Ryan Zunner

Ryan Zunner joined WBFO in the summer of 2018 as an intern, before working his way up to reporter the following summer. 

Ryan hails from Kenmore, NY, attending Kenmore West High School and the Big Picture Learning Program before taking his collegiate studies to Hilbert College in the digital media and communications department. Expected to graduate in 2021, he’s been active as a member of the school’s newspaper, radio station, and Division III men’s lacrosse team.

While still in high school Ryan founded The Kenmore Post, a digital community newspaper serving Kenmore and the Town of Tonawanda. He led the paper from its inception as editor-in-chief and lead political reporter, garnering thousands of dedicated readers along the way.

As an Oneida Native American of the Six Nations Reserve in Southern Ontario, he has also been active in covering Native issues. In 2016, Ryan was a regular on “Let’s Talk Native with John Kane”, a syndicated news talk show concerning political, social, and economic issues facing Native Americans across the continent. Ryan has continued to cover important issues in Indian Country for WBFO. 

While with WBFO, Ryan was a co-recipient of the New York State Broadcasters Association’s Outstanding Spot News award for coverage of Valentino Dixon’s exoneration from prison in 2018.

Before coming to WBFO, he had intern stints at the Investigative Post, and Spectrum News Buffalo. He also works for the National Lacrosse League, serving as the Buffalo Bandits beat reporter for the league website. 

When not in the newsroom, Ryan can usually be found on a lacrosse field, as he’s travelled all over the U.S. and Canada playing the ancestral game he loves. Ryan also enjoys seeing live music, and playing guitar in his favorite genre of blues. 

You can follow Ryan on Twitter at @rzunnermedia