CINCINNATI, Ohio — Scripps Howard announced today that veteran television executive James M. Hart will join the Company as senior vice president in charge of the television station group.Hart has been president of Multimedia, Inc.’s broadcasting division since 1994.In his new position with Scripps Howard, Hart will be responsible for day-to-day operation of the Company’s nine network-affiliated television stations. He will report to Frank Gardner, the senior vice president of television for Scripps Howard’s parent, The E.W. Scripps Company.”Jim Hart is a fabulously talented broadcaster, perfect for this new and crucial position supervising our station group,” said Gardner. “Not only is he a manager of the highest caliber, but he also shares our deep commitment to localism and the role it plays in building successful television stations.” In addition to the station group, Gardner oversees three of Scripps Howard’s growing entertainment ventures: Home & Garden Television, a 24-hour cable network; Scripps Howard Productions, a producer of programming primarily for the broadcast networks; and Cinetel Productions, a leading producer of programming for the cable networks. The addition of Hart will give Gardner more time to focus on the development of these and other new content-related businesses. “I’m thrilled to be joining a company with such a rich media history and exciting future,” said Hart.Prior to being named president of Multimedia’s broadcast division in 1994, Hart spent nearly 13 years as vice president and general manager of WBIR, Multimedia’s NBC affiliate in Knoxville. During recent ratings periods, WBIR’s award-winning newscasts were the highest rated in the nation’s top 100 markets.Also under Hart’s leadership, WBIR entered a joint venture with the Scripps Howard cable system in Knoxville to create “TNi,” a regional news-talk channel which launched in May 1994.Before taking the helm in Knoxville, Hart was for three years vice president and general manager of WLWT, Multimedia’s NBC affiliate in Cincinnati. From 1972 through 1978 he was vice president and general manager of WXII in Winston-Salem.Hart’s television career began at WBIR, where he was a sales executive from 1967 through 1972. Before moving to broadcasting, he spent two years in sales management with Procter & Gamble. Hart is a member of the NBC network’s affiliate board. In the Knoxville area he has served a long list of community organizations, including Maryville College, Ft. Sanders Health Care Systems and the United Way.He is a graduate of Davidson College of North Carolina. He and his wife, Jan, have three children.The Scripps station group includes:WXYZ, Detroit (ABC) KSHB, Kansas City (NBC)WEWS, Cleveland (ABC) KJRH, Tulsa (NBC)WFTS, Tampa (ABC) WPTV, West Palm Beach (NBC)KNXV, Phoenix (ABC) WCPO, Cincinnati (CBS)WMAR, Baltimore (ABC) Scripps Howard is the operating subsidiary of The E.W. Scripps Company (NYSE:SSP). In addition to the television stations, the Company operates 17 daily newspapers and cable systems with 752,000 basic subscribers. Its entertainment division includes: United Media, a worldwide syndicator and licensor of news features and comics; Scripps Howard Productions; Home & Garden Television; and Cinetel Productions