The E.W. Scripps Company has promoted Dean Littleton to the role of President of Media, a newly created position that places the company’s local stations, national networks and streaming news operations under one leader.
Littleton will oversee Scripps’ portfolio of approximately 60 local television stations along with Scripps Networks, which includes ION and the company’s multicast and digital channels. He will also lead Scripps News, the company’s national streaming news service.
The restructuring combines leadership of Scripps’ local and national television businesses as the company looks for operational efficiencies and new growth opportunities across broadcast, streaming and digital distribution.
Scripps President and Chief Executive Officer Adam Symson said Littleton has played an important role in improving the company’s local media operations and strengthening the business model supporting its journalism.
“As Scripps executes its transformation plan, Dean is the right mission-focused leader to ensure our media businesses operate with the speed, creativity and growth mindset that will create lasting value,” Symson said.
Littleton most recently served as Executive Vice President of Media Broadcast Operations. He previously held the title of Senior Vice President of Local Media.
He joined Scripps in 2017 as the General Manager of KMGH (Channel 7, ABC) and KCDO (Channel 3) in Denver. Before joining the company, Littleton held management roles at television stations in Knoxville and Denver, including General Manager of WATE (Channel 6, ABC) in Knoxville.
He also served in sales leadership positions at WVLT (Channel 8, CBS) in Knoxville, KUSA (Channel 9, NBC) in Denver and WBIR (Channel 10, NBC) in Knoxville. Littleton began his television career as a news photographer and editor.
“Scripps has built one of the most powerful video distribution platforms in the country,” Littleton said in a statement, adding that the company has an opportunity to expand its role in video-led media by connecting audiences with news, weather, sports and entertainment across multiple platforms.
The company said the new structure is intended to bring its television operations into closer alignment while allowing local and national brands to share resources and pursue advertising and distribution opportunities more efficiently.
