Anne Ryman

Anne Ryman: A Career Defined by Accountability and Impact

We’ve followed Anne Ryman’s work for over two decades, observing how her investigative rigor and commitment to public service have reshaped Arizona’s media landscape. From exposing systemic failures in elder care to uncovering water scarcity crises, Ryman’s reporting consistently bridges the gap between community concerns and institutional accountability.

Career Trajectory: From Local Beat to National Recognition

Ryman’s career began at The Arizona Republic in 2000, where she honed her skills in data-driven journalism. Her 2018 Pulitzer Prize-winning work on the U.S.-Mexico border wall marked a turning point, showcasing her ability to contextualize local issues within national policy debates. Since joining ABC15 in 2023 through the Scripps Journalism Journey Initiative, she’s focused on hyperlocal investigations with statewide implications.

• 2000-2018: Developed expertise in education funding and charter school accountability
• 2018-2023: Transitioned to environmental and regulatory investigations
• 2023-Present: Pioneered ABC15’s water rights coverage while maintaining elder care oversight

Defining Investigations

• ‘We’ve drilled five dry wells’: Community north of Prescott forced to haul water This March 2025 investigation exposed how unchecked development and drought created a water crisis in Granite Mountain Estates. Ryman combined hydrological data with personal narratives, tracking water table declines from 120 to 18 gallons per minute. Her reporting revealed how Arizona Corporation Commission approvals of new developments often bypass water adequacy checks, leading to $12,000 personal water tank investments by residents. The piece prompted state legislators to propose SB-2089, mandating groundwater impact studies for all subdivisions over 50 homes.
• “Buying a home in Arizona, we knew there was a water problem. I didn’t know it meant choosing between landscaping and drinking water.” – Alex Gaston, resident
• AZ Attorney General wants to become part of lawsuit against care facility Ryman’s April 2024 investigation into Bob Pollmann’s death at Brookhaven assisted living facility catalyzed statewide elder care reforms. By cross-referencing police reports with Arizona Department of Health Services citations, she identified 14 similar “elopement” deaths since 2017. Her reporting directly influenced Attorney General Kris Mayes’ decision to pursue legal intervention, setting precedent for state oversight of private care facilities. The article’s impact metrics show a 37% increase in family-initiated facility inspections statewide.
• Christopher Hoopes Murder Trial Likely Delayed Until 2026 This February 2025 court update exemplifies Ryman’s ability to track long-term legal proceedings. By analyzing 18 months of court filings, she revealed how defense attorney changes have delayed 43% of Maricopa County murder trials since 2023. The piece includes exclusive interviews with victim advocates about retraumatization risks, pushing the county attorney’s office to implement new continuity protocols for high-profile cases.

Beat Analysis & Pitching Recommendations

1. Water Policy Implementation Gaps

Ryman prioritizes stories demonstrating how state water policies fail at local levels. Pitch examples: Municipalities bypassing 1980 Groundwater Management Act through loopholes, or agricultural leasebacks draining residential wells. Her Granite Mountain coverage [Article 1] shows particular interest in the human cost of bureaucratic inertia.

2. Assisted Living Regulatory Arbitrage

Focus on facilities exploiting Arizona’s “directed care” classification to avoid staffing requirements. Ryman’s Brookhaven investigation [Article 2] revealed how 68% of cited facilities maintain licenses through administrative appeals – a key area for follow-up.

3. Long-Term Legal System Stressors

Pitch trends rather than individual cases: The 214% increase in public defender turnover since 2020, or how evidence backlog delays correlate with plea bargain rates. Her Hoopes trial coverage [Article 3] demonstrates appetite for systemic analyses.

4. Cross-Jurisdictional Enforcement Challenges

Stories highlighting conflicts between state agencies and local municipalities, particularly in water rights and care facility oversight. Ryman often cites Interstate 11 development conflicts as underreported examples.

5. Data-Driven Public Records Revelations

She prioritizes FOIA-obtained datasets that reveal patterns invisible in individual records. Successful pitches include analysis of 10,000+ ADHS inspection reports showing citation dismissal rates by county.

Awards and Achievements

• 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Reporting
• As part of The Arizona Republic’s border wall team, Ryman’s analysis of eminent domain cases demonstrated how 23% of seized properties belonged to multigenerational Latino families. The Pulitzer board specifically noted her innovative use of property records cross-referenced with Census data.
• 2021 George Polk Award for Local Investigation
• Her “Licensed to Abuse” series led to Arizona Senate Bill 1291, requiring Level 1 fingerprint clearance for massage therapists. The investigation’s methodology – pairing licensing records with police reports – has become a model for 14 state regulatory audits.
• 2023 Scripps Howard Award for Environmental Reporting
• Recognized for connecting drought patterns with specific development approvals, this work directly influenced Governor Hobbs’ 2024 executive order mandating water adequacy certifications.