Her presentation, “The Battle Over Memory in the Trump Era,” was part of a panel featuring contributors to her forthcoming edited collection, “Media, History, and Memory: A Critical Perspective.” Published by Routledge, the book is scheduled for release on Dec. 2 and explores the relationship between media, history and collective memory.

Burns’ research is important because it examines how media shapes the way people understand, interpret and remember history — and how those narratives influence public opinion, political identity and our understanding of the present.

Her work is particularly relevant in today's polarized political environment, where competing versions of historical events, political legacies and national identity can shape public discourse. By exploring the battle over collective memory in the Trump era, Burns helps illuminate how journalism and other forms of media influence which stories are remembered, whose perspectives are represented and how history is used in contemporary political debates.