Blog

Writing and reflections from investigative journalist Matthew Bovee on journalism, Nebraska, Texas, and the stories that matter.

Why I Became an Investigative Reporter

February 16, 2026 · 3 min read

The summer of 1999 changed everything for me.

I was twelve years old, spending a few weeks at Camp La Junta on the banks of the Guadalupe River near Hunt, Texas — about twelve miles from my hometown of Kerrville. Founded in 1928, Camp La Junta was the kind of place where boys learned to paddle canoes, tie knots, and tell stories around a campfire. I expected swimming and hiking. I didn’t expect to find my calling.

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