Tyler Graef is an independent multimedia journalist based in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. 

He joined the Southeast Missourian newspaper in Cape Girardeau in 2014 as a general assignment reporter after studying public relations and political science at Southeast Missouri State University. Through resourceful reporting and robust storytelling he earned greater responsibilities, eventually overseeing the paper’s business section while also producing several award-winning long-term feature projects. 

In 2017, he left the Missourian to join Saint Francis Healthcare System as a marketing specialist, where he helped design and implement both internal and external campaigns through a variety of media including speechwriting, copywriting, video production and social media. 

In 2018, he returned to the Southeast Missourian, this time as a member of the photo staff, where in addition to documentary work and sports photojournalism, he regularly collaborated with art directors to produce editorial images (in and outside a studio setting) for a wide variety of magazines, tabs and other special publications. In 2020, he left the Missourian to pursue professional opportunities outside journalism while also maintaining a regular freelance practice and personal projects.  

In 2022, together with former Missourian editor Bob Miller, he co-produced the first season of the investigative podcast series The Lawless Files. 

Whether in a strictly journalistic capacity or as a talent-for-hire, he’s committed to creativity and telling stories as well as they deserve to be told.

He is available for freelance assignments and can be contacted at tylergraef@gmail.com or by phone at (540)809-0263.

All work on this website is copyrighted by Tyler Graef and/or the news outlet by which it was published.