Exhibit 10.1 - Executive Severance Plan Amended and Restated as of Feb 23 2015






Exhibit 10.1


THE E. W. SCRIPPS COMPANY 
EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE PLAN 
(Amended and Restated as of February 23, 2015)


1.    Introduction.


(a)    Establishment and Purpose of Plan.  As of the Effective Date (as defined below), The E. W. Scripps Company established The E. W. Scripps Company Executive Severance Plan.  The Plan is designed to provide severance protection to certain employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries who are expected to make substantial contributions to the success of the Company and thereby provide for stability and continuity of management.  Subject to Section 1(b), the benefits provided under this Plan shall be available to all Employees who, at or after the Effective Date, meet the eligibility requirements of Section 3.   On May 19, 2009 the plan was amended and restated.  On February 23, 2015, the Plan was again amended and restated in its entirety, as set forth herein.  


(b)    Transfer of Certain Participants to Journal Media Group, Inc. Executive Severance Plan. In accordance with the terms and conditions of the Employee Matters Agreement, effective as of the Distribution Time, each Former Scripps Executive Severance Plan Participant shall cease to participate in the Plan (and shall have no further rights under the Plan), and effective as of the Newspaper Merger Effective Time (or effective as of the Transition Period End Date, as applicable with respect to Transition Period Services Providers who become Former Scripps Executive Severance Plan Participants after the Newspaper Merger Effective Time), each Former Scripps Executive Severance Plan Participant shall become a participant in the Journal Media Group, Inc. Executive Severance Plan.
2.    Definitions.  Capitalized terms that are not defined in this Section 2 shall have the meaning set forth in the Employee Matters Agreement or Master Transaction Agreement, as applicable.  For purposes of the Plan, the following terms have the meanings set forth below:


“Accrued Rights” has the meaning given that term in Section 4(a) hereof.


“Annual Base Salary” means a Participant’s annual base salary at the rate in effect immediately prior to Separation from Service.


“Cause” means: (a) embezzlement, fraud or other conduct that would constitute a felony (other than traffic-related citations); (b) willful unauthorized disclosure of confidential information; (c) gross misconduct or gross neglect in the performance of a Participant’s duties; (d) willful failure to cooperate with a bona fide internal investigation or investigation by regulatory or law enforcement authorities, after being instructed by the Company to cooperate, or the willful destruction or failure to preserve documents or other material reasonably known to be relevant to such an investigation, or the willful inducement of others to fail to cooperate or to destroy or fail to produce documents or other material; or (e) willful and material violation of the Company’s 









written conduct policies, including but not limited to the Company’s Employment Handbook and Ethics Code. The Company will give a Participant written notice prior to termination of employment pursuant to sub-paragraphs (c), (d) or (e) of the foregoing, setting forth the nature of any alleged failure, breach or refusal in reasonable detail and the conduct required to cure. Except for a failure, breach or refusal which, by its nature, cannot reasonably be expected to be cured, a Participant shall have 20 business days from the giving of such notice within which to cure any failure, breach or refusal under sub-paragraphs (c), (d) or (e) of the foregoing; provided, however, that, if the Company reasonably expects irreparable injury from a delay of 20 business days, the Company may give a Participant notice of such shorter period within which to cure as is reasonable under the circumstances.


“COBRA” has the meaning given that term in Section 4(b) hereof.


“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.


“Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company. 


“Company” means The E. W. Scripps Company and any successor to its business or assets, by operation of law or otherwise.


“Disability” shall be defined by reference to the Company employee long-term disability plan covering the Participant.  
    
“Effective Date” means July 1, 2008.


“Employee” means a full-time salaried employee of the Company or its Subsidiaries.  


“Employee Matters Agreement” means the Employee Matters Agreement, by and among The E.W. Scripps Company, Desk Spinco, Inc., Desk NP Operating, LLC, Journal Communications, Inc., Boat Spinco, Inc., and Boat NP Newco, Inc., dated as of July 30, 2014.


“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.


“Master Transaction Agreement” means the Master Transaction Agreement, by and among The E. W. Scripps Company, Scripps Media, Inc., Desk Spinco, Inc., Desk NP Operating, LLC, Desk NP Merger Co., Desk BC Merger, LLC, Journal Communications, Inc., Boat Spinco, Inc., Boat NP Merger Co., and Boat NP Newco, Inc., dated as of July 30, 2014.


