“I have some difficult and painful news to share with you about Scripps News.”
That’s how Adam Symson, President/CEO of The E.W. Scripps Co., opened an internal email distributed Friday morning that addressed rumors regarding its Scripps News operation that started spreading earlier in the week.
“Our plans are still developing, but as rumors have spread this week, we felt we owed it to you to tell you what we could as soon as possible,” Symson wrote.
As of November 16 Scripps News 24/7 national news programming will wind down, with the digital multicast network that evolved from OTT-distributed Newsy coming to its conclusion.
While Scripps News will no longer broadcast over the air, it will remain on streaming and digital platforms with weekday live coverage from the field. A core reporting team, based primarily in Washington, D.C., also will serve Scripps’ local stations’ news operations with national and international journalism.
But, there are layoffs on the way.
“As a result of these changes, we expect to eliminate more than 200 jobs,” Symson revealed.
He explained the wind-down of Scripps News by saying, “Over the last two years, Scripps News’ live anchored coverage and documentary programming have grown its linear television audience, but the prospects for the necessary revenue growth haven’t materialized, despite our sales teams’ efforts. Scripps News’ current financial position is what has led me to the decision to scale back our approach to 24-hour news and over-the-air coverage.”
Symson continued, “Amidst an already difficult linear television advertising marketplace, many brands and agencies have decided that advertising around national news is just too risky for them given the polarized nature of this country, no matter the accolades and credentials a news organization like Scripps receives for its objectivity. I vehemently disagree, but it is hurting Scripps News, along with every other national linear and digital news outlet.”
Symson reiterated that the wind-down of the Scripps News digital multicast channel “is not the end of Scripps News as an important part of our company.”
He said approximately 50 Scripps News staff members will remain to report for local news audiences and produce the streaming and digital content, all under the Scripps News brand. “We will prioritize field reporting, our strong political coverage, investigative reporting and our digital and social media presence,” Symson said. “This company has a long history of national reporting for local audiences, and Scripps News will continue to connect our viewers to the important events and ideas outside of their communities.”
Symson also emphasized in the internal memo that the advertising issues Scripps News has faced “reflect the national marketplace,” adding, “Locally, there is advertising support for our local news and our stations’ ability to connect local businesses with our audiences. It remains our responsibility to serve local communities and connect them to the greater world through Scripps News’ national and international reporting.”
As of 12:12am Eastern on Friday, Scripps shares, trading as “SSP”, were up by 47 cents to $2.37.
