John Ryan
Reporter
About
John Ryan joined KUOW as its first full-time investigative reporter in 2009 and took on the environment beat in 2018. He focuses on climate change, energy, and the ecosystems of the Puget Sound region. He has also investigated toxic air pollution, landslides, failed cleanups, and money in politics for KUOW.
Over a quarter century as an environmental journalist, John has covered everything from Arctic drilling to Indonesian reef bombing. He has been a reporter at NPR stations in southeast and southwest Alaska (KTOO-Juneau and KUCB-Unalaska) and at the Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce. John’s stories have won multiple national awards for KUOW, including the Society of Professional Journalists' Sigma Delta Chi awards for Public Service in Radio Journalism and for Investigative Reporting, national Edward R. Murrow and PMJA/PRNDI awards for coverage of breaking news, and a Society of Environmental Journalists award for in-depth reporting.
He is a shop steward for KUOW’s SAG-AFTRA newsroom union and believes democracy only works when journalism holds the powerful accountable for their words and actions.
John welcomes tips, documents and feedback from listeners. Reach him at jryan@kuow.org or for secure, encrypted communication, he's at heyjohnryan@protonmail.com or 1-401-405-1206 on the Signal messaging app.
Location: Seattle
Languages: English, some Spanish
Professional Affiliations: SAG-AFTRA shop steward
Stories
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KUOW Newsroom
Washington heat wave kills 10. Emergency rooms treat 540 heat victims
Medical officials now believe excessive heat has killed at least 10 people in Washington state since July 25.
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Today So Far Blog
Prolonged heat wave kills at least three in Seattle area, sends hundreds to ER
A six-day heat wave, the longest in Seattle history, has killed at least three people in King County, according to preliminary reports from the King County Medical Examiner’s Office. Another three people have drowned in the county since Thursday.
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Today So Far Blog
'Always get the dog’s name!'
What is Journalism Rule #1, you ask? “Always get the dog’s name” is near the top of the list.
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KUOW Newsroom
Hospitals brace for surge as Seattle area feels the heat
Hospitals in Washington state are bracing for a surge in heat victims coming to their emergency rooms. They hope to avoid a repeat of the 2021 heat wave, which killed an estimated 400 people in the state.
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Today So Far Blog
Low tides go out a bit earlier amid heat wave, endangering fewer shellfish
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Today So Far Blog
Wildfire smoke drifting into Western Washington from Canada amid heat wave
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Vancouver business to pay $40,000 after removing catalytic converters from trucks
Thieves have been sawing off catalytic converters from the undersides of cars and selling the precious metals inside them. But there’s another type of catalytic crime going on.
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KUOW Newsroom
Washington carbon exchange lets many big polluters off the hook
State officials are putting the final touches and taking public comment on the centerpiece of Washington Gov. Jay Inslee’s push to fight climate change. Critics say the state’s new system for capping greenhouse gas emissions from major polluters lets many of the worst climate offenders off the hook, forcing others to shoulder more of the burden of keeping the planet livable.
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KUOW Newsroom
Extreme heat wave cooked acres of shellfish, spared others, study finds
"A little light bulb went off in my head. I thought, ‘Oh my God, I need to contact my colleagues and find out what they're seeing."
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Today So Far Blog
60K green crabs captured in Washington waters so far in 2022 ... that's a lot