(Veteran Reporter Killed)nLast week, as the trial of Robert Telles began, the Las Vegas Review-Journal faced a difficult problem: How do you report on the trial of someone accused of killing one of your own reporters?
For nearly two years, the newspaper has had to deal with this issue after Telles, a former Clark County official, was charged with fatally stabbing investigative reporter Jeff German. German had been covering problems and harassment in Telles’ office before his death. Telles says he is innocent and could face life in prison if found guilty.
Newsrooms often deal with tough situations, like reporting from dangerous places or covering violent crimes. But reporting on a colleague’s murder is especially challenging. Despite this, the Review-Journal has had to navigate this difficult task for the past two years.
Review-Journal’s Investigation Continues: Reporters Pursue Killer and Complete Jeff German’s Work(Veteran Reporter Killed)
Jeff German’s Reporting Uncovered Telles’ Misconduct
Rhonda Prast, a former editor at the Review-Journal, shared at the Investigative Reporters & Editors conference that Jeff German’s reporting exposed Robert Telles for bullying, retaliation, creating a hostile work environment, and having an inappropriate relationship with a female coworker.
After German’s reports, Telles lost his Democratic primary race, ending his public office career. He then wrote an angry letter on his website attacking the Review-Journal and denying the allegations made by German.
When German’s body was found outside his home, Review-Journal reporters, deeply shaken by the crime, quickly began working to find his killer and complete his investigation.
They examined German’s reports to find clues and soon identified a car seen at the crime scene, which led to Telles’ arrest and murder charge.
“In those early days, the investigative team worked non-stop. We had to find Jeff’s sources because he hadn’t shared them,” Prast said. “Some sources were found in his emails. I even found one in Jeff’s email trash. Briana Erickson and Art Kane tracked down sources and sorted through Jeff’s records at home.”
Briana Erickson, a former Review-Journal reporter, continued German’s investigation by exploring Telles’ history. She uncovered a decade of toxic and harassing behavior that had not been addressed by the institutions that could have taken action.
Review-Journal Delves into Telles’ Past While Protecting German’s Sources During Murder Trial
The newspaper looked into Robert Telles’ background, finding 911 calls from his ex-wife and video of his previous arrest for domestic battery.
As they covered Jeff German’s murder, the Review-Journal worked hard to keep German’s private information and sources safe. Police had taken German’s phone, four computers, and an external hard drive from his home.
“We want justice for Jeff, but we must protect his confidential sources,” said Keith Moyer, the publisher and editor of the Review-Journal, on social media.
Although Nevada law protects reporters from being forced to reveal their sources, the Review-Journal gave most of the data from German’s phone to the prosecution, defense, and law enforcement in May.
In the week before Telles’ trial, the Review-Journal published articles about the trial and German’s career. Investigations editor Arthur Kane and court reporter Katelyn Newberg wrote about German’s bravery as an investigative journalist who tackled organized crime and was dedicated to his work. The newspaper also set up a “Remembering Jeff German” section on its website to gather all the reporting about German since his death in 2022.
When the trial started, the Review-Journal covered it prominently on their front page and streamed it live on their website.
German’s reporting was crucial in the trial. Telles’ lawyer called German a “good reporter” who would uncover the truth and suggested that others might have wanted him dead. Telles admitted he had lied to German about an inappropriate relationship.
Katherine Jacobsen from the Committee to Protect Journalists noted that while journalists often cover tragedies, it is especially difficult when the victim is a colleague.
Journalists Covering Tragedy: A Challenging Task
Katherine Jacobsen from the Committee to Protect Journalists told CNN that journalists are skilled at reporting first and processing later. She praised newsrooms like the Las Vegas Review-Journal for their serious approach to difficult stories.
The Review-Journal chose not to comment on the trial, with executive editor Glenn Cook stating, “We’ll let our reporting speak for us until then.”
As the trial of Robert Telles unfolds, the Review-Journal, like other newsrooms, faces the challenge of covering the trauma affecting their own staff. Since 1992, 14 journalists have been killed in the US. The most recent was a TV reporter shot in Florida last year while covering another shooting.
The Wall Street Journal campaigned publicly to free reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was wrongfully detained in Russia for 491 days. During his detention, his colleagues kept his story in the spotlight with various events and social media campaigns.
In 2018, The Washington Post covered the disappearance and murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, publishing detailed reports on his case and helping uncover the truth.
Al Jazeera has reported on the deaths of at least nine of its journalists during the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, condemning the attacks in strong statements.
Journalists often face the tough task of reporting on the deaths of their own colleagues, handling these stories as part of their regular work. John Katsilometes from the Review-Journal noted that Jeff German, the murdered reporter, would have been the best person to cover this kind of story.
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