Scripps Adds Two To Leadership Of Scripps News

E.W. Scripps today tapped two veteran journalists for its Scripps News venture. Scripps News, which launches Jan. 1, combines the power of the company’s Newsy network, its Local Media national desk and its Washington Bureau into one organization. The combined operation, the company says, “will better and more efficiently serve national audiences and Scripps local stations.”

The new execs are:

Steve Turnham

Steve Turnham has been promoted to Washington bureau chief for Scripps News, leading the 24/7 news network’s politics and investigative reporting and impact initiatives. Turnham will remain as managing editor at Scripps News. He had previously served as Newsy’s managing editor since 2020. Newsy becomes Scripps News on Jan. 1.

“Steve brings decades of experience to this role — producing news and documentaries and managing teams of talented journalists,” said Kate O’Brian, executive vice president of Scripps News. “He played a vital role in Newsy’s development of its signature high quality context-driven reporting and was a leader in 2020 presidential election coverage and the 2022 midterms. As bureau chief, Steve will use his expertise working with our political, investigative and other reporting teams.”

Turnham previously worked for CNN’s political and congressional unit and was a senior producer for Anderson Cooper 360. He helped launch and executive produce Al Jazeera America’s longform investigative program, America Tonight with Joie Chen. Turnham also worked for ABC News as senior Washington producer for This Week with George Stephanopoulus during the 2016 election and as senior producer for chief global affairs correspondent Martha Raddatz. Turnham produced the documentary series 1969, which focused on the impact of the Vietnam War on U.S. political and social life. Turnham also produced the medical mystery show Chasing the Cure with Anne Curry.

Ethan Nelson

Ethan Nelson has been named head of Court TV, effective immediately. He has been in the role on an interim basis since January 2022. In this position Nelson leads the on-air presentation and day-to-day operations of the popular multi-platform network devoted to live court coverage, in-depth legal reporting and expert analysis of the nation’s most important and compelling trials. He will also be responsible for program development, business development and long-form production for the Scripps News Division.

“Ethan is a multi-talented journalist and programming expert whose insights and experience support both our news organizations,” O’Brian said. “He stepped in and helped lead Court TV to record-setting viewership in the last year and I am happy he will take on the position permanently. Ethan’s talents are important to our overall operations.”

Nelson was previously at ABC News, where he held a variety of leadership positions, including senior producer at Nightline, executive broadcast producer for Good Morning America and as executive producer of What Would You Do? During his time at GMA, the program overtook Today as the most-watched morning show on network TV and won two Emmy Awards.

He also worked as a senior executive producer for Al Jazeera America and as vice president of development at Sharp Entertainment, launching hit shows for TLC, National Geographic Channel and Travel Channel. After starting his career at 60 Minutes, Nelson was a producer for HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, where two of his segments were nominated for Emmys, including an investigation into illegal steroid smuggling along the U.S.-Mexico border.