E.W. Scripps Executive Compensation (FY25)
SSP · Cininnati, OH · Executive and director compensation, fiscal 2022 to 2025
The E.W. Scripps brief, $1,500
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Data as of September 7, 2026Latest filing (DEF 14A): March 20, 2026
5 filings cited on this page
Method: intel.velarion.ai/methodology
A report that fails to generate is refunded in full
Published by Velarion Company Intelligence
$1,500Get the executive brief
222 figures on this page: 220 cited to the filing that reported them, 2 calculated from figures it prints. See the citations
What changed from fiscal 2023 to fiscal 2025
The figures that moved, and by how much. Analysis of these figures is part of the Velarion platform.
Chief executive total compensation — Adam Symson: $5,314,784 → $7,239,619 (36.2% higher)
Frequently asked questions
Answers drawn from the data on this page.
Who is E.W. Scripps' chief executive and what were they paid?
Adam Symson, President & Chief Executive Officer, received $7,239,619 in total compensation for fiscal 2025. Compared with the $5,314,784 reported for fiscal 2023, Symson's total was 36.2% higher.
What was E.W. Scripps' say-on-pay result?
The say-on-pay proposal drew 100.0% support at the meeting held May 3, 2021 for fiscal 2020.
What is E.W. Scripps' chief executive pay ratio?
The disclosed chief executive pay ratio for fiscal 2025 is 98.5:1, against median employee compensation of $73,489.
Executive compensation
Every element reported for each named executive officer, by fiscal year.
Fiscal 2022
| Officer | Salary | Bonus | Stock awards | Option awards | Non-equity incentive | Pension and deferred earnings | All other compensation | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adam Symson President and Chief Executive Officer | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ |
Lisa Knutson Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ |
Jason Combs Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ |
William Appleton Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ |
Fiscal 2023
| Officer | Salary | Bonus | Stock awards | Option awards | Non-equity incentive | Pension and deferred earnings | All other compensation | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adam Symson President & Chief Executive Officer | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
Lisa Knutson Chief Operating Officer | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
Brian Lawlor President, Scripps Sports | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
Jason Combs Chief Financial Officer | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ |
Laura Tomlin Chief Administrative Officer | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ |
Fiscal 2025
| Officer | Salary | Bonus | Stock awards | Option awards | Non-equity incentive | Pension and deferred earnings | All other compensation | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adam Symson President & Chief Executive Officer | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
Brian Lawlor President, Scripps Sports | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
Jason Combs Chief Financial Officer | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ |
Laura Tomlin Chief Transformation Officer | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ |
David Giles Chief Legal Officer | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ |
A dash means the company reported no figure in that column. $0 is shown only where the filing prints a zero. A negative change in pension value is shown but, as the company reports it, not included in the total.
Equity awards granted
Individual awards as disclosed: type, date, unit counts at each level, and grant date value.
Fiscal 2025
| Officer | Award | Grant date | Threshold units | Target units | Units granted | Maximum units | Exercise price | Grant date fair value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adam Symson | PSU | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ |
| Adam Symson | RSU | ◇ | — | — | ◇ | — | — | ◇ |
| Adam Symson | RSU | ◇ | — | — | ◇ | — | — | ◇ |
| Brian Lawlor | RSU | ◇ | — | — | ◇ | — | — | ◇ |
| Brian Lawlor | RSU | ◇ | — | — | ◇ | — | — | ◇ |
| Brian Lawlor | PSU | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ |
| David Giles | RSU | ◇ | — | — | ◇ | — | — | ◇ |
| Jason Combs | RSU | ◇ | — | — | ◇ | — | — | ◇ |
| Jason Combs | RSU | ◇ | — | — | ◇ | — | — | ◇ |
| Jason Combs | PSU | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ |
| Laura Tomlin | PSU | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ |
| Laura Tomlin | RSU | ◇ | — | — | ◇ | — | — | ◇ |
| Laura Tomlin | RSU | ◇ | — | — | ◇ | — | — | ◇ |
Fiscal 2023 are included in the PDF.
A dash means the company reported no figure in that column. $0 is shown only where the filing prints a zero. Threshold, target and maximum apply only to performance awards and are never shown for time-based or option awards.
Outstanding awards
Awards still held at fiscal year end.
As disclosed at fiscal 2025 year end
| Officer | Award | Unvested units | Market value of unvested units | Exercise price | Expires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mr. Combs | PSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — |
| RSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | |
| RSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | |
| Mr. Lawlor | RSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — |
| RSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | |
| PSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | |
| Mr. Giles | RSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — |
| RSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | |
| PSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | |
| Mr. Symson | RSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — |
| PSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | |
| RSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | |
| Ms. Tomlin | RSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — |
| RSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | |
| PSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — |
A dash means the company reported no figure in that column. $0 is shown only where the filing prints a zero.
Severance and change in control
The terms as written in the agreements.
