Award-winning journalist to help students focus on developing 'voice'
By Katie Schleiss
One of the most prominent journalists in Oregon will teach at UP this fall.
The Oregonian's metro columnist, Steve Duin, has signed on to teach feature writing on The Bluff.
Distinguished twice as the nation's best local columnist by the Society of Professional Journalists, Duin brings an extensive professional writing background to the communication studies department's curriculum.
"The opportunity of teaching at UP was one I couldn't pass up, especially since I now have a better parking spot for the Pilots' upcoming championship soccer season," Duin said.
He has worked as the Oregonian's metro columnist for the past 15 years, and originally joined The Oregonian as a sports writer in 1980. He began writing the paper's first political column in 1988, then switched to the Metro column in 1994.
"He seems to be very conscientious about the class and how it's going to be pulled off, and I'm looking forward to it," said Jeff Kerssen-Griep, communication studies professor and department chair.
Offered only once every two years, the feature writing course teaches students to study, write and critique many different kinds of stories including recollections, profiles, issue stories, travel and leisure features, as well as trend articles.
Enrollment this fall is limited, and class will be Mondays from 7:10 p.m. to 9:55 p.m.
Kerssen-Griep points out it's not just for communication studies majors. The course can count as one of the upper-division CAS elective courses that students can use to fulfill their core requirements.
The communication studies department was connected with Duin through Brian Doyle, editor of UP's Portland Magazine, as well as through Nancy Copic, Beacon adviser and UP's assistant director for student media.
Kerssen-Griep said that he's excited to recruit an adjunct instructor who is both a successful writer and an experienced teacher.
Duin said that he's spent an increasing amount of time in the classroom, talking about writing. He spent two years teaching a weekly creative-writing class at Cleveland High School and he' teaches at Lake Oswego Junior High once a month.
Kerssen-Griep said that several other faculty members have come by his office to offer a "thumb's up" over hiring Duin. According to Kerssen-Griep, Duin also has experience in graphic novels and comic books and has written books on that subject.
Duin has written or co-authored five books, including "Comics: Between the Panels," a history of comics, and "Father Time," a collection of columns on fatherhood and family.
Duin and his wife have three children. One daughter and a son are in college, and the oldest daughter graduated recently and works for a Portland company in a marketing position.
Duin offers two pieces of special advice for young journalists and communication studies students.
"Gene Kelly delivers the perfect journalistic coda in the film 'Inherit the Wind': 'Afflict the comfortable. Comfort the afflicted.'" he said. "Your writing has value. Don't give it away for free."
Duin said students need to learn how to listen for those unforgettable details and should focus on voice.
"And you need to make sure the voice you bring to the piece doesn't overwhelm the voice of your subject," Duin said.
