Cover Story

The Sportswriter

Josh Katzowitz interviews University of Cincinnati defensive coordinator Joe Tresey.

By Ann Marie Quill; photography Kelby Siler/University of Cincinnati

When Cincinnati Post reporter Josh Katzowitz started school at the University of Georgia, he wasn't sure if he wanted to work at the Red and Black, the college newspaper. "But I decided that if I wanted to do this as a career, I needed to get started as early as possible."

That decision paid off. After stints covering high school sports at the Marietta Daily Journal and the Augusta Chronicle, Katzowitz landed a job in 2004 covering college sports at the Cincinnati Post.

He arrived in Cincinnati after he and his wife, Julie, who is a doctor, were trying to find a city that would have a good residency program for her and an outlet where he could advance his sportswriting career.

And though the Post is closing at the end of the year, Katzowitz, who is from Marietta, where he attended Pope High School and Congregation Etz Chaim, doesn't regret the decision to move there. "It is stressful," he says. "But I knew when I came here there was the possibility it would happen. But it was such a good opportunity. In Augusta, covering preps was fine, but coming to Cincinnati was key for my career, advancing to covering college athletics. I was willing to take the risk."

Katzowitz says he's not sure what's in store for him after the paper closes. "My wife has another three years in her residency here. After that, the sky is the limit. We'll pick where we want to go after that."

Katzowitz says his long-term goal is working as "a sports columnist for a big-time major metro. I have high aspirations for myself, but I have enough writing and reporting ability to go to the top. I want to get to the point where I'm working at a big-city paper or a top-notch magazine or Web site."

He says that though his job at the Post is coming to a close, he is focused.

"It's not hard to get motivated because we have pride in our section. We still want to scoop the Cincinnati Enquirer every day. ... It's been really enjoyable getting to this level."