CINCINNATI, Feb. 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The E.W. Scripps Company (NYSE: SSP) has hired industry veteran Sean McLaughlin as its vice president of news, effective March 6.
McLaughlin, a dynamic news leader with proven results, joins Scripps from KMOV in St. Louis, where he was executive news director and creative services director. He will rely on his experiences at all levels of newsroom operations in guiding the news strategy for the Scripps television division. His focus will be on journalism excellence, audience relevance and digital platforms.
"I am very excited about Sean joining the Scripps team," said Brian Lawlor, senior vice president of the Scripps broadcast division. "He impressed me so much in his first interview, and it grew from there. He has a history of growing news ratings, most recently taking KMOV from third to first. Sean has a ton of energy and represents the leadership skills that motivate people to want to work hard and to want to win."
Before starting at KMOV in 2007, McLaughlin was a news director at KTUL, the ABC affiliate in Tulsa, Okla., from 2005-2007. Prior to that, he was the news director at the FOX affiliate in Tulsa, KOKI, from 2001-2005.
From 1996-2001, he developed his insight for news strategy at WICS in Springfield, Ill. He started as an anchor and political reporter but moved up to executive producer and finally news director. He developed his on-air skills as an anchor and reporter at KAAL, in Austin, Minn., from 1994-1996.
Under his leadership, his news team at KMOV received numerous awards including a national Edward R. Murrow Award in 2011 for the documentary State of Education, four regional Emmy Awards and the RTNDA Unity Award in 2009 for A Shared St. Louis.
McLaughlin has a bachelor's degree in political science and mass communications from Minnesota State University.
About Scripps
The E.W. Scripps Company (www.scripps.com) serves audiences and businesses through a growing portfolio of television, print and digital media brands. After approval of its acquisition of two Granite Broadcasting stations later this year, Scripps will own 21 local television stations as well as daily newspapers in 13 markets across the United States. It also runs an expanding collection of local and national digital journalism and information businesses including online multi-source video news provider Newsy. Scripps also produces television programming, runs an award-winning investigative reporting newsroom in Washington, D.C., and serves as the longtime steward of one of the nation's largest, most successful and longest-running educational programs, Scripps National Spelling Bee. Founded in 1879, Scripps is focused on the stories of tomorrow.
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SOURCE The E.W. Scripps Company