CINCINNATI – John Temple, who led the editorial staff of Denver’s Rocky Mountain News to its first Pulitzer Prize, has been named publisher of the newspaper, effective immediately.Temple, who also holds the title of editor and president, oversees the editorial operations of the Rocky Mountain News and serves as the newspaper’s top executive and chief liaison with the recently created Denver Newspaper Agency. Temple, 48, was named president of the News in January 2001.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 in January 2001.“John Temple is an outstanding journalist and leader whose creativity and vision have helped make the Rocky Mountain News one of the finest newspapers in the country,” said Alan M. Horton, senior vice president of newspapers for Scripps. “Our decision to name him publisher reflects the increasingly important role he plays as the top Scripps newspaper executive in Denver.” While under Temple’s direction, the News won a Pulitzer Prize for its photographic coverage of the Columbine High School shooting tragedy in April 1999.Temple became editor and vice president of the News in 1998 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 also worked for the Toronto Star, has a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University. He earned a bachelor’s degree in English from of the University of Toronto.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 early 2002.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.