Bill Rabinowitz covers Ohio State football for the Columbus Dispatch. He joined The Dispatch in 1999 to cover the expansion Cleveland Browns . He then covered the Cincinnati Bengals from 2005-07. He joined the OSU beat in 2011.

Before that, he worked at the York Daily Record in Pennsylvania, where he covered the Baltimore Ravens but, more importantly, met his wife and they had their two children.

How I became a sportswriter

I grew up in Dayton having no idea what career I might have. I took some pre-law classes as a history major at Washington University in St. Louis, but I knew I didn’t have the disposition to be a lawyer. Writing came fairly naturally to me, and I’ve always loved sports. It seemed a natural fit.

My first job was as a summer intern at The Sporting News, which was then based in St. Louis. I’m convinced I got the job less because of my writing and more because I could play shortstop for the company softball team. I was much younger and lighter then.

Why journalism matters more than ever

My wife, who was city editor in York when I met her and is now a radio producer for “All Sides” on WOSU, is not a sports fan. She said she knew I wasn’t a stereotypical sportswriter because I read the front page before the sports section.

As much as people care about Ohio State football, and I hope they enjoy the Buckeye coverage that Joey Kaufman , Rob Oller and I provide, it's more important they also read what else my colleagues at The Dispatch produce. Journalism is seeking a viable business model at a time when good journalism has never been more important. People now tend to get their news, but not necessarily the truth, from their own individual silos at a time when government leaders openly vilify the media. It is not healthy for democracy. We expect to pay for food at restaurants and other services we need. Journalism should be no different.

The Are-You-A-Fan question?

I grew up rooting for the Big Red Machine-era Cincinnati Reds , the Bengals, Ohio State football, and Dayton Flyers basketball. When I was asked to join the OSU beat, my fandom of the Buckeyes ended. It had to. To cover a team objectively, you must put aside whatever rooting interest you might have had. It’s “they,” not “we.” Do I hope the players and coaches that I cover do well? In most cases, yes. You develop relationships, and it’s nice to see people you like and respect succeed. But as a journalist, you understand that the story and the duty to ascertain the truth is all that matters. That’s the job.

What I do in my spare time

Our kids are grown and out of the house. One lives in California, and the other is nearby. I love music, and I play guitar and piano. I’m mostly self-taught on guitar and completely self-taught on piano, which unfortunately shows. But it is relaxing, and my wife and our beloved goldendoodle Ellie pretend to act as if they enjoy listening to me. I’m even worse at hockey, but I still love it.

Bill Rabinowitz can be reached at .