Scripps News To Cut More Than 200 Jobs, Scale Back National News Programming Amid “Difficult” Linear TV Advertising Market

The E.W. Scripps Co. is eliminating more than 200 jobs and will “wind down” its national news programming, as the company cites an adverse advertising environment.

In a memo to employees, CEO Adam Symson wrote that Scripps News will no longer be broadcast over the air, but will remain on streaming and digital platforms with reporting from the field. A core reporting team will continue to be based in Washington, D.C. to serve local stations.

Symson wrote, “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.”

He wrote that about 50 Scripps News staff members will remain to “report for our 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,” he wrote. “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.”

Scripps is just the latest media outlet to be hit with cutbacks and layoffs. Earlier this week, Paramount Global went through its latest round of job cuts, with CBS News laying off such well-know correspondents and anchors as Jeff Glor.

Symson wrote, “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.”

Scripps won a national news Emmy, its second, earlier this week. “I want to be clear that this move in no way reflects disappointment with Scripps News’ work,” Symson wrote.

Scripps bought the news channel Newsy in 2014, and rebranded it as Scripps News in 2023. The channel was launched as an over-the-air network in 2021, and has also been available on OTT platforms.

His complete memo to employees is below:

Employees:

I have some difficult and painful news to share with you about Scripps News. 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.

After Nov. 15, we will be winding down Scripps News’ 24/7 national news programming. Scripps News will no longer broadcast over the air, although 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. As a result of these changes, we expect to eliminate more than 200 jobs.

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.

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.

This is not the end of Scripps News as an important part of our company. We expect approximately 50 Scripps News staff members will remain to report for our 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. 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.

I want to be clear that this move in no way reflects disappointment with Scripps News’ work. I am very proud of the news organization that Scripps President of News Kate O’Brian and the Scripps News team have built over the past several years. The investigative work, the documentaries, the long-form storytelling, the talent, the daily content did not take a back seat to anyone. The commitment to journalism and the dedication to excellence by the entire team has been unwavering.

On Sept. 25, Scripps News was honored with its second national news Emmy Award. In the past two years, the team also has received the David Bloom Award for excellence in enterprise reporting, two National Edward R. Murrow Awards, a Peabody Award, a Gracie Award, a Deadline Club Award, a New York Press Club Award and multiple National Headliner Awards, among others.

There have been remarkable partnerships on important stories with ProPublica, The Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times.

I also want to emphasize that the advertising issues Scripps News has faced reflect the national marketplace. 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.

Finally, but most important, I am acutely aware of how this impacts the lives of our team – our colleagues for whom this comes as a blow to their personal and professional lives. Our HR team will be in contact with them by Tuesday and be available to provide more information and answer questions. We will be looking for opportunities for many of these talented journalists to stay within the company and will work with them to ease this transition.

We greatly appreciate our Scripps News team’s contribution to everything that is good about the news media today.

Adam

More to come.