Statehouse Bureau Chief Anthony Shoemaker focuses on politics and state government

I am the Ohio Statehouse bureau chief for the USA TODAY Network. Our team of four reporters covers state government elections and politics for all of our Ohio news outlets, including The Columbus Dispatch , The Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and Canton Repository.

Why I became a journalist

I fell in love with the news in junior high school when I wrote for the "Fairport Dolphin" in Dayton, my hometown. My first published article was a movie review of "Young Guns" in 1988. I've been a journalist ever since. I love the daily hustle that comes with delivering news. I was the editor of my high school newspaper and of my college paper at Wright State University. I did an internship at USA TODAY in 1997 with the editorial page and then worked for the Dayton Daily News for 25 years.

Over the years my focus shifted to Ohio politics. I was the political editor for the Dayton Daily News from 2007-2020 and have been the bureau chief here since 2022. Our team conveys critical information online and in print daily.

What I like best about my job

I love the team that I work with in the state bureau. They are extremely talented and dedicated to covering the news coming out of the Statehouse and the world of Ohio politics. They really focus on what impacts the people of Ohio. Every day it is exciting to see what comes up.

During a major election year such as 2024, the news can be nonstop. But no two days are the same.

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The biggest challenge I face as a journalist

It is crucial in this time of misinformation for us to be a resource for the public.

It's easy to get distracted by some of the nonsense in politics. Readers are relying on us to keep them informed and cut through the noise.

I believe the most important job for us is to inform voters about the candidates and issues they will decide and to let them know what state leaders are doing that impacts their daily lives. For example, state issues don't always get as much attention as politicians do when it comes to elections. Our team last year was focused on August's State Issue 1 and the November issues on abortion and marijuana. We wrote multiple stories explaining the issues, took parts in forums and hosted podcasts giving all sides their say and focusing on the information voters need. I think that kind of journalism is a crucial role for us to play.

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Your state government impacts your life probably more than any other. Everything from K-12 schools, colleges, prisons, health care, transportation, parks and taxes are dealt with by leaders in Columbus. All of us need to pay more attention to what our state lawmakers are doing.

With so many news outlets available to people, our team focuses on what really matters to help the citizens of Ohio and hold public officials accountable.

What I like to do in my free time

I love to read, go to the movies and spend time with my wife and family and friends. I love to go on vacation to new cities and historic sites. My wife took me on a trip around the country to presidential libraries and museums once, it was right up my alley. We also have two cats who demand a lot of attention.

Favorite Columbus tradition

I love to hang out and walk the Short North area. I also love to go to Northland and eat and shop and the international restaurants and markets. Columbus has a lot of great festivals and there's always something to do.

Why journalism matters

The freedom of the press was put in the Constitution for a reason. "Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate to prefer the latter," President Thomas Jefferson said.

I think the public has a greater challenge these days with so many media outlets available. Some are legitimate and some are not. I think we need to provide the people of Ohio the information they need to be informed citizens and focus on being the watchdog of government that we are supposed to be.

Anthony Shoemaker can be reached at ashoemaker@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Statehouse Bureau Chief Anthony Shoemaker focuses on politics and state government