Scripps League Newspapers

Not to be confused with E. W. Scripps Company.

Scripps League Newspapers, Inc. was a newspaper 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 in Herndon, Virginia, the chain was separate from the larger E. W. Scripps Company begun by Ed's grandfather, Edward Willis Scripps.^[2]

The chain eventually grew to 51 small newspapers^[1] including The 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] and Haverhill Gazette in Massachusetts.^[3]

History

In December 1975, Scripps League Newspapers spun off a number of numbers to form a new company called Pioneer Newspapers, Inc. (which later became Pioneer 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]