Maple Grove Student Attends Camp to Diversify Voices in Journalism
One high schooler from Maple Grove is learning to tell stories on her own terms.
Devyne Duroshola is one of nine campers at ThreeSixty Journalism’s Broadcast Camp, an intensive journalism camp at the University of St. Thomas.
The camp’s goal is to bring diverse voices to the news industry.
It is not always easy to put it into words. In an industry that strives to get things right, broadcasting still has a long way to go.
“Stories are how we understand the world,” said Theresa Malloy Lemickson, ThreeSixty’s program manager. “When you’re only getting a story from a certain point of view, you’re missing out on understanding how people are.”
A mission to empower powers ThreeSixty.
“We offer programming to diverse students with the hope of diversifying the news industry,” Malloy Lemickson said.
The nonprofit holds journalism camps and events during the summer. Summer campers also compete for a full-tuition scholarship to study emerging media at St. Thomas.
“Helping students really tap into their lived experiences is so important when we really are communicating about those topics,” said Sasha Houston Brown, the senior communications and and advocacy consultant at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota.
Houston Brown said that Blue Cross and Blue Shield partners with ThreeSixty to support the broadcast camp. She said this year’s topic is mental health and narratives surrounding it.
“Helping students really tap into their lived experiences is so important when we really are communicating about these topics,” Houston Brown said.
Writing their own story
Students from across the region take part in the camp.
Devyne, who goes to Maranatha Christian Academy in Brooklyn Park, put together a story this week.
Devyne went to two other ThreeSixty camps this year: The news reporter academy and the PR and advertising workshop.
“I just wanted to try something new,” she said. “I basically like everything that’s creative.”
ThreeSixty Camper Devyne Duroshola crafts a script with the Seavert Studios coaching team. Devyne is one of nine students putting together a video package for the 2023 broadcast camp.
On Tuesday, she interviewed a source and shot an informational standup.
“We were talking about gender care services,” Devyne said. “Why there are some states that go against it, and why there are some states that allow it.”
She is putting together her video story with the help of industry professionals.
Houston Brown said the camp’s diversity mission greatly benefits Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
“In order to change dominant narratives on health, it really matters who is behind the camera and who is telling stories,” Houston Brown said.
This week, these stories are told by campers whose voices aren’t always heard.
Devyne says it has been refreshing to learn from people who look like her.
“It shows me that it is possible for me to do those things, too.” Devyne said. “When you see people who are the same color as you, who have the same interests as you, or who are in the same marginalized communities as you.”
The camp is teaching kids their stories matter for the sixth year in a row.
Devyne and her fellow campers’ stories will be available online later this week.
