John Ryan
Environment Reporter
About
John Ryan joined KUOW as its first full-time investigative reporter in 2009 and became its environment reporter 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 Society of Environmental Journalists awards for in-depth reporting.
John welcomes tips, documents, and feedback. 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, some Indonesian
Professional Affiliations: SAG-AFTRA union member and former shop steward; Society of Environmental Journalists member and mentor
Stories
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Environment
Amazon reveals dirty secret, promises quick action for climate
How dirty is Amazon’s business?
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Environment
Alaska Airlines loses climate friendly(ish) crown to Frontier
Seattle-based Alaska Airlines used to be the least-polluting domestic airline. Not any more.
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Environment
Want a peek at our hotter future? Go to Alaska
Alaska, heating up twice as fast as the rest of the world, is the next best/worst thing to a climate-change time machine.
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Environment
Kelp is on the way... out: Steep decline in key Puget Sound habitat
The underwater forests of Puget Sound are in trouble. Since 2013, researchers have seen drastic declines in kelp beds in south Puget Sound.
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Environment
Sea enemies come together to protect ocean floor twice size of Washington state
Protection is in the works for a rare ecosystem known mostly from dinosaur-era fossils.
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Environment
They’re back! Endangered orcas surface off San Juans after nearly 6 weeks away
Southern resident killer whales returned to their usual summertime haunts on Thursday for the first time since July 6, to the delight of San Juan Island’s human residents.
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Environment
Taming the mean streets (and sidewalks) of Seattle
Transportation advocates and members of the city council are pushing measures to make the whole city safer for people who aren’t in cars.
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Environment
Climate advocates urge Seattle to ban natural gas in new buildings
Climate activists in Seattle want to snuff out natural gas, starting with a ban on installing gas piping in new buildings.
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Environment
Seattle eyes its own 'green new deal'
Advocates for a “green new deal” for Seattle made their pitch to the Seattle City Council on Tuesday for aggressive action on climate change and inequity.
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Environment
Failed sewage pumps lead to 2.1 million gallon spill into Puget Sound
Backup pumps at Seattle's main sewage treatment plant failed during an overnight power outage.