Seattle Radio: Charlie Harger to Get Wake-Up Duty At KIRO

KIRO Newsradio has announced that veteran Seattle journalist Charlie Harger will be the new host of Seattle’s Morning News, taking over for the legendary Dave Ross, who is retiring after a remarkable 47-year career at the station.

“Honestly, no one can fill Dave Ross’ shoes,” Harger said. “He’s a legend, and I’m just honored to be stepping into this role after him. It’s a big responsibility, and I’m excited to keep the tradition going.”

Harger, who’s been listening to KIRO since he was in kindergarten at Seattle’s Wedgwood Elementary in 1981, fulfilled a lifelong dream by joining the KIRO Newsradio team as the station’s news director in 2021. 

“I’ve known Charlie for 20 years, my whole career, and he is such an inspiring storyteller and a good steward of journalism,” Colleen O’Brien, co-host of Seattle’s Morning News who’s also departing the show at the end of 2024, said. “When I heard that he was going to be taking over the show, I went, ‘OK. This show is going to be OK. Our listeners are going to be OK because you’re going to do a bang-up job, and you’re going to bring true journalism and great storytelling.”

Harger's radio journalism career began in 1996 when he was the news director for Green River College’s KGRG. After a brief stint in the tech industry, he returned to his true passion —news radio — in 2002 at KOMO Newsradio, where he worked as an editor, anchor and street reporter for 19 years.

His investigative reporting has gained international attention, exposing critical safety concerns with Boeing’s 737, 777 and 787 aircraft manufacturing. He conducted one of the only interviews ever granted by Gary Ridgway, the Green River Killer, leading to reopened investigations across the state into potential additional victims. His radio documentary on 9/11 eyewitness Tami Michaels contributed to her important testimony against attack plotters at Guantanamo Bay. He also broke the story of Seattle Mayor Ed Murray’s resignation amid serious allegations.