KUOW: Listen Up. Listen Here. Because powerful, local storytelling start with you. KUOW Impact Update Fall 2022.

A message from our news director, Gigi Douban

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Stay informed: Stories with local impact

KUOW believes a better future begins with an informed public. Here is a look at recent reporting from our newsroom and the impact it has had on our local community. 
Photo of Angelica Campbell plaintiff in the civil lawsuit against Raz Simone.

Uncovering Seattle Police Department’s alleged inaction in accusations against Raz Simone

Since January 2021, KUOW’s Ashley Hiruko has shared the stories of several women who accused local hip-hop artist Raz Simone of abuse, coercion and sex trafficking. Some of his alleged crimes date back to 2012, yet police have never charged or arrested him for these crimes. In collaboration with Seattle Times reporter Rebecca Moss, Hiruko broke the news that the Seattle Police are being sued for negligent investigation into the women's claims, part of a larger lawsuit against Simone.  


The Seattle Times / Amanda Snyder
Photo of Michael Sheena of the Pauquachin First Nation, in North Saanich, British Columbia, helps the Swinomish Tribe build a rock wall on Kiket Island, Washington, on Aug. 12.

Reporting on the return of ancient, Indigenous practices in sustainable fishing 

As local sea life continues to struggle with the warming effects of climate change, we brought you stories from communities reviving Indigenous, sustainable harvesting solutions. Northwest News Network’s Tom Banse highlighted the practice of reef netting and the commercial fishing captains and Salish Sea tribes who are interested in making it more mainstream. And KUOW’s John Ryan shared the story of the Swinomish Tribe’s modern clam garden, an ancient practice that hasn’t been seen in the United States in almost 200 years. 

KUOW Photo / John Ryan
A hazy sun pokes through a thick layer of wildfire smoke above Darrington, WA on Wednesday, October 19, 2022.

Reporting on the local impacts of a heavy wildfire season  

As Washington residents navigated hazardous air quality levels, KUOW kept you updated on the latest in a record-breaking wildfire season. Casey Martin reported from a Western Washington community breathing the world’s worst air. Paige Browning shared updates from the Bolt Creek fire and the complexities of containing it. And Alec Cowan and John Ryan gave you a hopeful look at how communities continue to persevere through climate catastrophes and the power of collective outrage.

KUOW Photo / Casey Martin

Photo of independent challenger for state Senate Chris Vance

Exploring Washington’s political landscape in the lead up to midterms 

Ahead of the vote, we zoomed in on how national issues were playing out here at home. As reported by KUOW’s David Hyde, stances on abortion and crime dominated two of the most pivotal races for Washington’s U.S. Senate seat and 8th Congressional District respectively. Tom Banse also reported on the rise of a more centrist “third way” offered by several independent candidates on the November ballot.


Credit: NW News Network

Jonathan Batista, the first Black principal dancer in the history of the Pacific Northwest Ballet, sits for a portrait on Monday, October 17, 2022, in Seattle.

Spotlighting the legacy of Black artists in Seattle

KUOW is working to bring you nuanced coverage that highlights the diversity and uniqueness of Seattle’s art and artists. Recently, reporter Mike Davis reported on a new art gallery in the Central District uplifting Black artists in a gentrifying neighborhood and another piece on the legacy of August Wilson in Seattle. Diana Opong recently caught up with the Pacific Northwest Ballet’s first Black principal dancer, sharing an intimate look into the life of an artist and this important moment.


KUOW Photo / Megan Farmer

Byron Au Yong paper folding.

Examining commonplace objects with uncommon stories in The Blue Suit

Hosted and created by award-winning poet Shin Yu Pai, The Blue Suit podcast highlighted commonplace objects and the people who transform them into something remarkable. From a Chinese-English dictionary passed from father to son to an old califone playing records left behind by Japanese Americans incarcerated during WWII, The Blue Suit explored modern day artifacts of Asian America and what gets elevated to heirloom status.

Credit: Shin Yu Pai

Sound it out: The impact of listener feedback

Our community engagement department has received 456 questions this year and tries to get as many answers to listeners as they can find. Thanks to feedback we’ve issued clarifications, updated details, and followed up on 19 stories. Here's one example of how community feedback informed and improved our coverage.

A listener question about Community Land Trusts

Story and Photos by KUOW's Joshua McNichols
 
Sound It Out is a regular segment on Soundside where the team addresses everything from listener complaints to listener questions. On October 6, Soundside aired a story about a tiny house village on Whidbey Island titled “No place for workers to live? Whidbey Island town aims to fix that.” 

Listener Anne S. wrote in with the following question:
A photo collage of volunteers building houses in the Tiny Houses in the Name of Christ tiny house village
Architect Ross Chapin used the term Community Land Trust. Exactly what is that? Can people own equity in their homes? Equity they can pass on to their families? Where around here are Community Land Trusts and how do they work, given your description of what a community land trust actually is?
Soundside investigated the questions and considered that if Anne asked it when she listened, others might also have wondered the same thing and could benefit from the answers. On October 20, they produced a segment digging into questions about community land trusts.  

Anne responded:

Thank you sooo much!! Very helpful. Very much appreciated!! Happy to participate with you connecting with us in a back & forth manner, not only treating us as audience. Blessings & gratitude for all your excellent work!!
Your feedback makes our reporting and our community connection stronger. We’re not just listening to your feedback; we’re acting on it. If you have any feedback on the reporting, a story suggestion or question, you can submit it to kuow.org/feedback. 

Listen up for a strong future.

This year, KUOW is celebrating 70 years since our first broadcast in 1952. As we look ahead, we want to know ... what do you hope the next 70 years of KUOW will look like? 

Send us a note or voice memo at hello@kuow.org. We may feature your answer on the radio. 
KUOW: Listen Up. Listen Here. 70 years.

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