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Kovaleski named investigative reporter at KMGH in Denver

Nov. 11, 2015 By Rebecca McCarter

CINCINNATI – Tony Kovaleski, renowned investigative journalist and winner of 28 Emmy Awards, is returning to KMGH, the Denver affiliate of The E.W. Scripps Company (NYSE: SSP) for a new dual role that serves both the local Denver market and Scripps’ television division. He will be an investigative reporter at KMGH and a corporate investigative trainer to develop other Scripps investigative journalists across the country, effective Nov. 30.

“The Denver community remembers, with great appreciation, Tony’s prior work as a determined investigator whose stories uncovered wrongs in business and government,” said Brad Remington, vice president and general manager at KMGH. “His work in San Francisco in the past several years only expanded his reputation as a dogged journalist who turns local stories into content worthy of the nation’s attention.”

“This is a significant hire for Scripps,” said Sean McLaughlin, vice president of news for the Scripps TV division. “Scripps recognizes Kovaleski’s unparalleled skills at investigations and sees the value he brings to both Denver and to fellow Scripps investigative journalists. He will conduct investigative training workshops across the company, helping other markets to produce the same high level of award-winning investigations.”

Kovaleski left KMGH in 2012 for the NBC owned-and-operated station in San Francisco. As NBC Bay Area’s chief investigative reporter, Kovaleski exposed significant security failures at critical electric substations in California. He also uncovered a major rodent infestation inside a California food distributor that forced a national food recall.

His work over his career has garnered numerous journalism awards including the duPont-Columbia, Edward R. Murrow, Sigma Delta Chi and National Headliner Award. He was Colorado’s “Best Specialty Reporter” in 2004 and 2006 and “Reporter of the Year” for the Texas Associated Press in 1997. At KMGH, Kovaleski will team up with investigator John Ferrugia to give Denver7 one of the strongest investigative teams in the country.

“I am honored to rejoin the talented team of journalists at Denver7,” said Kovaleski. “It is very clear that Denver7 is committed to hard-hitting investigative journalism. Investigative reporting is my passion and now I get to do it in the place I consider my home. I also look forward to my new responsibility as a trainer. It gives me the opportunity to work with some of the country’s top journalists to grow an already impressive Scripps legacy of investigative reporting.”

Kovaleski graduated from San Jose State University with a degree in broadcast journalism. He served as a faculty member of the National Center for Courts and Media with the University of Nevada’s Reynolds School of Journalism. He is also a member of Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE), the professional organization for investigative journalists. During his career, he worked for KNXV-TV and KTVK-TV in Phoenix, KPRC-TV in Houston, KTVN-TV in Reno, Nevada, and KIEM-TV in Eureka, California.

About Scripps
The E.W. Scripps Company serves audiences and businesses through a growing portfolio of television, radio and digital media brands. Scripps is one of the nation’s largest independent TV station owners, with 33 television stations in 24 markets and a reach of nearly one in five U.S. households. It also owns 34 radio stations in eight markets. Scripps runs an expanding collection of local and national digital journalism and information businesses, including podcast industry leader Midroll Media, over-the-top video news service Newsy and weather app developer WeatherSphere. Scripps produces television shows including The List and The Now, runs an award-winning investigative reporting newsroom in Washington, D.C., and serves as the long-time steward of the nation’s largest, most successful and longest-running educational program, the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Founded in 1878, Scripps has held for decades to the motto, “Give light and the people will find their own way.”

Media contact:
Valerie Miller, The E.W. Scripps Company, 513-977-3023, [email protected]