May’s Meet the Media features Egan Ward, a reporter for the Puget Sound Business Journal.
Briefly share your path to journalism—what drew you to it?
I’ve always had wandering, widely varying interests so it was difficult for me to ever narrow down what I wanted to do. I knew that I always loved writing and I loved learning people’s stories. So, when I got to briefly experience the reporting process as a high school student, it became abundantly clear that this was my calling. The day I arrived at journalism school, I knew that love for the profession would only grow stronger.
Tell us about a moment in your career you are particularly proud of.
In 2024, I completed a nine-month investigation into the closure of a Tyson Foods plant in southeastern Missouri. The story got published by more than two dozen publications and even got a call to action from Missouri Senator Josh Hawley, who cited the article in a letter to Tyson’s CEO. More than that, the story had a real impact on the farmers involved and I was able to see how important the work of journalism is firsthand.
What is your favorite thing about your job?
My favorite part of the job is constantly meeting new people and learning from them. I find myself incredibly grateful that it’s my job to have these conversations and I’m encouraged to be curious.
What do you look for in a story?
I’m looking for stories that may have an impact on readers’ lives, contain actionable information and/or is a story that they need to know. It’s not a one-size-fits-all situation but when you see it, you know.
Fill in the blank:
If I am not working, I am… exploring the city, walking whenever possible.
If I could interview anyone, it would be… Bob Woodward. I believe he’s the greatest reporter of all time and an exceptional author. I’d love to peek behind the curtain into his process.
____ inspires me: People who are unapologetically themselves inspire me.
My favorite thing about Seattle is… I love the neighborhood culture of Seattle, it feels like stepping into a new city every couple miles.