'Gilbert Goons' documentary by Arizona Republic named finalist for video storytelling
The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com's coverage of the 'Gilbert Goons' has earned national recognition from two prestigious journalism organizations.
The 'Goons' documentary has been named a finalist in the local video storytelling category in the Scripps Howard Journalism Awards. The documentary was compiled by videographer Michael Chow and reporters Robert Anglen and Elena Santa Cruz.
The fatal beating of 16-year-old Preston Lord in the Phoenix suburbs drew widespread attention, and The Republic's reporters were the first to tie his beating to the "Goons," a gang of suburban teenagers whose attacks on other teens had gone unchecked by police for more than a year.
The Scripps Howard competition focuses on high impact reporting, recognizing 'journalism that spurs action, news organizations that go the extra mile to expose previously undisclosed or misunderstood information and journalists who embrace new tools, channels, technologies and approaches to provide more immersive experiences for their audiences,' according to its website.
Scripps Howard names three finalists in each category in its competition, with the category winner to be announced online at SHJAwards.org on June 10. In addition to "Preston Lord's Death Uncovers 'Gilbert Goons,'" other finalists in the local video storytelling category are ABC 15 Arizona for "Policing Phoenix: The DOJ Report" and Frontline (PBS) for "Maui's Deadly Firestorm."
Anglen, Santa Cruz and Chow also were named finalists in the 2025 Investigative Reporters and Editors contest for their 'Goons' reporting and documentary.
Investigative Reporters and Editors Inc. is a grassroots nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of investigative reporting.
The judges said: 'In an exhaustive, winding investigation reported over months, The Arizona Republic tied the deadly beating of a 16-year-old to a string of assaults by a gang of elite teenagers. The reporting showed significant cover-up attempts, community outrage and inaction by local police who appeared to look the other way as teen assaults mounted up, months before one turned deadly. '
AL.com won the category with a story on Alabama's parole system, and a team from the Miami Herald was the other finalist, with coverage of a botched investigation into a deadly boating crash.
Guilty plea: Teen pleads guilty to manslaughter in Preston Lord death
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 'Gilbert Goons' documentary named finalist for video storytelling
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Whether it's breaking news, politics, entertainment, sports or news in your city, The Arizona Republic/azcentral covers it all. Our journalism has uncovered the scrutiny Gilbert police faced over the "Gilbert Goons" attacks, a slain 14-year-old's painful past and how Arizona renters can easily be evicted with crime-free lease addendums. We also have you covered for breaking news, such as a fatal Scottsdale plane crash, or the latest dining news, including the 100 essential places to eat in the Valley. Don't miss a beat. Sign up for news alerts and get breaking news and top stories such as these delivered right to your email inbox and phone. It's the best way to stay in the know with news across Arizona and the U.S. With azcentral's newsletter alerts, you'll get the important news of the day and a diverse selection of stories across metro Phoenix and the nation sent to your email inbox. Here's where you can sign up: You can select phone alerts for breaking news, sports, entertainment, weather, traffic, and business on the azcentral app. Quiet times for your alerts can be set within the app. Want alerts when we publish something new on a topic you're interested in? Sign up to follow specific topics of interest with the "Add Topic" button at the top of articles. Personalize your feed further in the For You front. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Get Arizona breaking news and top stories with azcentral alerts
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Fountain Hills Town Council members retaliate against local newspaper for its reporting
Fountain Hills Town Councilman Rick Watts felt insulted. He'd spent three hours at a public meeting discussing the town's budget and fire department needs in painstaking detail. Then, he read a news article the next day and saw a headline that, in his view, overly simplified the meeting. "Fountain Hills Town Council defers fire department budget plan," the headline read. It wasn't inaccurate. The town's fire chief had wanted more money to promote a few people. Those promotions would support a regional "automatic aid" program the town was applying for. If approved, Fountain Hills would be part of a regional network so that when a customer called, the nearest municipal fire department responds, regardless of town boundaries. The council approved the funding but delayed its start to January to reduce the cost in the current fiscal year. The problem with the headline, Watts said in an interview with The Arizona Republic, was it could "sound more egregious than it is." 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"Frankly, I am fed up with the Times partisan reporting and think it is time to remove the corner 'reporters' table," Watts wrote in an email to Town Manager Rachael Goodwin. "I do not wish to further encourage unbalanced reporting, and believe it is best if the Times Independent sits with the audience to allow for more chairs in that corner, making more room for the public," Larrabee wrote. In their letters, they elaborated on their frustration of "melodramatic" headlines, one-sided stories and being misquoted. They did not request to ban reporters. Having journalists sit among the audience wasn't a novel concept; most City Hall reporters in the Valley are not accommodated with designated tables. But the request upended a tradition that was in place for decades. Some town staff couldn't remember a time when there wasn't a press table. But by the end of the month, it was gone. Not all councilmembers were clued into the change — there was no vote on it. 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This wasn't some agenda-driven outsider, she said. She wrote a column in the Fountain Hills Times Independent on May 28 blasting the decision. "This incident highlights disregard for transparency by our local officials. Punitive measures are meant to control, influence and silence news coverage and criticism by concerned private citizens," she wrote. She argued the table removal was retaliation. "Retaliation inherently has a chilling effect, making journalists and citizens hesitant to investigate controversial topics or criticize those in power. If journalists are reluctant to report on sensitive topics, the people regrettably pay the price," Kalvianakis wrote. Free press advocates and First Amendment experts likewise expressed concern. "Local governments don't have to roll out the red carpet for reporters. 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The Brief There is a new twist in the Preston Lord murder case, as one of the suspects in the case has turned down a plea deal. Jacob Meisner faces a potential life sentence with parole after 25 years if convicted of first-degree murder. PHOENIX - New developments have emerged in the Preston Lord murder case. One of the seven suspects accused of killing the East Valley teen turned down a plea deal, leaving that case in legal limbo. In court on May 30, Judge Fish explained to defendant Jacob Meisner how high the stakes are. What we know He started with the prison time the 18-year-old could face if found guilty by a jury of the first-degree murder charge alone. "It is life with the possibility of release after 25 years," Judge Fish said. Meisner and several other teens are accused of kidnapping 16-year-old Preston Lord and causing his death. Because he's charged with felony murder, Judge Fish also explained what that would mean in a trial. "The state doesn't have to get up and prove that you laid a hand on Mr. Lord at all," the judge stated. "All they have to do is prove that you participated in the kidnapping of Mr. Lord." Still, his defense attorney argued the level of Meisner's culpability should be considered in a plea agreement. What they're saying "It doesn't matter in terms of whether or not he actually physically got hands on with Preston Lord whether the state can prove his liability under a Felony Murder Rule," the attorney said. "But that question is relevant in determining what a proper and just sentence is in terms of a plea deal." The backstory Lord was brutally beaten at a 2023 Queen Creek Halloween party and later died from his injuries. His death sparked outrage and a demand for local officials to address increased teen violence in the East Valley, including a group dubbed the "Gilbert Goons." Earlier this year, Owen Hines was the first of the seven defendants to accept a plea deal, agreeing to serve more than 12 years behind bars. While speaking to reporters, Meisner's attorney said negotiations with the state will continue but remained tight-lipped about anything else. "We are not making any statements about the facts at this time," the attorney said. What's next The Stillery in Chandler is hosting an event to celebrate the passing of Preston's Law, and his legacy. May 31, 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. The Stillery (Downtown Chandler) 130 S Arizona Ave. Chandler, AZ 85225