“Participant” means an Employee who meets the eligibility requirements of Section 3 hereof.  For purposes of clarity, no Former Scripps Executive Severance Plan Participant shall be treated as a Participant for purposes of the Plan after the Distribution Time (or after the Transition Period End Date, as applicable with respect to a Transition Period Services Provider who becomes a Former Scripps Executive Severance Plan Participant after the Newspaper Merger Effective Time).



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“Participation Agreement” means an agreement between the Company and each Employee that must be executed as a condition of the Participant’s eligibility for this Plan, in the form attached as Exhibit A.


“Plan” means The E. W. Scripps Company Executive Severance Plan as set forth herein and as from time to time in effect.


“Pro-Rated Annual Incentive” has the meaning given that term in Section 4(b) hereof.


“Release” has the meaning given that term in Section 5 hereof.


“Section 409A” means Section 409A of the Code and any proposed, temporary or final regulations, or any other guidance, promulgated with respect to such Section 409A by the U.S. Department of Treasury or the Internal Revenue Service.


“Separation from Service” means a Participant’s separation from service from the Company and its Subsidiaries within the meaning of Section 409A.  


“Severance Multiple” means, with respect to a Participant, the severance multiple set forth in his or her Participation Agreement.  


“Subsidiary” means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, unincorporated association or other entity in which the Company has a direct or indirect ownership or other equity interest.


“Target Annual Incentive” means the amount of cash compensation that would be payable to the Participant under the annual incentive plan applicable to the Participant for the performance period during which the Termination Date occurs, computed assuming that the “target” level of performance has been achieved.  


“Termination Date” means the date on which a Participant has a Separation from Service.


3.     Eligibility.


(a)    Participation.  Each person who is an Employee, who is designated by the Committee to be a Participant in this Plan, and who has executed a Participation Agreement, shall be a Participant commencing on the date such Participant executes and returns the Participation Agreement to the Company pursuant to the instructions provided therein.  In lieu of expressly designating Employees for participation in the Plan, the Committee may establish eligibility criteria providing for participation of all Employees who satisfy such criteria.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Employee who is subject to an employment agreement with the Company or a Subsidiary shall not be eligible to participate in the Plan.  



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(b)    Duration of Participation. A Participant shall cease to be a Participant and shall have no rights hereunder, without further action, when (i) he or she ceases to be an Employee, unless such Participant is then entitled to a severance payment as provided in Section 4 hereof, (ii) the Committee designates a Participant to be ineligible to continue to participate in this Plan as a result of a change in the Participant’s job title or duties, or for any other reason, (iii) he or she becomes a participant in the Journal Media Group, Inc. Executive Severance Plan, as provided in Section 1(b) above, or (iv) the Plan terminates in accordance with Section 15 hereof.  A Participant entitled to a severance payment under Section 4 shall remain a Participant in this Plan until the full amount of the severance payment has been paid to the Participant.


(c)     Employment Rights.  Participation in the Plan does not alter the status of a Participant as an at-will employee, and nothing in the Plan will reduce or eliminate the right of the Company and its Subsidiaries to terminate a Participant’s employment at any time for any reason or the right of a Participant to resign at any time for any reason.


4.     Termination of Employment.


(a)     Termination by the Company for Cause; Voluntary Resignation by the Participant.  If a Participant’s employment is terminated either by the Company or its Subsidiaries for Cause or by resignation of the Participant for any reason or no reason, the Participant will not be entitled to any compensation or benefits under the Plan other than the sum of (i) the portion of the Participant’s base salary earned through the Termination Date, to the extent not theretofore paid; (ii) the amount of any incentive compensation under the annual incentive plan applicable to the Participant that has been earned by the Participant for a completed performance period preceding the Termination Date, but has not yet been paid to the Participant; and (iii) any accrued paid vacation, sick leave, sabbatical, holiday and other paid-time off to the extent not theretofore paid (the sum of the amounts described in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) shall be hereinafter referred to as the “Accrued Rights”).   The Accrued Rights will be paid to the Participant in a single lump sum within 30 calendar days after the Participant’s Termination Date (but in no event later than March 15 of the calendar year immediately following the year in which the amounts are earned), or as otherwise may be provided in a valid deferral election made pursuant to the terms of the Company’s deferred compensation plan. 


