Whitney Ward is an award-winning investigative reporter, anchor of KREM 2 News at 4pm and co-anchor of KREM 2 News at 5 & 6pm
Since joining the KREM team in 2013, she has done exemplary work shedding light on mismanagement of government resources, university cover-ups, and toxic chemical contamination. Her investigations have helped lead to change in state policy as well as local government procedures. Whitney has also earned some of the most prestigious honors in journalism, including a 2022 national Edward R. Murrow award for Feature Reporting, a regional Emmy award, and a regional Murrow award for her stunning interview with a Washington family who endured horrific loss after being burned in the Cold Springs wildfire in 2020.
She also received an Emmy nomination and a regional Murrow award for Investigative Reporting for her eye-opening report "Bear Facts." Whitney conducted an in-depth investigation of the WSU Bear Center, uncovering the deaths of two yearling cubs at the animal research facility.
Her story helped bring changes to university policy and raised awareness of the use of animals at Washington State University facilities.
In 2013, Whitney revealed startling gaps in the Idaho foster care system. Her report "Bring D Home" won a regional Edward R. Murrow award for Investigative Reporting.
In 2014, Whitney provided unparalleled coverage after the Carlton Complex wildfire burned hundreds of homes and more than a quarter-million acres in Central Washington. Her multi-part investigation uncovered many instances of state resources standing idle while homes and business burned to the ground. Her coverage held state officials accountable, and also brought much-needed attention to the struggles of families and properties in Okanogan County who lost everything in the wildfire.
In 2015, Whitney again brought unrivaled wildfire coverage when the even-bigger Okanogan Complex fire killed three firefighters and burned more than half a million acres, much of it in the same areas that had burned just one year prior. Her relentless pursuit for truth after both fires helped bring attention to serious flaws in response protocol. Washington lawmakers later enacted new legislation to help prevent catastrophic wildfires and protect fire victims. Her coverage also earned a regional Edward R. Murrow award for Investigative Reporting.
In 2017, Whitney took on one of her biggest stories yet -- widespread groundwater contamination at Fairchild Air Force Base in Airway Heights. She uncovered decades of unchecked chemical pollution and directly questioned Fairchild's highest ranking Base Commander about possible solutions for contamination victims. Her lengthy investigation earned a regional Edward R. Murrow award for Investigative Reporting.
In 2020, Whitney again held officials accountable by questioning Spokane Public Schools about its continued use of isolation rooms for students with special needs. Her in-depth reporting earned a regional Edward R. Murrow award for Investigative Reporting.
In 2022, Whitney earned another regional Edward R. Murrow award for Investigative Reporting after her investigation into the death of WSU freshman Sam Martinez. Authorities said Martinez's death was the result of hazing, but no one ever faced criminal charges for his death. Whitney's reporting helped bring statewide changes to how hazing incidents are reported at public universities.
Whitney has also traveled to Kyrgyzstan with crews from Fairchild Air Force base, as she covered the permanent closure of the Manas Air Base in Central Asia. And in her efforts to dig deeper into Spokane's ongoing homeless crisis, Whitney has traveled to Seattle and Houston, TX to question city officials about the best ways to help solve the problem.
Whitney was born and raised in southern Idaho, until moving to the Seattle-area in middle school. She is a proud Washingtonian, who attended both Eastern Washington University and Washington State University. After spending three years at Eastern, she transferred to WSU for its esteemed Edward R. Murrow Communications program.
Whitney began her television career at KFYR, the NBC affiliate in Bismarck, North Dakota. She worked as a reporter and weekend anchor for three years, covering politics and countless National Guard stories for military operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. North Dakota is also known for its severe weather, so it was not uncommon for her to do live shots in temperatures 30-40 degrees below zero!
Whitney's career then took her to the CBS affiliate in Youngstown, Ohio, where she served as the main evening anchor at WKBN for five years. Her work allowed her to cover two Presidential elections, numerous tornadoes, and countless stories about crime, politics, and business.
Whitney then made the decision to return to her home state of Washington to be closer to family and friends. She spent two years as the main evening anchor at KEPR-TV in the Tri-Cities. During that time, she was honored by the Society of Professional Journalists with an "Excellence in Journalism" award for Investigative Reporting after helping expose a $1.7 million fraud case in the Franklin County Public Works Department.
When Whitney isn't working, she loves having a glass of fantastic Washington wine. She also enjoys getting outside for all four season of the Pacific Northwest! She enjoys skiing, hiking with her dog, or spending time out on the boat with her family.
You can contact Whitney at wward@krem.com or follow her on Facebook or Twitter.
