Edward Willis Scripps Founder of the E. W. Scripps Company

Biography of Edward Willis Scripps

Early Life

Edward Willis Scripps Founder of the E. W. Scripps Company was born on 18^th June, 1854 in Rushville, Illinois, United States of America. He was born to James Mogg Scripps who belonged to London and Julia Adeline Osborne; she belonged to New York City. His mother was the third wife of his father. Overall his father had twelve children from those five were from the third marriage of his father and among those five he was the youngest child.

Name Initials

In his era of business so many businessmen were known with the initials of their name and their first name was not written anywhere. As he was also among those businessman so he became famous not with his first name but with the initials of his name as E. W. His middle name is Willis but as his initials were written so his middle name was incorrectly written on many occasions as Wyllis.

Entry in the World of News

In his early working carrier he worked with two of his half-siblings. His half-brother named James founded a newspaper in 1873 with the name of The Detroit News. He and his half-sister named Ellen worked there. He used to be an office boy for his half-brother’s newspaper.

Founder of the E. W. Scripps Company

After working as an office boy for several years he founded his own press in 1878 with the name of The Penny Press in Cleveland which was later renamed to Cleveland Press. In foundation of that press he borrowed money from his half-brothers. After that press he went on to the acquisition of 25 newspapers under his press and he got financial backing in this cause from his sister Ellen. He acquired those 25 newspapers which was the beginning of the foundation of a larger journalism and Media Company which is today known as the E. W. Scripps Company. The company with this name was incorporated in 1922.

Mechanism of Working and Expansion of His Company

His way of expanding business was very much unique. When he founded his own press, he used to lend money to the young and promising publishers who had struggling carrier. He used to buy those publishing companies that were successful after his loans.

E. W. Scripps Company

E. W. Scripps Company is a multinational company of America in the field of media and journalism. It’s headquarter is located in Cincinnati, Ohio named the Scripps Center. The mission statement of company is concluded in the statement “Give light and the people will find their own way”. Now this company has turned into a big media conglomerate.

On 16^th October, 2007 this company was divide in two main publically traded companies. These two companies are The E. W. Scripps Company which involved its newspapers and TV stations and the second company is Scripps Network Interactive which included some entertainment, travel, cooking and other channels.

Later Life

He was suffering from allergy due to cold weather throughout his life. For escaping from this allergy he built his home in San Diego in 1898 in which he used to live when Illinois became very cold in winter season. His half-sister Ellen also lived near to his home at San Diego. His ranch was known as Scripps Ranch and also Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.

With his sister, he also founded the Scripps Institution of Oceanography with their donations in 1903. Moreover he was also the founder of Science Service which was renamed to Society for Science and the Public in 1921. That was made for informing local public about new scientific inventions and achievements.

There is a Scripps University which was also named in his honor after his work for society.

Death

He died on 12^th March, 1926 at the age of 71 years of age. His body was buried at sea side according to his will.