KOAA News Director Ryan Hazelwood's love is storytelling alongside a lifelong passion for the community and a never-ending string of questions for people in the community. He truly believes in the EW Scripps Company motto, “We do well by doing good.” Ryan believes that while you are out working to support your family, we as Journalists, have a duty to ask questions on your behalf, hold the powerful accountable and let you know about your neighbor who serves our community.
While attending West Texas A&M just outside of Amarillo, he started his career in journalism as a photojournalist for the local CBS (KFDA) and ABC (KVII) affiliates. Putting his experiences and his Bachelors's degree in Mass Communications to good use, Ryan moved up to the Lone Star State's capitol working for the ABC affiliate, KVUE, to continue his passion for telling people's stories.
It was there that Ryan realized the need to expand his skill set, so he began producing a new home and lifestyle TV show, Hot On! Homes, which featured new home communities and home builders to help connect them with new customers. As the enterprise expanded beyond the Texas borders, he relocated to Denver to help reach a nationwide audience.
In 2008, Ryan returned to West Texas A&M where he accepted a position as a Broadcast Engineer and instructor for the next generation of broadcasters and journalists. He also used this time to earn a Master's in Corporate Communications - Emphasis in Crisis Communication. Four years later, he was back in the one of the newsrooms where it all started, this time as the News Director for KVII.
It was during this time he was proud to earn a Lone Star Emmy Award, alongside Ashley Kamrath and Johnny Story, for the documentary "Blood and Steel", a look at the training soldiers from the 3rd Calvary Division of Fort Hood went through at Fort Irwin, California before being deployed overseas.
When not in the newsroom Ryan loves living the Colorado lifestyle as an avid outdoorsman. He and his wife take every opportunity to enjoy camping, riding the OHV trails around Rainbow Falls & North Divide and hanging out with their three dogs Bixby, Roofus, and Dudley.
If you have story ideas, want to discuss our coverage or want to chat about what you believe would make our community a better place for all please don’t hesitate to contact him via email: ryan.hazelwood@koaa.com
