CINCINNATI – J. Bruce Baumann, managing editor of the Evansville (Ind.) Courier & Press for the past six years, has been promoted to executive editor of the newspaper, effective today. The Courier & Press is owned and operated by The E.W. Scripps Company.In his new role, Baumann will be in charge of all news operations for the newspaper.“Bruce is a dynamic and creative leader,” said Jack Pate, publisher and president of the Courier & Press. “His creativity is known throughout the newspaper industry. I think our readers are in for a big treat.”Baumann’s elevation will enable Editor Paul McAuliffe to spend more time focused on strategic issues, including developing ways to exploit new technologies to deliver information. Both executives will report to the publisher.Baumann, 61, has been managing editor since returning to Evansville in 1998. He grew up in Evansville and began his newspaper career as a sportswriter intern with The Courier. He also worked for the Sunday Courier and Press from 1964 to 1969. Baumann was later assistant managing editor of the Pittsburgh Press for 10 years and was editor of Scripps’ book publishing division for three years. He also has been a photographer and editor with the National Geographic magazine. The E.W. Scripps Company is a diverse media concern with interests in newspaper publishing, broadcast television, national television networks, interactive media and television retailing. Scripps operates 21 daily newspapers, 15 broadcast TV stations, four cable and satellite television programming networks and a television retailing network. All of the company’s media businesses provide content and advertising services via the Internet.Scripps Networks brands include Home & Garden Television, Food Network, DIY — Do It Yourself Network and Fine Living. HGTV reaches about 85 million U.S. television households and Food Network can be seen in about 84 million households. Scripps Networks Web sites include FoodNetwork.com, HGTV.com, DIYnetwork.com and fineliving.com. Scripps Networks programming can be seen in 86 countries. The company’s television retailing subsidiary, Shop At Home Network, markets a growing range of consumer goods directly to television viewers and visitors to the Shop At Home Web site, shopathometv.com. Shop At Home reaches about 48 million full-time equivalent U.S. households, including 5 million households via five Scripps owned, Shop At Home affiliated broadcast television stations.Scripps also operates Scripps Howard News Service and United Media, which is the worldwide licensing and syndication home of PEANUTS and DILBERT.