(b)     Termination by the Company without Cause. If a Participant’s employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries is terminated without Cause, and for reasons other than death or Disability, then the Participant will be entitled to receive the following payments:


(i)    Accrued Rights.  The Accrued Rights, payable in a single lump sum within 30 calendar days after the Participant’s Termination Date (but in no event later than March 15 of the calendar year immediately following the year in which the amounts are earned).
  
(ii)    Pro-Rated Annual Incentive.  A lump sum payment equal to the annual incentive that would have been payable under the annual incentive plan covering the Participant for the performance period during which the Termination Date occurs if the Participant had remained employed for the entire period, based on actual performance during the entire performance period 

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and without regard to any discretionary adjustments that have the effect of reducing the amount of the annual incentive (other than discretionary adjustments applicable to all similarly-situated executives who did not terminate employment), pro-rated for the portion of the performance period through the Termination Date (the “Pro-Rated Annual Incentive”).  Such payment shall be made at the same time that payments are made to other participants in the annual incentive plan for that performance period and shall be in lieu of any annual incentive that the Participant would have otherwise been entitled to receive under the terms of the annual incentive plan covering the Participant for the performance period during which the Termination Date occurs. 


(iii)    Severance Payment.  Subject to Section 5 hereof, a lump sum payment equal to the product of (A) the sum of the Participant’s Annual Base Salary and Target Annual Incentive, multiplied by (B) the Participant’s Severance Multiple, payable within 20 calendar days after the Release described in Section 5 becomes effective and irrevocable in accordance with its terms.   


(iv)    Health Care Coverage.  Subject to Section 5 hereof, an amount equal to the product of (A) twelve, multiplied by (B) the monthly cost payable by the Participant, as measured as of his or her Termination Date, to obtain coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (“COBRA”) for the Participant and, if applicable, his or her spouse and eligible dependents under the Company’s employee group health plan at the level in effect on such Termination Date.  Such amount shall be payable in equal monthly installments for a period of one year, with the first installment payable within 20 calendar days after the Release described in Section 5 becomes effective and irrevocable in accordance with its terms, and each remaining monthly installment payable on the first payroll date of each calendar month thereafter until paid in full.  Such amount shall be payable whether or not the Participant and his or her spouse and eligible dependents elect to continue medical care coverage under the Company’s group health care plans under COBRA.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Participant becomes re-employed with another employer and is eligible to receive substantially equivalent health benefits under another employer-provided plan, then the Company’s payment obligations and the Participant’s right to the premium payments as described in this Section 4(b)(iv) shall cease.   


(v)    Equity Awards.  Subject to Section 5 hereof, all outstanding and unvested equity awards of the Company granted to the Participant shall become immediately vested and exercisable; provided that, any such awards with respect to which the number of shares underlying the award depends upon performance shall vest as if the Participant had remained employed for the entire applicable performance period, determined based upon actual performance during the entire performance period, and shall become payable at the same time that the applicable awards are payable to other active-employee participants for that performance period.  In addition, and subject to Section 5 hereof, all outstanding and vested Company stock options (including those that vest pursuant to the operation of the immediately preceding sentence) will remain exercisable for the full duration of their term.  


(c)    Death or Disability.  In the event of the termination of a Participant’s employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries at any time as a result of death or Disability, the Participant will be entitled to receive the following payments:

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(i)    Accrued Rights.  The Accrued Rights, payable in a single lump sum within 60 calendar days after the Participant’s Termination Date (but in no event later than March 15 of the calendar year immediately following the year in which the amounts are earned).    


(ii)    Pro-Rated Annual Incentive. A Pro-Rated Annual Incentive, payable at the same time that payments are made to other participants in the annual incentive plan covering the participant for the performance period in which the Termination Date occurs.  Such payment shall be in lieu of any annual incentive that the Participant would have otherwise been entitled to receive under the terms of the annual incentive plan covering the Participant for the performance period during which the Termination Date occurs.  


