Scripps League Newspapers, Inc. was anewspaper publishing company in the United States founded by Josephine Scripps in 1921 and managed beginning in 1931 by her son Ed Scripps (1909–1997).[1] Based inHerndon, Virginia, the chain was separate from the largerE. W. Scripps Company begun by Ed's grandfather,Edward Willis Scripps.[2]
The chain eventually grew to 51 small newspapers[1] includingThe Daily Herald of Provo, Utah;Napa Valley Register of Napa, Calif.;Newport Daily Express of Newport, Vt.,The Hanford Sentinel of Hanford, Calif.,Arizona Daily Sun of Flagstaff, Ariz.,[1] andHaverhill Gazette in Massachusetts.[3]
In December 1975, Scripps League Newspapers spun off a number of numbers to form a new company called Pioneer Newspapers, Inc. (which later becamePioneer News Group). This enterprise would be owned and operated by James George Scripps,[4][5] who was the brother of Scripps League chairman Edward W. Scripps.[6]
In May 1976, the partnership between Scripps League Newspapers and Hagadone Newspapers Co. ended after 47 years. Hagadone purchased six newspapers and eleven became fully owned by Scripps.[7]
Pulitzer Publishing Company bought Scripps League for about $230 million in 1996.[3] In 2005,Lee Enterprises bought the Pulitzer newspaper division.[8]