(Editor’s note: This article is part of a weekly series profiling Columbus Dispatch journalists and their work in our community.)
Be the Dispatch entertainment and activities publisher means being immersed in pop culture. From music and movies to travel and books, everything interests me.
I’m a metalhead and a Swiftie. (By the way, I’m in my “Midnights” era.) I get ecstatic when the beat drops and I’ll take on anyone for classic rock trivia. I’m the stereotypical millennial full of angst when My Chemical Romance comes on my speakers, and if you don’t believe me, take a drive with me to have your own personal concert – you choose the genre.
“Ugh! As if!” and “Then go get it!” chokes me up as someone who grew up in the late 90s and 2000s. But unsurprisingly, you’ll also sometimes hear me ask (in a British accent), “An African or European swallow?” when someone points out or refers to the bird, or “it’s just a scratch” when I injure myself in a somewhat extreme way.
I’ll take spontaneous trips whenever I need a new perspective, and you’ll surprise me with a novel in hand while relaxing at home, on a plane, on a road trip, and anywhere in the world. between.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY daily crossword puzzle.
So, having a career where I can cover anything I’m interested in is an ideal opportunity for me to bring “fun” news to the community.
Why I became a journalist
My choice to become a journalist was yet another impulsive decision. (I make these kinds of decisions quite frequently.) Before going to college, my parents asked me to decide what my major would be — and literature, creative writing, or art were not answers acceptable. It wasn’t until I attended a Cleveland Guardians baseball game in 2013 that I decided to become a journalist. During the game, I was like, “Man, it would be really cool to write about baseball as a job.” »
So, with that, I told my parents, “I’m going to major in journalism,” and they considered that an acceptable answer.
How did entertainment journalism come into play?
I spent my long hours in sports and news, both as a reporter and editor in each field. I endured the long months of fall sports, practically living out of my car and eating quick meals on the road. I endured hours of county commissioner meetings and trials. If you ask me what my favorite part of journalism is, I’ll tell you entertainment all the way.
I’m in the fun news business. I get to discover incredible, inspiring people in the community doing incredible things. I can bring news of exciting activities to the community and hopefully bring smiles to faces.
What stories impact me?
When I first started in journalism, I was a reporter in small communities in Southeast Ohio, at newspapers that gave me the opportunity to be named Editor and publisher of “25 Under 35” magazine, America’s leading news magazine. In these communities, I covered stories that made me cry and stories that made me realize how bad the world can be. But I also covered heartfelt stories.
Some of my favorites include witnessing a small town rivalry at an OHSAA Division II men’s basketball game where the underdog defeated the other a successful dynasty , and to cover the Circleville Pumpkin Show in its entirety and observing how much a local festival meant to this community (and the pumpkin donuts were a welcome perk while working that week).
I will always remember working in these communities because the people you meet in these towns have only one personality: authentic. I knew that if my car ever broke down in little Corning, Ohio (which was a real worry for me because I had taken a lot of chances with car addiction at the time), I would have no service to call for help, but the people there would happily stop to help me.
I guess that’s what I love most about being a journalist: the community connections you make. It’s rewarding to meet great people in the community.
A little about me
I travel as much as possible with my husband. We love exploring new cities, countries and sights. Every time I go somewhere new, you’ll see me carrying around my camera bag hoping to find the perfect opportunity to take a great photo.
I coach young softball pitchers – I was a former collegiate and professional softball player. I experienced professional athletics in the Netherlands, which probably sparked the travel bug in me; now it won’t rest.
I also enjoy hiking and running when my cleansed athletic body gets me through a pain-free day.
I earned my journalism degree from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. Going to school on top of a mountain in a town once named Top 10 “Least happy American regions” really gives you a new appreciation for the Columbus scene. Although many disagree, I find Columbus to be an optimistic place with great weather!
Emily Rohozen can be reached at erohozen@dispatch.com.