In these days when so-called pundits sneeringly say that reporters in Iraq sit in comfy hotels and don’t bother going out to report stories (and are proven to be wrong and ideologically blinded by the sad headlines we read each day) it’s not a bad idea to — every once in a while — remind everyone that journalists have died in their line of duty…sometimes in mysterious ways.
Here in San Diego, as a reporter on the San Diego Union covering the Tijuana/Baja California beat, I reported in great detail the murder of Felix “El Gato Felix” Miranda in neighboring Tijuana in 1988 – from the original hard news story, to analyses, to blunt questioning of a figure some suspected could have been involved (the case has never been totally solved), to the funeral (see his body lying in state).
But years earlier, here in the United States, there was another case (also unsolved). You can see the journalist’s picture above. His name was Don Bolles. Do you remember him? If it was during your time, you should. If it was before your time, you ought to know.
And THIS WILL HELP YOU REMEMBER OR LEARN ABOUT HIM.
Joe Gandelman is a former fulltime journalist who freelanced in India, Spain, Bangladesh and Cypress writing for publications such as the Christian Science Monitor and Newsweek. He also did radio reports from Madrid for NPR’s All Things Considered. He has worked on two U.S. newspapers and quit the news biz in 1990 to go into entertainment. He also has written for The Week and several online publications, did a column for Cagle Cartoons Syndicate and has appeared on CNN.