Iowa Boy's story hunting ground delivers
Chuck Offenburger says he always can count on Grinnell College when he needs a story to write. He found one on a recent visit to The Scarlet & Black.
Noted columnist Chuck Offenburger makes a point with students at Grinnell College’s Scarlet & Black news training on March 24, 2025. (Photo by Lyle Muller)
Long-time Iowa columnist Chuck Offenburger did a nice solid for Grinnell College’s student newspaper, The Scarlet & Black, last month when he shared good writing practices and tips with the newspaper’s staff.
Then, he doubled down and wrote a nice piece about the paper, where I am the professional adviser. He focused on the work being done there as part of a union shop.
“I’ve found a good quick way to tell you what the student body is like at Grinnell College,” Chuck’s column starts. “Let me lead you over to the student newspaper office and classroom on the second floor of the ‘Joe Rosenfield ’25 Center’ on the campus.”
Take the time to read his piece. We were pleased to get the recognition.
I have known Chuck for only a couple of years but, like others who know him, enjoy his company. He has plenty of stories to tell from his decades of meeting Iowans while traveling around the state as the Des Moines’ Register’s Iowa Boy columnist and, afterwards, on his own.
So he was a natural fit last month and also last year for showing his column writing skills to The S&B staff. Glad he could get a story out of the trip.
The S&B to sponsor Grinnell campus speaker
The S&B is to host former Register and current Associated Press political reporter Tom Beaumont on Wednesday, April 9, for a public keynote talk and question-and-answer session about his coverage of presidential campaigns.
Beaumont has covered the past five presidential campaigns, starting each campaign cycle with Iowa’s caucuses. During that time, the United States has elected its first Black president, first non-traditional president who had no political background, and first Black and female vice president. He is to speak in the multipurpose room at Grinnell’s Humanities and Social Studies Center, known on campus as HSSC.
Lyle Muller is a retired Iowa journalist who still works as the professional adviser for Grinnell College’s Scarlet & Black newspaper. A University of Iowa graduate, he is board member of the Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting and Iowa High School Press Association, a trustee of the Iowa Freedom of Information Council, former executive director/editor of the Iowa Center for Public Journalism that became part of the Midwest Center, former editor of The Gazette (Cedar Rapids). He is a recipient of the Iowa Newspaper Association’s Distinguished Service Award, Iowa College Media’s Association’s Eighmey Award, and Iowa Newspaper Association’s Stratton Award.