Scripps wins Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Political Journalism

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Mar 21, 2019, 09:00 ET

CINCINNATI, March 21, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- For its comprehensive coverage of controversial topics that went beyond the headlines, The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP) is being honored with a Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Television Political Journalism.

The University of Southern California's Norman Lear Center announced 13 winners for its biennial awards, naming Scripps a winner in the local station group category. Scripps also won in this category in 2017.

Scripps was honored for its stations' body of work covering controversial topics such as the gun control debate, immigration, jobs and health care. Judges said Scripps' programming "brought new energy" to the issues and provided audiences with "original reporting that went beyond the headlines."

Central to Scripps' coverage was "The Race," a weekly program produced by the Scripps National Desk based in Denver. Host Chris Stewart traveled coast to coast and border to border to talk to voters about the issues impacting their lives. The 30-minute show tackled a new issue each Sunday during the 2018 midterm election season to give viewers an in-depth look at the elections.

"Our stations made an early commitment during the 2018 election season to bring local viewers straightforward, unbiased political coverage and to unlock more context to the issues that matter to them most," said Brian Lawlor, president of Local Media for Scripps. "We are proud of our stations for this commitment and the critical role they serve in creating a better-informed world and holding the powerful accountable."

Scripps will accept the award on Friday, April 26, at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

About Scripps
The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP) serves audiences and businesses through a growing portfolio of local and national media brands. With 36 television stations, Scripps is one of the nation's largest independent TV station owners. Scripps runs a collection of national journalism and content businesses, including Newsy, the next-generation national news network; podcast industry leader Stitcher; the fast-growing national broadcast networks Bounce, Grit, Escape and Laff; and Triton, the global leader in digital audio technology and measurement services. Scripps produces original programming including "Pickler & Ben," runs an award-winning investigative reporting newsroom in Washington, D.C., and is the longtime steward of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Founded in 1878, Scripps has held for decades to the motto, "Give light and the people will find their own way."