photo of Scripps building in Cincinnati
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Burleigh elected Scripps CEO

Aug. 26, 1997
 

CINCINNATI, Ohio – William R. Burleigh today was elected president and chief executive officer of The E.W. Scripps Company. He had been president and chief operating officer since August 1994. Burleigh’s appointment had been expected since February, when Lawrence A. Leser announced plans to step down as CEO after 11 years. Leser will remain chairman of the board. Burleigh, 60, was first employed by The E.W. Scripps Company more than 44 years ago. He began his career while in high school as a part-time sports reporter at the Evansville Press, which was owned by Scripps until 1986. He returned to The Press as a general assignment reporter following a tour of duty with the U.S. Army Infantry and graduation from Marquette University.Burleigh was named editor and president of The Evansville Press in 1975 and was editor of The Cincinnati Post from 1977 through 1983. He joined the Scripps corporate staff in 1984 as vice president and general editorial manager and in 1986 was promoted to senior vice president in charge of the publishing division. He was elected executive vice president in March 1990 and joined the board of directors two months later.The E.W. Scripps Company operates nine television stations, daily newspapers in 16 markets, two television production companies, a licensor and syndicator of news features and comics, and Home & Garden Television – a 24-hour cable television channel.