Youth Journalists Report on Addiction and Recovery in Minnesota

This July, 18 high school students participated in ThreeSixty Journalism’s Multimedia Storytelling Institute, a three-week immersive camp where students learned about the art of reporting from a roster of local media experts. This year marks the eighth summer that Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota has partnered with ThreeSixty to support the next generation of storytellers and create greater understanding of health in Minnesota.

The theme of this year’s Multimedia Storytelling Institute was addiction and recovery. Students reported on the state of addiction in Minnesota, the impacts of addiction on youth, and profiled community leaders across our state working to support recovery. Students had the opportunity to develop their writing and communication skills and work directly with some of the industry’s leading journalism professionals to call attention to the impacts of addiction in our state.  Media partners included KARE-11, FOX 9, KSTP-TV, WCCO-TV, the University of Minnesota and Lindsey Seavert Studios.                      

“We are excited to support local students as they kickstart their journalism careers and use their voices to bring attention to the issues of addiction and recovery and the impact they have on healthcare in our state,” said Bukata Hayes, Chief Community Health Officer at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota. “ThreeSixty Journalism creates the space for our future generation of storytellers to produce stories focused on sustaining health in communities and fueling a more informed, compassionate, vibrant Minnesota.”

Addiction and substance use disorder pose significant threats to the public health, safety, and well-being of Minnesotans. Despite a decrease in the number of opioid overdose deaths in 2023 and 2024, addiction rates are soaring and have devastating consequences for families and communities across our state. From fentanyl and methamphetamine to social media and screen time, youth are especially vulnerable when it comes to addiction. ThreeSixty students had the unique opportunity to hear the personal stories of individuals in recovery from addiction and profile local leaders working to increase access to treatment and recovery.

“Multimedia Storytelling Institute showed me how to ask questions compassionately, and how to look at things and write about them objectively,” said Viv Ogunro, Sophomore at Breck School. “One of the most important things I learned about addiction and recovery is not to reduce someone’s life to only being an addict. It takes away from the complexity of their life. Acknowledging how other people see them as a mother, daughter, friend, or co-worker can be really meaningful.”

Students reported on the work of Minnesota Recovery Connection, American Indian Community Development Corporation, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Behavioral Health and Care Management, The Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, Minnesota North College Mesabi Range Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor Program, and the impacts of social media addiction Dr. Sarah Jerstad, Clinical Director of Psychological Services at Children’s Minnesota. Throughout each story, students not only reported on the impacts of addiction but also worked to create greater understanding of what recovery looks like and the importance of community.

“Addiction isn’t meant to be fought alone,” said Janya Dieringer, Junior at Johnson Senior High School in St. Paul. “That’s the title I gave to my written piece, and I think it truly describes the most important thing I learned about addiction and recovery. Oftentimes in our society we see addiction as a personal battle to be won. If someone is struggling there’s an impulse to say ‘well it’s their problem, not mine. I shouldn’t have to fight it for them,’ and to an extent that’s true. People can’t recover if they don’t want to, but families, friends and communities have consistently been the most important factors in recovery.”

The voices and lived experiences of young people should be represented in journalism and mainstream media. Youth are central to creating a healthier future for all Minnesotans. “By empowering young people to report on addiction and recovery, we’re not just teaching journalism—we’re investing in civic health,” said Kenzie O’Keefe, Director of ThreeSixty Journalism. “Teaching journalism to a future generation of media professionals builds deep listening skills, fosters systems thinking, and strengthens their ability to connect communities across differences.”