Scripps Ups Marcus Riley To Content Strategy Post

The E.W. Scripps Co. has named Marcus Riley to serve as senior director of content strategy for its East Coast television stations.

Riley now works with newsroom leaders in nine of Scripps’ local TV markets to implement, evaluate, measure and refine the Scripps local content strategy. His scope includes WKBW Buffalo, N.Y.; WMAR Baltimore; WXYZ Detroit; WFTS Tampa, Fla.; WLEX Lexington, Ky.; WRTV Indianapolis; and the newly acquired stations in Virginia — WTVR Richmond and WTKR Norfolk — as well as KATC Lafayette, La.

Previously, Riley spent four years as a digital director and editorial director at WTMJ, Scripps’ NBC affiliate in Milwaukee. Before joining Scripps, he spent 10 years at WMAQ Chicago, where he started as a digital director and progressed into a variety of managerial and editorial roles. Riley also was a correspondent for 24/7 Chicago, an entertainment lifestyle show.

“Marcus has been a stand-out newsroom leader in Milwaukee — bringing new ideas to the table and helping push our reporting to a high level of service for that community,” said Sean McLaughlin, VP of news for Scripps’ Local Media division. “Now he brings his journalism expertise to a larger group of stations.”

Riley is one of four Scripps directors of content strategy, who work with a group of Scripps stations to maintain high-quality local coverage that improves the lives of those they serve.

A native of Toronto, Riley earned a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from West Virginia University.