The E.W. Scripps Co. has tapped two veteran journalists to join the Scripps News leadership team.
The announcement comes one month ahead of the demise of Newsy, which will be rebranded as part of a consolidation move combining Scripps’ Local Media national desk, formerly in Omaha, with its Washington, D.C. News Bureau.
Steve Turnham has been promoted to Washington bureau chief for Scripps News, leading the 24/7 news network’s politics and investigative reporting and impact initiatives.
Turnham will remain as managing editor at Scripps News. He had previously served as Newsy’s managing editor since 2020.
Newsy becomes Scripps News on Jan. 1.
“Steve brings decades of experience to this role — producing news and documentaries and managing teams of talented journalists,” said Kate O’Brian, executive vice president of Scripps News. “He played a vital role in Newsy’s development of its signature high quality context-driven reporting and was a leader in 2020 presidential election coverage and the 2022 midterms. As bureau chief, Steve will use his expertise working with our political, investigative and other reporting teams.”
Turnham previously worked for CNN’s political and congressional unit and was a senior producer for “Anderson Cooper 360.” He helped launch and executive produce Al Jazeera America’s longform investigative program, “America Tonight with Joie Chen.” Turnham also worked for ABC News as senior Washington producer for “This Week with George Stephanopoulus” during the 2016 election and as senior producer for chief global affairs correspondent Martha Raddatz. Turnham produced the documentary series “1969,” which focused on the impact of the Vietnam War on U.S. political and social life. Turnham also produced the medical mystery show “Chasing the Cure” with Anne Curry.
Meanwhile, Ethan Nelson has been named head of Court TV, effective immediately. He has been in the role on an interim basis since January 2022.
In this position Ethan leads the on-air presentation and day-to-day operations of the popular multi-platform network devoted to live court coverage, in-depth legal reporting and expert analysis of the nation’s most important and compelling trials. Ethan will also be responsible for program development, business development and long-form production for the Scripps News Division.
Nelson was previously at ABC News, where he held a variety of leadership positions, including senior producer at “Nightline,” executive broadcast producer for “Good Morning America” and as executive producer of “What Would You Do?”
