We greatly appreciate our Scripps News team’s contribution to everything that is good about the news media today.
Adam
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I know that there are no words that I can write to ease the pain we are all feeling right now. Nevertheless, I want you to know that we fought very hard to keep this from happening. While terribly disappointing, this was a business decision driven by external factors and is in no way a reflection on the incredible work of each one of you.
The tough reality is that despite doing remarkable and award-winning journalism, building our OTA audience steadily since we launched, and doubling our weekly OTA revenue in the last year, the national ad market simply did not sustain over the air Scripps News as a viable business. Even with these gains, the company simply could not find the revenue in the marketplace to support the over the air broadcast.
Together, over barely three years, each of you helped to build a news organization from the ground up that promised and delivered fair and objective journalism. We set out to do this at a divisive time in our nation’s history and I believe that what you accomplished is undiminished by this devastating news today. It is some consolation that the Scripps News brand will not disappear altogether, and that 50 of our colleagues will be staying to continue the top-notch reporting and producing going forward.
The world needs more objective journalism and dedicated journalists like all of you.
Indeed, we still have a most consequential election to cover for our audience that demands fact based and thoughtful coverage. We owe it to our loyal audiences on every platform to continue to deliver the highest quality news and information right up to November 15 when we expect more than 200 of our colleagues will be leaving Scripps News. I will also be leaving the company.
I’m sure that all of you have all kinds of questions and concerns you want to express. I and all of the leadership at Scripps News are here to listen to you at this very difficult moment.
With deep respect and affection for you all,
Kate