Steve Duin of The Oregonian: The Writer and His Style - Term Paper Example

Steve Duin of The Oregonian: The and His Style A person’s inner self is often revealed by the way he/she expresses him/herself such as his/her choice of friends, clothing, hobbies, etc. In the same manner, a writer’s inner self is also revealed in his/her write-ups. Of the many writers of The Oregonian, I have chosen Steve Duin. I just randomly scan the website and saw his name so I picked him. I know I have no idea who he is and who are the other writers so it would be better to discover who he is through his articles. This paper seeks to present the writer’s opinions, philosophy, and writing style. Of his many articles, I chose at random the following articles: “Accounting for time well spent;” “And We Are Barbara Weich;” “Feisty arson victim fights fire-setters early release;” “No heroes here, in Adelman trial;” “Private eye hired by parent at center of Lincoln High coachs trial;” “The Deep, Dark Woods;” “The Reading Contest Rules;” “Turkey Trot;” Opinions The selected articles of Steve Duin can be classified into three major categories, such as: sports, reading and anti-violence. His inclination for sports may be one reason why he chooses to write about sports and issues relating to sports and athletes. His being an avid reader himself must have driven him to encourage others to read and to do it excellently and habitually. Moreover, his passion for fairness and equality must have made him an advocate of anti-violence on both men and women. Evidently, Duin is a sports writer. Many of his articles are about sports. “No heroes here, in Adelman trial;” and “Private eye hired by parent at center of Lincoln High coachs trial;” “The Deep, Dark Woods;” and “Turkey Trot” are all dealing with sports and the prominent names in sports. I have also observed that reading is one of Duin’s passions. He sponsors and kind of a Reading Contest annually to encourage people to read and make reflections of the reading experience. “Accounting for time well spent;” and “The Reading Contest Rules” are the examples of his articles on reading. There are also book reviews and recommendations for reading among his other articles on The Oregonian. Themes of anti-violence are also his concern, such as in the articles: “And We Are Barbara Weich;” and “Feisty arson victim fights fire-setters early release.” Philosophy of the Writer As a sports writer, Duin talks about fair play not only in the sports arena but also in the lives of the people involved in sports, for instance coach Adelman and Tiger Woods. In “No heroes here, in Adelman trial;” and “Private eye hired by parent at center of Lincoln High coachs trial,” Duin narrates the unfair accusations or the manner of accusing and firing a coach because one of the parents of the athletes was dissatisfied with the way the coach has not given enough or the desired time for the child by the parent. It is evident that Duin has exposed that the coach was a victim of a frame-up and the role of the power and money in order for certain individuals to gain their vested self interest. In addition, Duin deals with the need for privacy of famous athletes like Tiger Woods, whose private life should be respected and not be an object of reporters rumor and scandal. In “The Deep, Dark Woods,” Duin believes that Tiger Woods and his family’s private life should be respected. The “Turkey Trot” also speaks of sports, that there will be a slowing down of sports events as Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons come. With regards to reading as a personal experience, Duin encourages and sponsors a contest just so people will be motivated to read. His “Accounting for time well spent,” shows how the reading experience can enrich life. He also includes a list of books he recommends his readers to read. He also annually presents “The Reading Contest Rules.” In the same article, he posts the winners and corresponding data about them. These contests become avenues for readers and writers alike to meet and share insights together. It has become a renewing acquaintances and friendships aside from being an intellectual exercise. Steve Duin is obviously an anti-violence writer. Two of his articles: “And We Are Barbara Weich;” and “Feisty arson victim fights fire-setters early release” show how dangerous life can be at the hands of careless and irresponsible people. The former article critiques the policemen who whitewash their violence against other people, while the latter reacts on the way the convicts are let loose and allowed to work in a neighborhood he once victimized. Both essays comments on the justice system and in the way law is employed in the community. He shows the unfairness and lack of accountability of those in power over their constituents. Writing Style Steve Duin’s writing style is simple and straightforward. He presents the facts, makes his comments and ends with a bang. His articles are short and direct to the point. I wonder which part of his being influences his style. His inclination to sports maybe the factor that makes him present his opinions directly as clean as the rules and fairness of the game. His regular and habitual reading may have also influenced his writing style. The authors he read, their ideas and style may have also affected his own writing. Moreover, his dislike or even disgust for violence and unfairness in the justice system may have caused his style to be clear, transparent and objective. Although columns are usually subjective, his is a credible rendition of circumstances and their consequences. Conclusion The writer is indeed revealed by his/her writing, his attitude towards his/her subject, and the length of time or frequency he/she writes about such topics. At the onset, I had no idea or any clue about the kind of writer I have chosen. By reading Steve Duin’s articles repeatedly and by exploring eight (8) of his articles, I have discovered several things about him. Duin’s passions are sports, reading and anti-violence. This has been proven by several articles written under each category. After reading his articles, I have learned to appreciate his simple, straightforward and humanitarian concern about people around him. He deserves to be read and commended for his efforts and unselfish motivation for others to follow his steps. Works Cited Duin, Steve. “Accounting for time well spent.” The Oregonian. November 28, 2009, 10:00AM. (01 December 2009). Duin, Steve. “And We Are Barbara Weich.” The Oregonian. November 27, 2009, 8:30AM. (01 December 2009). Duin, Steve. “Feisty arson victim fights fire-setters early release.” The Oregonian. November 25, 2009, 6:23PM. (01 December 2009). Duin, Steve. “No heroes here, in Adelman trial.” The Oregonian. November 30, 2009, 6:47PM. (01 December 2009). Duin, Steve. “Private eye hired by parent at center of Lincoln High coachs trial.” The Oregonian. November 23, 2009, 7:11PM. (01 December 2009). Duin, Steve. “The Deep, Dark Woods.” The Oregonian. November 30, 2009, 8:27PM. (01 December 2009). Duin, Steve. “The Reading Contest Rules.” The Oregonian. November 28, 2009, 10:02AM. (01 December 2009). Duin, Steve. “Turkey Trot.” The Oregonian. November 28, 2009, 3:50PM. (01 December 2009). Read More