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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Port Of Seattle Rejects Calls To Cancel Arctic Drill Rig Lease
After nearly two hours of public testimony Tuesday, Seattle port commissioners upheld their decision to let Arctic oil-drilling rigs dock at the Port of...
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Vigil For Seattle High School Senior Killed In Drive-By Shooting
The site of Sunday's shooting in Seattle's Beacon Hill neighborhood has turned into a shrine and gathering place for people remembering Robert Robinson,...
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Students Push University of Washington Regents to Dump Coal
Student activists at the University of Washington urged the Board of Regents on Thursday to dump the university's investments in coal.
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211 Operators Answer Some Of The Toughest Phone Calls In King County
A phone rings in a room full of busy operators at Seattle's Crisis Clinic. Alex Williams answers this one. “Good morning, thank you for calling King...
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Homeless Families Wait Six Months Or More For Housing In King County
If you have an emergency, you call 911. If you need emergency shelter or housing, you can call 211 – but be prepared to wait six months or more. In the...
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Privacy Or Funding: The Tough Choice In Combating Homelessness
When a homeless person needs help, they are often asked for a lot of personal information. For victims of domestic violence, that information could...
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As Ports Struggle, Air Cargo Booms at Sea-Tac
A labor dispute with dock workers has led to slowdowns and backups at West Coast ports. One part of the Port of Seattle's cargo business is booming....
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Oil Refinery Workers Strike For Safety At Site Of Deadly Anacortes Explosion
About 200 workers at the Tesoro refinery in Anacortes, Washington, are on strike. They've had a 24-hour picket line at the plant's main gate for more...
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Homelessness Surges In Seattle Area
The ranks of the homeless continue to swell in King County. An overnight count found 3,772 people living on the streets — a 21 percent increase since...
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Seattle Must Hire More Workers From Poorer Neighborhoods
Seattle City Council has put new restrictions on who gets to work on the city’s construction projects. Under legislation passed Tuesday, 20 percent of...