajimowinan (Telling of news in different places)

ThreeSixty Journalism's TV Broadcast Camp with Center for Prevention Returns This Summer

Young future journalists tackle one of the community’s most pressing issues – racial health equity.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (July 19, 2021) – ThreeSixty Journalism’s TV broadcast camp for diverse high school students returns this summer, July 26-30 at the University of St. Thomas, with another preeminent roster of media experts. The one-week, one-of-a-kind TV broadcast camp, sponsored by The Center for Prevention at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, explores racial health equity issues in Minnesota.

This year’s partners include KMSP-TV, WCCO-TV, KSTP-TV, KARE 11, Twin Cities Public Television, the Star Tribune and Unicorn Riot. During the camp, students will spend five days with media coaches mastering everything from script writing to on-camera interviewing. Former broadcast professionals from the University of Minnesota and the University of St. Thomas will also participate in classroom teaching and student support.

“This is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for ThreeSixty students to discover the power of their emerging voices through TV broadcast while learning, and educating, about racism as a public health crisis,” said Chad Caruthers, executive director, ThreeSixty Journalism.

At the conclusion of TV broadcast camp, each student will have completed an edited video package focused on racial health equity. The final packages will be shared via media-partner websites and broadcasts.

ThreeSixty Journalism program manager, Dymanh Chhoun, participated in the ThreeSixty program as a high school student in 2005 and went onto have a successful career as a video journalist working at TV stations across the state, most recently at WCCO. Chhoun will lead the classroom and calls it the “most important” week for him personally. “I’ve been in the TV business for over nine years, and I think I have a lot to offer the students,” he said. “I am looking forward to telling the students how important it is for minorities to be in the TV business.”

This is the fourth year of ThreeSixty’s TV broadcast camp. Padilla, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota’s Center for Prevention and ThreeSixty have received Classics Awards from the Minnesota chapter of PRSA (Public Relations Society of America) for every year of the camp’s existence – including top honors in 2020.

“We cannot succeed in closing racial health inequities in Minnesota without changing the dominant narrative on health for our Black, Indigenous, Latino, Asian Pacific Islander, and other communities of color,” said Bukata Hayes, vice president, racial and health equity at Blue Cross. “We’re humbled to work with such talented young journalists to illuminate how racism directly impacts health, while giving them the experiences to lead the next generation in liberatory and equitable storytelling.”

About ThreeSixty Journalism

ThreeSixty Journalism is an inclusive multimedia and college success program for high school students that develops the next generation of critical thinkers, leaders and storytellers.

About the Center for Prevention

The Center for Prevention at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota delivers on Blue Cross’ long-term commitment to improve the health of all Minnesotans by tackling the leading root causes of preventable disease: tobacco use, lack of physical activity and unhealthy eating. Funded through proceeds from Blue Cross’ historic lawsuit against the tobacco industry, The Center collaborates with organizations statewide to increase health equity, transform communities and create a healthier state. Visit centerforpreventionmn.com for more information.

About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota (bluecrossmn.com), with headquarters in the St. Paul suburb of Eagan, was chartered in 1933 as Minnesota’s first health plan and continues to carry out its charter mission today as a health company: to promote a wider, more economical and timely availability of health services for the people of Minnesota. Blue Cross is a not-for-profit, taxable organization. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, headquartered in Chicago.

 

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