Scripps General Manager to Assume Leadership of Two Stations

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Feb 26, 2010, 09:00 ET

CINCINNATI, Feb. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Michael Vrabac, a television executive and Missouri native, has been named vice president and general manager of two of The E.W. Scripps Company's (NYSE: SSP) television stations in the Kansas City market.

Vrabac will head KSHB, the Scripps-owned NBC affiliate in Kansas City, Mo., and KMCI, the company's independent station in Lawrence, Kan. Since 2006, he had led KJRH, the Scripps-owned NBC affiliate in Tulsa, Okla. Vrabac replaces the retiring Craig Allison.

"Since Mike took the helm of KJRH four years ago, he has steadily and consistently increased the station's ratings and advertising revenues," said Brian Lawlor, senior vice president of the Scripps television division. "His charisma and creativity, coupled with his commitment to community journalism, will serve him well in the greater Kansas City market."

The new position at KSHB marks a return for Vrabac, who worked at the station for eight years until 1979, when he left for his first stint at KJRH. He left in 1994 to serve as sales director of Tulsa's CBS affiliate, where he also had sales responsibility for Tulsa's WB affiliate.

Vrabac returned to Scripps in 2006 to serve as the vice president and general manager of KJRH. In Tulsa, he serves on the Board of the Tulsa Metro Chamber, the Better Business Bureau, the Chairman of the Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center and the Tulsa Executive Association. Through his career he also served on a number of professional boards including the TVB Sales Advisory Board, and the NBC Sales Advisory Board.

Vrabac and his wife Mary have three grown daughters, two sons-in-law and a grandson. One of his daughters and her family live in Lenexa, Kan. Both he and his wife grew up in Kansas City.

SOURCE The E.W. Scripps Company