From the President 

As we step boldly into the new year, it is impossible not to reflect on the past twelve months.  

2020 tested our resilience, our humanity and, most importantly, our trust. We rose wearily, day after day, to face an upended world, trying to make sense of a relentless news cycle clouded by fear, misinformation and disconnection. But rise we did and continue to do.  

Many of you put your trust in KUOW as an essential, daily companion, a beacon of truth and solace when you needed it most. We do not take your confidence for granted; it is what drives us to continue holding ourselves to a higher standard. We promise to reaffirm your trust each day by bringing you thoughtful, dependable journalism rooted in the communities we serve.  

I will always remember 2020 as the Year of the Unimaginable. Unfathomable pain, suffering, joy and triumph. As we look to 2021, KUOW will be here with you for whatever comes next — for our community and for our democracy. 

Caryn Mathes (she/her)
President and General Manager

"You are a beacon of light in a year of darkness. Thank you for your first-class reporting. You give me hope, joy and knowledge."

Gabriel in Bellingham

Impact can mean many things. Stories of heartbreak, justice and community. Stories that expose corruption or abuse. Stories that offer a new perspective or refute false claims. Stories that amplify overlooked voices and hold those in power accountable. Here are the stories we thought had the most impact on our community, and our democracy, in 2020. 

Covering the first known outbreak of Covid-19 in the United States 

KUOW reporters spent days camped outside the Life Care Center in Kirkland, the site of the first known outbreak of Covid-19 in the country, bringing our community — and the world — a close-up account of what was transpiring. 
KUOW Photo / Megan Farmer

Amplifying voices in the movement for racial justice 

KUOW brought you stories on the human impact of local anti-racism movements — sharing first-person accounts from protesters, generations of civil rights leaders, students, journalists and more. KUOW also reported on the dangers of police use of tear gas against protestors, from its impact on the spread of Covid-19 to reports of effects on reproductive health. 
KUOW Photo / Megan Farmer

Combatting mis- and disinformation  

In March, we drew national attention as the first news organization in the country to publicly announce we would stop airing the White House Coronavirus briefings live, due to the inability to fact-check inaccuracies in real time. And as our community faced a pandemic, protests and an election, we hosted free community conversations and weekly segments on The Record with misinformation experts, in partnership with UW’s Center for an Informed Public. 
KUOW Graphic / Teo Popescu

Exposing abuses in Seattle Public Schools 

A KUOW investigation, led by reporter Ann Dornfeld, found that Seattle Public Schools allowed teachers who harmed students to remain in the classroom. Following Dornfeld’s reporting, three teachers were removed. See all of KUOW’s reporting on classroom abuses here. 
KUOW Photo / Megan Farmer

"KUOW is welcome company as I enjoy my morning coffee and listen throughout the day. It's been my primary source for fact-based reporting and a beacon of rational thought throughout the pandemic and the election cycle. Thank you for being there to serve as a source of calm to our community."

Matthew in Arlington

Holding businesses' mask policies to account

KUOW reporter Ashley Hiruko reported that Home Depot was not following Washington’s mask mandate, after a whistleblower complaint from an employee. Two days after the story broke, Home Depot reversed their mask policy — now requiring customers nationwide to wear masks inside stores.

KUOW Photo / Ashley Hiruko

Digging into Postal Service changes prior to the 2020 Election

During the months leading up to the 2020 Election, KUOW’s John Ryan reported that the Postal Service had shut down 40% of the high-speed letter-sorting machines in the Seattle-Tacoma area. Despite a national order, Tacoma and Wenatchee plants reinstalled their machines. 
KUOW Photo / Megan Farmer

Pushing the conversation on climate change forward

KUOW tracked three community members as they competed to lower their carbon footprints. One contestant slashed their carbon pollution by 90% in a matter of weeks. The series aimed to draw attention to both systemic and individual impact on climate problems and solutions. 
KUOW Photo / Megan Farmer

Bringing you voices from the frontlines of the pandemic

From a physician’s assistant working at a drive-in testing site, to a local restaurant owner, to a respiratory therapist putting people on ventilators, KUOW’s Voices of the Pandemic series gave focus to the diverse experiences of a community in crisis. 
KUOW Photo / Isolde Raftery

"KUOW and NPR provide timely, relevant, and factual information that helps us understand our local community and the world around us. We need free and unbiased media now more than ever."

Carrie on Vashon Island

KUOW and NPR were founded with the belief that everyone should have free access to honest, fact-checked information — as well as stories that broaden perspectives and deepen understanding of the world around us. KUOW Members and Business Supporters ensure we can bring this content to our community without any paywalls. You can see more details on our audience here.
370,000
Average weekly broadcast listeners
Source: Nielsen
 

460,000
Average monthly podcast downloads
Source: Triton
263,000
Average monthly streaming listeners
Source: Triton
 

20,389,000
Page views on kuow.org
Source: Google Analytics

"On the way to every adventure on the peninsula, on the way to work in the morning, over coffee on the weekend, and especially during the pandemic and the election, y'all are there for us with excellent research, reporting, and acknowledgement of any bias."

Julianna in Bremerton

In a year of disconnection, we brought you together around important conversations affecting our world. We spoke with experts from across the country and neighbors in our community, seeking clarity in an ever-shifting news cycle and forging a new, better way forward.
6,346
Virtual event attendees. All KUOW events were free to the public and available on our YouTube page.
297
RadioActive youth media participants trained in journalism and audio storytelling.

"I rely on KUOW for thoroughly investigated, well-rounded news, thoughtful and inspiring stories, music, games, entertainment, sanity. You're with me when I need you the most. KUOW is family!"

Ashley on Bainbridge Island

KUOW has been tracking our diversity of sources in local broadcast features — defined as planned stories, investigations or profiles — and guests on The Record and Week in Review since 2015. Since 2017, we have set benchmarks on source diversity which are tracked monthly by leadership. This year, we are reporting these numbers publicly for the first time. We plan to do so every year going forward. You can learn more about these numbers, how they’re tracked, and our goals here. 
48%
Of sources for local news features identified as people of color


27%
Of guests on The Record and Week in Review identified as people of color
57%
Of sources in local news features identified as women or non-binary


52%
Of guests on The Record and Week in Review identified as women or non-binary
In our last fiscal year, more than 90% of KUOW’s funding came from individual donors and local business supporters. We are proud to report that 72% of our revenue went directly back into our news programming. Below, see an overview of KUOW’s finances in Fiscal Year 2020 (July 2019 – June 2020).  You can see more details on our revenue sources and spending here. 
Revenue Growth
Revenue Sources

This year, the support of our community allowed us to spend less time fundraising and more time bringing you the news. 
11 fewer fundraising days
We had 11 fewer fundraising days in 2020 than in 2019. That’s 132 more hours of uninterrupted news coverage.
52,500 Members
20,000 members donate monthly as Evergreen supporters, providing KUOW financial security in a tumultuous year.

"KUOW and NPR are a sanctuary of sanity, a confluence of community, and a foundation for the future."

Roxanna in Seattle

Ways to Engage

KUOW Newsletters

KUOW Podcasts

Listen

Community Feedback Club

Ways to Support

MAKE A GIFT

Include KUOW in Your Estate Plans

Donate Your Car

Become a Business Sponsor