From the Classroom: Addison Burnsed
Addison Burnsed
When Addison Burnsed enrolled in Intermediate Journalism (COMM 4555), she was looking to gain an introduction to the world of journalism and help her develop a journalistic style. What she gained was far more tangible: a published opinion piece, hands-on newsroom experience, and a platform to advocate for an issue that affects her daily life.
Burnsed, a psychology major with a strategic communication minor and a certificate in positive psychology, was among four students whose opinion pieces were published in The Salt Lake Tribune in December. The class partnered with the Tribune and Amplify Utah, a nonprofit journalism organization founded by Clinical Associate Professor Cancio that served as a community partner for the course.
Burnsed’s piece, “Voices: Those of us with Type 1 diabetes need co-pay caps now. We can’t afford to sit and wait,” draws from her lived experience as an out-of-state student managing Type 1 diabetes. Because her nonresident status makes her ineligible for Utah’s House Bill 207, which caps monthly insulin co-payments at $30 for a 30-day supply, Burnsed highlights how policy decisions can leave some patients behind.
Burnsed said she chose the Intermediate Journalism course to build a strong foundation in journalistic writing through intensive assignments that allowed room for growth. The course gave her the opportunity, she said, to work directly with Tribune editors, offering firsthand insight into newsroom expectations and editorial processes. Writing assignments pushed her to refine her voice and clarify the ideas she wanted to bring into the community, while editing workshops strengthened her confidence in peer review and revision.
Through her published work, Burnsed hopes to broaden how readers think about healthcare. She is particularly interested in highlighting health disparities, pharmaceutical challenges, and medical inequalities, examining how thoughtful policy decisions can help ease the burden chronic illness places on individuals.
After graduation, Burnsed plans to travel and write before pursuing graduate school in hospital administration or social work. She also plans to continue submitting her work to publications to stay engaged with journalism, with an interest in writing for Breathe Magazine to combine her passions for mental health advocacy and writing. While her career path may evolve, she said journalism will remain a meaningful part of who she is.
Outside the classroom, Burnsed enjoys writing, skiing, climbing, reading, and traveling.
Students interested in learning more about communication courses can contact the Department of Communication’s academic advisors at comm-advisor@utah.edu