Ohio sees slight dip in statehouse watchdogs

Ohio is among 16 states with a decrease in statehouse reporters over the past eight years, according to a Pew Research Center report.

By the numbers: 58 reporters cover the Ohio General Assembly, down slightly from 62 in 2014.

• Close to half of the reporters are students, interns or those covering the Ohio Statehouse part time alongside other beats.

Why it matters: Policies enacted at the Statehouse impact Ohioans' daily lives, from expanding broadband internet access to legalizing the use of consumer-grade fireworks as of this summer.

• Statehouse reporters serve as watchdogs to hold your representatives accountable for this important work.

The big picture: America has more reporters covering the 50 state legislatures in 2022 than it did in 2014, though fewer do so on a full-time basis.

💭 Tyler's thought bubble: Prior to helping launch Axios Columbus, I covered the Statehouse for the Ohio Capital Journal, a nonprofit founded in 2019.

• My tenure in the Ohio Legislative Correspondents Association was rather short, but in that time I saw first-hand just how dedicated the print, TV and radio reporters are based on Capitol Square.
• It's a tough gig tracking the hundreds of bills floating around the Statehouse halls and keeping up with dozens of committees.
• Not to mention working with — let me be diplomatic here — the interesting personalities of Ohio's 132 state lawmakers.