Amanda Anderson
Video journalist
In high school, Amanda lugged around her dads giant, shoulder-mounted camcorder to capture the stories of teenagers growing up in Minneapolis. Those tapes have since been lost to time, but Amanda's passion for character driven, visual storytelling hasn't.
A Loyola University Chicago graduate, Amanda completed a fellowship with the Solutions Journalism Network, focusing on telling solutions-based video stories about aging well in rural Minnesota. Prior to working for the Star Tribune, Amanda worked for Pioneer PBS, a PBS member station located in Granite Falls, Minnesota, where she was the producer, videographer and editor for its public affairs program. In 2023, Amanda received an Upper Midwest Emmy for a video series examining the rise of plant-based proteins and how "fake meat" is impacting Minnesota's agricultural practices and dietary trends.
Amanda lives in Minneapolis with her partner, Eric, and dog, Ernie and has been renovating a house in Montevideo, Minnesota in her free time.
Latest from Amanda Anderson
Video
Two schools' paths demonstrate joy, pain of charter model
As one Minnesota charter school's star rises, another fades. Two schools reveal the complexities of the system – a once innovative idea – in Minnesota.
The nation's first charter school opened in Minnesota in 1992. The hope behind the innovation was to give teachers the opportunity to experiment. Since the first one, approximately 271 charter schools have opened in the state. And nearly 100 have closed.
Dave Heighington is the director of Exploration High School, which opened in northeast Minneapolis in 2021. Exploration is a project-based school with about 150 students in grades nine through 12. While Exploration has grown and continues to, Upper Mississippi Academy – a charter school in downtown St. Paul – was forced to make the hard choice of closing after 11 years of operation.
Many students and teachers get caught up in the churn of charter school closures. What happens to them when schools grow? And when schools close?
September 13, 2024
Video
Alicia Medicine Eagle: 'Beading will bring you into the now space' (Amanda Anderson/Star Tribune)
Alicia Medicine Eagle was recruited to help with beadwork for artist Dyani White Hawk's most recent project, Visiting. "It brings you to the very moment space," Medicine Eagle said. "And it feels like there's not chaos, there's no ... it's peaceful."
September 12, 2024
Video
Nina Polk talks about the importance of carrying on Indigenous traditions like beading
Dyani White Hawk called on assistance from many family and community members to help with her latest work, Visiting, including her daughter, Nina Polk.
For Polk, the responsibility to carry on Indigenous traditions that still are known is great because of the cultural practices that have been lost as a result of colonization.
Video by Amanda Anderson.
September 12, 2024
Video
Community members remember the lives of Kristina Folkerts and Gabe Harvey
Community members remember the lives of Kristina Folkerts and Gabe Harvey – two people who were killed during a drunk driving incident on Sunday, September 1 at Park Tavern in St. Louis Park. Kristina Folkerts, a mother of three daughters, worked at Park Tavern. She was at work when a car plowed through the restaurant's outdoor patio. Gabe Harvey was an employee at nearby Methodist Hospital who was celebrating a colleague when he was also struck by the vehicle. Nine other people were injured, three seriously.
September 5, 2024
Video
Scenes from the Minnesota State Fair
The DNR fish pond, the Giant Slide, llamas in costumes and more! As the 2024 Minnesota State Fair wraps up, enjoy scenes from around the Great Minnesota Get-Together.
September 3, 2024
Video
Minneapolis mayor, governor at news conference after deadly shooting
A press conference was held at the Minneapolis Public Service Center following a fatal shooting in Minneapolis. Minneapolis Police Officer Jamal Mitchell, a civilian and the suspected shooter were all killed hours earlier. Speaking at the press conference were Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Minneapolis Police Department Assistant Chief of Operations, Katie Blackwell and Superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Drew Evans.
May 31, 2024
Video
Behind the scenes of the Guthrie Theater's 12-hour Shakespeare marathon performance
Guthrie artistic director Joseph Haj, cast member Tyler Michaels King and props head Karin Rabe talk about prepping for this extreme artistic feat.
April 4, 2024
Video
Jenkins: An opportunity to address Lyft/Uber pay increase as a body in the future
Council Member Andrea Jenkins presented a motion to reconsider the Uber/Lyft pay increase as a body in the future.
March 21, 2024
Video
Scenes from the Minnesota State Fair
The DNR fish pond, the Giant Slide, llamas in costumes and more! As the 2024 Minnesota State Fair wraps up, enjoy scenes from around the Great Minnesota Get-Together.
September 3, 2024
Video
Minneapolis mayor, governor at news conference after deadly shooting
A press conference was held at the Minneapolis Public Service Center following a fatal shooting in Minneapolis. Minneapolis Police Officer Jamal Mitchell, a civilian and the suspected shooter were all killed hours earlier. Speaking at the press conference were Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Minneapolis Police Department Assistant Chief of Operations, Katie Blackwell and Superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Drew Evans.
May 31, 2024
Video
Behind the scenes of the Guthrie Theater's 12-hour Shakespeare marathon performance
Guthrie artistic director Joseph Haj, cast member Tyler Michaels King and props head Karin Rabe talk about prepping for this extreme artistic feat.
April 4, 2024
Video
Jenkins: An opportunity to address Lyft/Uber pay increase as a body in the future
Council Member Andrea Jenkins presented a motion to reconsider the Uber/Lyft pay increase as a body in the future.
March 21, 2024