Scripps To Raise Haiti Relief Funds Through Combined Strength of Its Nine TV Affiliates

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Jan 15, 2010, 10:51 ET

CINCINNATI, Jan. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Moved by staggering devastation and the urgent need for financial assistance to support the earthquake relief efforts in Haiti, The E.W. Scripps Company (NYSE: SSP) has mobilized all nine of its ABC and NBC stations to simultaneously raise local funds through live telethons on Tuesday evening, Jan. 19.

"When you witness the news stories of sorrow and misery, you can only ask, 'How can we help?'" said Brian Lawlor, senior vice president of the Scripps television division. "Scripps TV stations will reach out to their local communities and let them know how they can help the millions of survivors affected by this disaster."

Funds raised will support the areas that the American Red Cross has identified as Haitians' greatest needs: food, water, temporary shelter, medical services and emotional support. The stations also are donating a significant volume of Web-based advertising inventory to the Red Cross to help with fund-raising efforts.

The telethons will preempt regular programming to reach the maximum audiences. Depending on market, the telethons will begin late in the afternoon and generally will air for three hours. The participating stations are:

KNXV Channel 15 in Phoenix, Ariz.
WFTS Channel 28 in Tampa, Fla.
WPTV Channel 5 in West Palm Beach, Fla.
WMAR Channel 2 in Baltimore, Md.
WXYZ Channel 7 in Detroit, Mich.
KSHB Channel 41 in Kansas City, Mo.
WCPO Channel 9 in Cincinnati, Ohio
WEWS Channel 5 in Cleveland, Ohio
KJRH Channel 2 in Tulsa, Okla.

The stations' telethons are just one part of a total Scripps effort to provide compelling news coverage – led by its Florida-based newspapers and TV stations – and much-needed financial assistance.

SOURCE The E.W. Scripps Company