Andrew Christiansen

Meet Andrew!

Andrew Christiansen is a University of Utah graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Communication with an emphasis in Journalism and Writing & Rhetoric Studies. A transfer student from Salt Lake Community College, he first worked at their newspaper, The Globe. At the U, he was the Assistant News Editor of the student newspaper the Daily Utah Chronicle, before becoming their Online Managing Editor. He completed internships at local NPR affiliate KUER and The Salt Lake Tribune. Andrew loves to cover a wide variety of topics including local government, music and culture, education and growth, and development, among others. He accepted a job as a general reporter at The Times-Independent in Moab in May 2024.

 

Q: Why did you choose to study at the University of Utah and why did you choose to study Communication and Writing and Rhetoric?

A: I grew up in Layton, Utah, so attending the University of Utah was always a strong possibility for me. My journey into journalism began at Salt Lake Community College, where I initially focused on general education. It wasn’t until I took an Introduction to Journalism class with Marcie Young Cancio—who now teaches at the University of Utah—that I discovered my passion for journalism. I’ve always loved to write and I’m also someone who cares very deeply about telling people’s stories and informing the public in the best way possible. This experience led me to pursue a degree in Journalism and Writing and Rhetoric Studies, where I could explore both storytelling and the impact of effective communication.

 

Q: What did you enjoy most about being a humanities student?

A: I loved the breadth of perspectives and the emphasis on critical thinking within the humanities. Engaging in deep discussions about culture, ethics and communication strategies allowed me to understand the world and my role/other people’s roles within it in a more nuanced way. I am endlessly interested in analyzing the rhetoric of all sorts of communications because there is always more to learn -- the humanities program provided a platform to do that.

 

Q: What advice would you give to current humanities students to make the most of their time on campus?

A: Take full advantage of the diverse courses offered; and it sounds cliche, but you can only get out of classes what you put into them. It’s important to pass classes but it sometimes takes another step to get the most out of classes, which can take prioritizing the classes that matter to you the most. Just more broadly on campus, take advantage of hands-on experiences because those are the things that can teach you the most. Of course, for me, that was the Daily Utah Chronicle but there are many opportunities. 

 

Q: What impact has your education from the College of Humanities had on your life?

A: My education has profoundly shaped how I approach storytelling and communication. It’s given me the tools to not only report on facts but also to convey stories in a way that resonates with audiences and encourages them to think critically about the issues at hand. The emphasis on rhetoric has been particularly impactful in helping me craft persuasive and engaging content.

Q: What skills did you learn as a humanities student that most prepared you for a career?

A: The most valuable skills I gained/built upon were critical thinking, effective communication, adaptability and belief in my writing/communicating. As a student journalist, the practice I got analyzing complex situations and presenting information clearly and compellingly was crucially important. I cannot emphasize enough how important the Daily Utah Chronicle was to my education as it provided community, purpose and experience - something I wrote a whole story about. It allowed me to jump right into a smaller version of what being a professional journalist is — being a part of newsrooms, navigating relationships and interviews with sources, finding unique stories and angles, etc. The experience empowered me to grow into a more confident reporter, writer, interviewer and communicator.

 

Q: What advice do you have for graduating students as they start to explore a career and life after college?

A: Stay curious and open to opportunities that might not be immediately aligned with your initial career goals, but I would say jump right into it…if that feels right. I think the biggest thing I would say is don’t expect your imposter syndrome to go away right as you get your diploma. It’s going to take time, valuable experiences, relationships, advice and reflection to grow into a more confident version of whatever career you’re going into — I certainly have a lot more time to get to that place. Don’t be afraid to reach out to career coaches, mentors, previous bosses, anyone older than you, etc. for advice.

 

Q: What is your favorite part about your current role as a news reporter in Moab for The Times-Independent?

A: My favorite part of the job is the connection I’ve built with the Moab community in such a small amount of time. I’m in a very small newsroom so I get to cover everything from Grand County commission meetings to arts and culture to outdoor recreation to profiles and features. Writing about 4-5 stories a week, I’ve already spoken to countless people and learned so much about this town and all the different passions and knowledge encapsulated in it. Since we’re the only true to form newspaper in town, it also has felt really important to do the work I’ve been doing which in short, is informing the community on issues and happenings that matter most and providing a platform for people’s stories.