Adam Symson
President & Chief Executive Officer · Terms as described in the company’s compensation discussion · citing a 2026 filing
| Severance multiple | ◇ |
| Change-in-control multiple | ◇ |
| Equity acceleration on change in control | ◇ |
| Benefits continuation on change in control | ◇ |
| Benefits continuation | ◇ |
| Non-compete period | ◇ |
| Non-solicit period | ◇ |
David Giles
Chief Legal Officer · Terms as described in the company’s compensation discussion · citing a 2026 filing
| Severance multiple | ◇ |
| Change-in-control multiple | ◇ |
| Equity acceleration on change in control | ◇ |
| Benefits continuation on change in control | ◇ |
| Benefits continuation | ◇ |
Jason Combs
Chief Financial Officer · Terms as described in the company’s compensation discussion · citing a 2026 filing
| Severance multiple | ◇ |
| Change-in-control multiple | ◇ |
| Benefits continuation on change in control | ◇ |
| Benefits continuation | ◇ |
Laura Tomlin
Chief Transformation Officer · Terms as described in the company’s compensation discussion · citing a 2026 filing
| Severance multiple | ◇ |
| Severance cash amount | ◇ |
| Change-in-control multiple | ◇ |
| Equity acceleration on change in control | ◇ |
| Benefits continuation on change in control | ◇ |
| Benefits continuation | ◇ |
Director compensation
What each non-employee director was paid.
Fiscal 2025
| Director | Fees earned in cash | Stock awards | Option awards | Non-equity incentive | Pension and deferred earnings | All other compensation | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kim Williams Board chair | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | — | — | ◇ |
John W. Hayden | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | — | — | ◇ |
Kelly P. Conlin | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | — | — | ◇ |
Raymundo H. Granado, Jr | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | — | — | ◇ |
Marcellus W. Alexander, Jr | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | — | — | ◇ |
Charles L. Barmonde | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | — | — | ◇ |
Monica O. Holcomb | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | — | — | ◇ |
Burton F. Jablin | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | — | — | ◇ |
Nishat A. Mehta | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | — | — | ◇ |
Leigh B. Radford | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | — | — | ◇ |
Earlier years are included in the PDF.
A dash means the company reported no figure in that column. $0 is shown only where the filing prints a zero.
Director fee schedule
The standing retainers and premiums the board pays, as published.
| Board cash retainer | ◇ |
| Board equity retainer | ◇ |
| Total board retainer | ◇ |
| Audit committee chair | ◇ |
| Compensation committee chair | ◇ |
| Nominating and governance chair | ◇ |
Disclosed peer group
The companies this board named as its compensation comparison group. The list is disclosure; the comparison is analysis.
Say-on-pay history
Shareholder support for the compensation program, by year.
| Year | Meeting | Support | Votes for | Votes against | Abstentions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | May 3, 2021 | = | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
| 2017 | May 10, 2018 | = | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
Chief executive pay ratio
As calculated and reported by the company.
Ratio
◇
Median employee compensation
◇
Chief executive total compensation
◇
What this page does not include
Everything above is a fact E.W. Scripps disclosed, and it is free. Everything below is our analysis of those facts, and it is not.
Written compensation analysis
A read of the pay program as designed and as paid: incentive structure, goal rigor, the alignment between the committee's stated philosophy and what the numbers show.
Executive Compensation Report — $1,500Board and governance analysis
Committee composition, independence, director pay positioning, and the governance provisions read together rather than listed.
Board Governance Report — $1,200Realizable pay
What the awards above are actually worth today against what they were valued at on grant, and what the gap says about the pay-for-performance link.
Velarion IntelligenceAdviser switching and vote outcomes
Two datasets covering compensation-adviser changes and what followed a contested vote. Both are part of the Velarion platform.
Inquire about accessMultiple companies at once
Cross-company views, cohort screens, and data export across the industries we cover. This page is one company; the platform is all of them.
Velarion IntelligenceCitations
Every figure on this page is cited to the document that reported it. Select any figure to see its citation.
222 figures on this page: 220 cited to the filing that reported them, 2 calculated from figures it prints.
220 cited to the filing
2 calculated from the filing
Documents cited
- 0001193125-26-1167332025 Director Compensation · 2025 Grants of Plan-Based Awards · 2025 Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End · 2025 Summary Compensation Table · and 2 more sections
- 0000950170-24-0351872023 Summary Compensation Table
- 0001564590-23-0038802022 Summary Compensation Table
- 0000832428-21-000039Say-on-Pay Proposal
- 0000832428-18-000066Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
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This page is free to cite. Attribution we ask for:
Velarion, “E.W. Scripps executive compensation, FY2022–FY2025.” https://intel.velarion.ai/comp/SSP (accessed 2026).
Short form: data: Velarion
The E.W. Scripps brief, $1,500
Positioning against its disclosed peers, the governance read, incentive design, and the CD&A alignment analysis; the full peer table; a committee-ready PDF.
Both reports for $2,400.
5 filings cited on this page
Method: intel.velarion.ai/methodology
A report that fails to generate is refunded in full
Published by Velarion Company Intelligence
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Cite this data
APA
Velarion Company Intelligence. (2026). Velarion database: executive and board compensation data (Version 2026Q3) [Data set]. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22283854
BibTeX
@misc{velarionData2026,
author = {{Velarion Company Intelligence}},
title = {Velarion database: executive and board compensation data},
year = {2026},
version = {2026Q3},
doi = {10.5281/zenodo.22283854},
publisher = {Zenodo},
url = {https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22283854}
}