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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Doubled low-income housing levy to go on Seattle ballot in August
This summer, Seattle voters will be asked to make property in the city a little less affordable to make housing for the poorest Seattleites more...
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Is the rapid transit plan rapid enough? Experts don't think so
Transit riders around the region have told Sound Transit that the agency's proposal to build 58 miles of light rail over the next 25 years is too slow....
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Puget Sound suffers as homeowners wall off natural shoreline
In Seattle's King County, property owners have walled off most of the shoreline with concrete bulkheads and other heavy infrastructure. Along Hood Canal...
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Halfway to Goal, KPLU Continues 'Hyperspeed' Fundraising Drive
Public radio station KPLU has raised more than half the $7.25 million it says it needs to fend off a buyout by KUOW and the University of Washington.
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KUOW Launches Jazz Service That Competes With KPLU's
Seattle's two NPR news stations will soon have competing music services as well. News and information station KUOW 94.9 is launching an online and HD...
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West Coast Scientists Urge Rapid Action Against Ocean Acidification
A panel of ocean scientists from Washington, Oregon and California said Monday that local action on the West Coast — one of the regions of the world...
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Ever Heard Of Xylene? It May Be The Next Big Thing For Anacortes
An oil refinery on Puget Sound wants to ship a raw material for plastic overseas, and some environmental groups say that's a bad idea. The Tesoro...
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Seattle Money Loves Hillary, But Bernie Raises More In WA Overall
If campaign contributions are any indicator, Washington state is "feeling the Bern." People here have given Democratic presidential candidate Bernie...
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Hollow Columns Holding Up I-5, I-405 Bridges Could Implode In Major Quake
Some of Washington state's busiest bridges have a surprising design feature deep inside their massive structures.
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Lead Found In 34 Washington Drinking Water Systems
Flint, Michigan, isn't the only place with lead in its drinking water: 34 water systems in Washington state have tested above acceptable levels of the...