CINCINNATI – John Temple, who led the editorial staff of Denver’s Rocky Mountain News to its first Pulitzer Prize in 1999, has been named president of the newspaper, effective immediately.Temple, who also holds the title of editor, will oversee the editorial operations of the Rocky Mountain News and will serve as the newspaper’s top executive and chief liaison with the newly created Denver Newspaper Agency. Temple, 47, has been editor and vice president of the News since 1998. The Rocky Mountain News is owned by The E. W. Scripps Company. Scripps also is an equal partner in the Denver Newspaper Agency, which was created by Scripps and MediaNews Group, owner of The Denver Post, to manage the merged business and production operations of the two newspapers. The News and The Post maintain separate and competitive editorial operations. The Denver Newspaper Agency began operations today.“It was no accident that during John Temple’s tenure as editor, the Rocky won a Pulitzer and was a contender for a second,” said Alan M. Horton, senior vice president of newspapers for Scripps. “He is dynamic, bright and charismatic, and he is a superb journalist and leader.” While under Temple’s direction, the News won a Pulitzer Prize for its photographic coverage of the Columbine High School shooting tragedy.Temple became editor and vice president of the News after serving three years as managing editor. Before joining the News in 1992, Temple was managing editor of The Albuquerque Tribune, which also is owned by Scripps. Temple, who worked for the Toronto Star before joining Scripps, has a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University.“I’m very proud of what the Rocky Mountain News has accomplished in the past few years and we intend to build on the high level of editorial excellence that we’ve achieved,” Temple said. “The joint operating agreement that went into effect today will allow us to focus even further on the quality of the editorial product.” The E.W. Scripps Company is a diverse media concern with interests in newspaper publishing, broadcast television, cable television networks and interactive media. Scripps operates 21 daily newspapers, 10 broadcast TV stations and three cable television networks, with plans to launch a fourth.Scripps cable television network brands include Home & Garden Television, Food Network, Do It Yourself and Fine Living, due to launch in the second half of 2001.The company also operates Scripps Howard News Service, United Media, the worldwide licensing and syndication home of PEANUTS and DILBERT, and 31 Web sites, including hgtv.com, foodtv.com, diynet.com and comics.com.