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Scripps changes leadership in Memphis, Ventura

March 30, 2000
 

CINCINNATI – The E.W. Scripps Company today announced leadership changes at its Memphis and Ventura County, Calif., newspapers.All of the appointments are effective April 1.In Memphis, John P. Wilcox has been named executive vice president and general manager of The Commercial Appeal. He replaces Richard Remmert, who earlier this month resigned as vice president and general manager to handle special projects for the Scripps newspaper division. Wilcox previously was president and publisher of the Ventura County Star.Timothy J. Gallagher has been named president and editor of the Star. Gallagher has been vice president and editor of the newspaper since 1995.Also at Ventura, Patrick J. Birmingham, senior vice president, has been named executive vice president and general manager, reporting to Gallagher. “John Wilcox is one of the most experienced, proven and creative executives in the entire company,” said Alan M. Horton, senior vice president for newspapers. “And Tim Gallagher is one of the nation’s best and most honored editors. As for Patrick Birmingham, his successful and creative leadership at the Star has earned him this promotion.”In Memphis, Wilcox will be in charge of business, sales and production operations, reporting to Angus McEachran, editor and president. “John comes from a newspaper family,” said McEachran. “His father, now retired, was editor of The Natchez (Miss.) Times. He knows the business from newsroom to pressroom. And he’s great with people. He’ll make a wonderful general manager.”Wilcox, 50, has been with Scripps for 19 years holding a variety of positions, including business manager of The Stuart (Fla.) News. A graduate of Florida Atlantic University, Wilcox joined The Stuart News in 1981 as human resources director. As president and publisher of the Star he led the merger of five small daily newspapers into a single publication.The Ventura County Star’s daily circulation has grown to more than 100,000, according to the newspaper’s latest tally. The Commercial Appeal’s daily average circulation varies from 164,000 to 184,000 depending on the day of the week, and Sunday circulation averages 238,000.Gallagher, 43, has been with Scripps for 22 years, joining The Albuquerque Tribune as a reporter after his graduation from the University of New Mexico. In 1981 he was named city editor of the El Paso (Texas) Herald-Post and in 1984 was named managing editor. In 1987 he returned to The Albuquerque Tribune as editor and remained there until becoming editor in Ventura.Gallagher praised Wilcox for taking the Star “to the dominant position in news, readership and advertising.”“My challenge will be to make sure the Star increases that lead,” Gallagher said. “I know that with the team we’ve got in place, I am going to enjoy the same help and professional support that John had. I’m thrilled to have a partner of Patrick Birmingham’s talent and enthusiasm.”Birmingham, 42, joined the Star in 1997 as advertising director, coming from the Gannett Co.’s Rochester, N.Y., newspapers, where he was vice president of advertising. Before Rochester, he was suburban sales manager for The Cincinnati Enquirer and The Cincinnati Post and zone advertising manager for the Kansas City Star.Birmingham attended the University of Missouri-St. Louis and the University of Missouri-Columbia.The E.W. Scripps Company operates 19 daily newspapers; 10 broadcast television stations; three TV networks, Home & Garden Television, the Food Network and Do It Yourself; and a TV programmer, Scripps Productions. The company also operates United Media, a worldwide syndicator and licensor of news features and comics, and the Scripps Howard News Service. Scripps operates 31 revenue-producing Web sites, including hgtv.com, foodtv.com, diynet.com and comics.com.