Minser promoted to newly created HR role with Scripps newspapers

 

CINCINNATI – Mary Minser, a human resources veteran who has been with The E. W. Scripps Company for 18 years, has been promoted to the newly created position of head of human resources for the newspaper and licensing/syndication divisions.  

 

Effective immediately, she has human resources responsibilities at the corporate level for the company’s daily and community newspapers in 18 markets, and the Washington, D.C.-based Scripps Media Center, home to the Scripps Howard News Service. She has similar responsibilities for United Media, a leading worldwide licensing and syndication company that is the home of PEANUTS, DILBERT and approximately 150 other features and comics.   

 

Minser, 51, has been director of employee relations since 1992. 

 

Scripps has launched an “HR Remodeling Project,” which seeks more efficiency and effectiveness through better use of people, processes and technology. Part of the project includes a new service delivery model, the structure of which features the elevation of HR business partners who bring broad-based expertise to the company’s divisions. Minser is the first person placed into this strategic role as an operational business partner.

 

“Mary’s promotion is a win-win for all involved,” said Jennifer Weber, senior vice president of human resources at Scripps. “The position gives her a new way to apply her skills in a manner that will make a measurable impact on the performance of the company. Similarly, the newspaper division will benefit from having a single go-to resource who is focused on their unique needs and challenges.”

 

Minser will continue to report to Weber, but in her new role she will work closely with Mark G. Contreras, the senior vice president of newspapers for Scripps, serving as an adviser on a wide range of human resources issues, including employee relations, employment law and talent management. She also will serve as an internal consultant to Scripps newspaper publishers and HR mangers.

 

“We’re fortunate that key players at our newspapers already know and respect Mary,” said Contreras, “and they’ll soon get to work with her even more closely as she helps us in our pursuit of the best community-based journalism in the country. It’ll be reassuring to have her counsel as we continue to move the newspaper division forward.”

 

The E.W. Scripps Company (NYSE: SSP) is a diverse and growing media enterprise with interests in national cable networks, newspaper publishing, broadcast television stations, interactive media, and licensing and syndication.