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
-
The Northwest’s unhealthy new season: smoke
When Kelsey Horne finished college in Tacoma ten years ago, the climate was different. “Fire season wasn't a thing,” she said.
-
Makah Tribe takes big step toward resuming gray whale hunt
The Makah Tribe has gained a victory from a federal judge in its 16-year-quest to resume hunting gray whales.
-
Lapping Mount Rainier to map its withering ice
A specially outfitted plane documented the decline of the biggest collection of glaciers in the lower 48 states. For the first time in six years, Mount Rainier National Park is measuring its glaciers from the air.
-
Climate activists shut down Seattle's Fourth Avenue, two banks
Climate activists shut down Fourth Avenue in downtown Seattle and the downtown branches of two banks on Friday.
-
Officials demand answers after apparent sabotage of oil train
Some legislators are calling for action in the wake of a federal report on the apparent sabotage of an oil train north of Bellingham last year.
-
3 pregnant orcas could boost endangered whales’ numbers
More babies are on the way for the endangered southern resident killer whales.
-
Federal investigation points to ‘possible’ sabotage of oil train in Custer crash
Federal investigators say someone apparently tampered with the brakes and couplers on an oil train before it derailed north of Bellingham.
-
Hidden wireless technology keeps buses moving in this rural Washington town
Washington state has more electric buses than any state except California.
-
Hotels could become home for many Afghan refugees in Seattle area
Relief organizations in the Seattle area are having to get creative to find housing for an expected influx of refugees from Afghanistan. With affordable housing in scarce supply, they're asking King County to make some county-owned hotels available for arriving refugees.
-
Nest with nearly 1,500 Asian giant hornets destroyed near Blaine
A team outfitted in sting-proof foam suits eradicated a nest of the world’s largest hornets near Blaine, Washington, and the U.S.-Canada border on Wednesday. It is the first Asian giant hornet nest to be destroyed in 2021.