Frequently Asked Questions

What is ThreeSixty Journalism?

ThreeSixty Journalism is a youth journalism program based at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn., and supported by major television, newspaper and radio organizations in the Twin Cities. We train students ages 13 to 21 in summer camps and after-school programs and publish their work on this website and other print and online vehicles.

We bring diverse voices into journalism and related professions by using intense, personal instruction in the practice and principles of journalism. We strengthen the civic literacy, writing skills and college-readiness of Minnesota teens.

Where are we located?

We are located at the University of St. Thomas campus in St. Paul in the lower level of the O’Shaughnessy Frey Library, room LL13. Our mailing address:

2115 Summit Ave
Mail 5057
St. Paul, MN 55105

Why is journalism important?

Smart, fair, independent journalism is essential for a democracy to function well. “The primary purpose of journalism is to provide citizens with the information they need to be free and self-governing,” write journalists Tom Rosenstiel and Bill Kovach.

By reporting what government, businesses and other powerful institutions do, journalists give citizens information they need to decide everything from which school to attend to whom they should vote for.

Thomas Jefferson once wrote, “The basis of our governments being the opinion of the people, the very first object should be to keep that right; and were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.”

Learning about journalism also gives teens a chance to build such important skills as researching, writing, interviewing and thinking critically. They learn about their community and themselves. When their work is published, their voices are heard by the whole community.

How do I join ThreeSixty?

There are a variety of opportunities for teens to be part of ThreeSixty’s programs. Students with no previous experience in journalism can learn and practice the basics in weekly after-school News Team classes or in our summer day camp. More experienced students can join the editorial board or apply for the intermediate summer camp. And submissions of story ideas, reviews, essays and articles are always welcome.

How much does it cost to be a part of your program?

Except for the two-week residential summer camp, all ThreeSixty programs are free to all qualified and committed students.

The tuition for the two-week residential program is $750, less than half of the actual cost. This camp is free to students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch at their schools. Student who don’t qualify for lunch subsidies but have financial need are encouraged to request financial aid. The letter should include the family income, family size, the size of scholarship needed and any special circumstances.

Our programs during the school year are free to all.

Do you provide transportation?

For those who need assistance getting to our programs, we provide bus passes to use the Metro Transit bus/light rail system. Please contact us at info@threesixtyjournalism.com.

If my work is published, do I get paid?

We are always looking for submissions for our magazine at www.threesixtyjournalism.org. Reporters are compensated for their articles. We pay the following prices, unless otherwise noted:

  • $40 for articles, videos and photo essays
  • $25 for personal essays, movie and theater reviews
  • $10 for single photos
How can I participate if I am not part of your program?

Please engage and interact with us on our website. Also check out opportunities to engage with our journalists through comments, polls and the discussion board.

If you enjoy writing, please consider submitting a Your Turn essay. There is a new topic every 6 weeks. Monetary awards are given to the three best entries. Topics are posted in the right column of our home page.

We would love any feedback or story suggestions you may have for our journalists. To suggest a story topic, please visit our Suggest a story page

How can I volunteer with ThreeSixty?

Please see the options on our Volunteer page.

How can I donate to ThreeSixty?

Please find out more about supporting ThreeSixty on our Donate page.