What I Learned from My First Investigation: Matthew Bovee's First Story in Lincoln Nebraska

Every investigative reporter remembers their first big story. Mine happened in Lincoln, Nebraska, and it taught me lessons that have guided my entire career. Looking back at those early days, I can see how that first investigation shaped my approach to journalism, source protection, and the pursuit of truth.

The Spark That Started Everything

My first real investigation began with a tip from a concerned citizen at a Lincoln City Council meeting. Someone mentioned, almost in passing, that a local developer had received approval for a project that seemed to bypass standard zoning procedures. That casual comment became the foundation of what would eventually be a months-long investigation into development practices in Lincoln, Nebraska.

What I learned immediately was that investigative journalism starts with curiosity. Every journalist needs that nagging feeling that something isn’t quite right. That initial spark of suspicion is what drives us to dig deeper, to ask questions that others might avoid, and to follow the story wherever it leads.

The subject of that first investigation—let’s call it the Downtown Development Story—involved a prominent local developer who had received expedited approval for a mixed-use project in Lincoln’s Haymarket District. At first glance, everything appeared to follow proper procedures. But when I started pulling public records, requesting meeting minutes, and interviewing city officials, inconsistencies began to emerge.

Learning to Navigate Public Records

One of the most valuable lessons from my first investigation was understanding how to work with public records in Nebraska. The state’s public records laws are remarkably comprehensive, but using them effectively requires patience and persistence.

I spent countless hours at the Lincoln Public Library, reviewing building permits, zoning decisions, and city council meeting transcripts from the previous two years. I learned to file formal requests with the City of Lincoln, understand the difference between public and exempt records, and most importantly, follow up relentlessly.

The lesson here is simple: public records are the backbone of investigative journalism. Whether you’re looking at property records in Lancaster County, court documents in Nebraska judicial archives, or meeting minutes from the Unicameral, these records often contain the evidence needed to tell important stories.

During that first investigation, I filed over a dozen public records requests. Some were fulfilled quickly; others required follow-up calls and even formal complaints to the Nebraska Attorney General’s office. But every document I obtained added another piece to the puzzle.

Building Trust with Sources

Perhaps the most critical skill I developed during my first investigation was source cultivation. In Lincoln, Nebraska’s smaller journalistic community, building trust is essential. People talk, and reputation matters enormously.

I learned early that protecting sources is non-negotiable. When a city employee came forward with concerns about pressure from above regarding the development project, I had to guarantee their anonymity. That promise meant refusing to reveal their identity, even when editors and lawyers pressured me to cooperate with investigators.

This experience taught me that trust is earned slowly and lost quickly. In the years since, I’ve maintained relationships with sources who first contacted me during that initial investigation. Some have become regular contributors to my work; others have provided tips on subsequent stories that wouldn’t have been possible without that initial foundation of trust.

For aspiring journalists, the advice is clear: never burn a source, always verify information independently, and remember that your reputation is your most valuable asset.

The Tension Between Speed and Accuracy

My first investigation also taught me about the delicate balance between breaking news and getting the story right. The Lincoln Journal Star was eager to run with the story once I had gathered significant evidence. But I insisted on verification—double-checking every document, confirming every quote, and giving the developer an opportunity to respond.

This tension between speed and accuracy is something every investigative journalist faces. In today’s 24-hour news cycle, there’s enormous pressure to publish quickly. But investigative journalism demands patience. A rushed story with errors can be retracted, but the damage to your credibility and to the people affected by the story is often permanent.

I spent an additional two weeks fact-checking, reaching out to additional sources, and allowing the developer and city officials to respond to specific allegations. That delay probably reduced the initial impact of the story, but it ensured that the final piece was air-tight and defensible.

The story ultimately resulted in a city audit of development procedures and policy changes that are still in effect today. More importantly, it established my approach to investigative journalism: verify everything, give subjects fair opportunity to respond, and prioritize accuracy over speed.

Lessons That Lasted a Career

Looking back at my first investigation in Lincoln, Nebraska, I can see how those experiences shaped everything that followed. The skills I developed—working with public records, cultivating sources, balancing speed and accuracy—have been applied to every significant story I’ve covered since.

The investigation also taught me about the importance of persistence. There were moments when I wanted to give up, when the documents were confusing, when sources became reluctant, when editors expressed skepticism. But I learned that great investigative stories rarely come easily. They require determination, resourcefulness, and an unwavering commitment to the truth.

For those looking to follow a similar path, remember that every accomplished investigative journalist started exactly where you are now. Your first investigation will be challenging, frustrating, and incredibly rewarding. It will teach you things that no journalism school can fully prepare you for.

The story I learned to tell in Lincoln, Nebraska has been retold in different forms throughout my career—different cities, different subjects, but the same fundamental principles. Curiosity, verification, source protection, and persistence. These are the lessons from my first investigation that have guided me for over two decades.

And somewhere in that first messy, challenging experience, I discovered who I wanted to be as a journalist: someone who tells stories that matter, who holds power accountable, and who never stops asking questions.