Scripps Taps Monica Dias To Support Local TV Newsrooms’ Public Access Efforts

Building on its commitment to advance public records access for TV stations, E.W. Scripps appointed Monica Dias as senior counsel of content and intellectual property, effective Monday, April 6.

In this role, Dias will manage Scripps’ copyright and trademark portfolio and will work directly with Scripps journalists on newsgathering issues related to public records access. She will report to Dave Giles, Scripps’ vice president, deputy general counsel and chief ethics officer.

“Monica is a seasoned copyright, First Amendment and media lawyer with demonstrable success defending media clients against defamation and invasion of privacy claims as well as enforcing their right of access to courtrooms, public records and public meetings,” Giles said. “Her early experience in the newsroom, combined with her commitment and dedication to protecting the public service role of journalists, make her a great fit for Scripps.”

Dias previously was a partner at Frost Brown Todd in Cincinnati, focused on litigation and intellectual property. Prior to that, she worked as a legal fellow for the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, a national nonprofit organization and Scripps partner, which works to provide pro bono legal support to local newsrooms.

She began her career as a reporter at The Kentucky Post — then owned by Scripps — where she covered local governments and wrote investigative news stories about environmental and transportation issues.

Dias earned a J.D. from Salmon P. Chase College of Law at Northern Kentucky University. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts from Western Kentucky University in journalism and government.