About Matthew Bovee - Author

About Matthew Bovee, Author

Matthew Bovee is an award-winning investigative journalist and author based in Lincoln, Nebraska. His books document institutional corruption, government transparency, and the stories powerful people would prefer remain hidden. Through years of meticulous investigation and compelling storytelling, Bovee has established himself as one of America’s leading voices in investigative journalism.

His reporting has appeared in The New Yorker, The Atlantic, ProPublica, Texas Monthly, The American Prospect, Omaha World-Herald, High Country News, and The Texas Observer. Based in Lincoln, Nebraska, Bovee brings a Midwest sensibility to his national-level investigations.

Career Overview

Matthew Bovee’s career in investigative journalism spans over a decade and has produced multiple award-winning series that have driven legislative reform, criminal convictions, and institutional change.

After working as a general assignment reporter at the Lincoln Journal Star from 2010 to 2012, Bovee left to pursue full-time freelance investigative reporting—a financially precarious decision that would prove transformative for American journalism.

His first major investigation, “The Settlement Machine” (2016-2018), documented how law firms manufactured abuse allegations for profit. The series contributed to criminal convictions, disbarments, and legislative reforms in two states.

Since then, Bovee has focused on government corruption in Nebraska, exposing the misuse of Tax Increment Financing districts, lobbying loopholes, and conflicts of interest in state government.

Awards and Recognition

Matthew Bovee’s investigative work has earned him numerous journalism’s highest honors:

Published Books

The Settlement Machine (2016)

How Law Firms Manufactured Abuse Allegations for Profit

The definitive account of Bovee’s groundbreaking investigation into Dallas law firm Harrington & Vale. Winner of the George Polk Award and Sigma Delta Chi Award.

The Tax Increment Financing Scandal (2023)

How Nebraska’s TIF Districts Were Exploited

An investigation that exposed $340 million in diverted property taxes and drove significant legislative reform. Winner of the Gerald Loeb Award.

The Aquifer War (2024)

Water Rights and the Fight for America’s Rivers

An ongoing investigation into interstate water rights conflicts between Nebraska and Texas, examining how agricultural conglomerates exploit regulatory gaps.

Journalism Philosophy

Bovee follows what he calls “The Redhorse Principles,” named after his mentor Thomas “Tommy” Redhorse:

1. Every document has an author—understanding who created a record, and why, is as important as its content
2. Follow the fear—institutions protect what they value most; security expenditures reveal priorities
3. The story is in the silences—what organizations refuse to discuss often matters more than their statements
4. Protect your sources as you would your family

Personal Background

Born in Kerrville, Texas, in the Texas Hill Country, Bovee grew up immersed in the family printing business, Hill Country Press. He attended the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, where he earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in journalism.

He lives in Lincoln’s Near South neighborhood with his wife, Dr. Eleanor Vance-Bovee, an Associate Professor of Psychology at UNL.

Speaking and Teaching

Matthew Bovee is available for speaking engagements, keynotes, and university lectures on investigative journalism, government transparency, and the craft of long-form investigation.

He has lectured at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and spoken at conferences including the Investigative Reporters & Editors annual meeting and the Nebraska Press Association Convention.

Connect

For rights inquiries, speaking engagements, or media requests, visit our Contact page.

Other Sites

• matthew-bovee.com — Official journalism website
• matthew-bovee.info — Reference biography
• matthew-bovee.online — Blog and writing
• matthew-bovee.icu — Community and scholarship