(iii)    Annual Base Salary. Subject to Section 5 hereof, a lump sum payment equal to the Participant’s Annual Base Salary, payable in a single lump sum within 60 calendar days after the Participant’s Termination Date (which payment shall serve as an offset to any salary continuation benefits provided under the applicable Company employee long-term disability plan to the extent provided in that plan).


5.    Release.  The compensation and benefits to be provided under Sections 4(b)(iii), 4(b)(iv), 4(b)(v) and 4(c)(iii) hereof shall be provided only if the Participant (or, in the case of death or Disability of the Participant, the Participant’s legal representative, if applicable) timely executes and does not timely revoke a release of claims on a form provided by the Company (the “Release”). The Release must be signed by the Participant or his or her legal representative, if applicable, and become effective and irrevocable in accordance with its terms (taking into account any applicable revocation period set forth therein), within 52 days after the Termination Date.  If the Participant fails to execute and furnish the Release, or if the Release furnished by the Participant has not become effective and irrevocable in accordance with its terms (taking into account any applicable revocation period set forth therein) by the 52nd day after the Participant’s Termination Date, the Participant will not be entitled to any payment or benefit under the Plan other than the Accrued Rights and the Pro-Rated Annual Incentive.  The Company’s payment obligations and the Participant’s right to a severance benefits under Sections 4(b)(iii), 4(b)(iv), 4(b)(v) and 4(c)(iii) hereof shall cease in the event the Participant breaches the Participation Agreement or the Release. Any such cessation of payment shall not reduce any monetary damages that may be available to the Company as a result of such breach.


6.    No Mitigation.  In no event shall the Participant be obligated to seek other employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to the Participant under any of the provisions of this Plan and such amounts shall not be reduced whether or not the Participant obtains other employment. 


7.    Effect on Other Plans, Agreements and Benefits.  Except to the extent expressly set forth herein, any benefit or compensation to which a Participant is entitled under any agreement between the Participant and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or under any plan maintained by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in which the Participant participates or participated shall not be modified or lessened in any way, but shall be payable or provided according to the terms of 

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the applicable plan or agreement.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, any benefits received by a Participant pursuant to this Plan shall be in lieu of any severance benefits to which the Participant would otherwise be entitled under any general severance policy or other severance plan maintained by the Company for its management personnel (other than a stock option, restricted stock, supplemental retirement, deferred compensation or similar plan or agreement which may contain provisions operative on a termination of the Participant’s employment or may incidentally refer to accelerated vesting or accelerated payment upon a termination of employment).  Any economic or other benefit to a Participant under this Plan, other than the Accrued Rights, will not be taken into account in determining any benefits to which the Participant may be entitled under any profit-sharing, retirement or other benefit or compensation plan maintained by the Company and its Subsidiaries, unless provided otherwise in any such plan.


8.    Administration.  The Plan shall be administered by the Committee, which shall be the plan administrator for purposes of ERISA. The Committee shall have complete discretion to interpret where necessary all provisions of the Plan (including, without limitation, by supplying omissions from, correcting deficiencies in, or resolving inconsistencies or ambiguities in, the language of the Plan), to make factual findings with respect to any issue arising under the Plan, to determine the rights and status under the Plan of Participants or other persons, to resolve questions (including factual questions) or disputes arising under the Plan and to make any determinations with respect to the benefits payable under the Plan and the persons entitled thereto as may be necessary for the purposes of the Plan. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Committee is hereby granted the authority (a) to determine whether a particular employee is a Participant, and (b) to determine if a person is entitled to benefits hereunder and, if so, the amount and duration of such benefits.  This provision is included in the Plan for the express purpose of giving and granting to the Committee the maximum discretionary authority possible under Firestone Tire and Rubber Company v. Bruch, 489 U.S. 101 (1989).  The Committee’s determination of the rights of any person hereunder shall be final and binding on all persons, subject only to the provisions of Section 9 hereof.  The Committee may delegate any of its administrative duties, including, without limitation, duties with respect to the processing, review, investigation, approval and payment of benefits, to a named administrator or administrators.  


9.    Claims Procedure.  


(a)    In General.  Any person who thinks that he or she is entitled to receive a benefit under the Plan shall make application in writing on the form and in the manner prescribed by the Committee.  If any claim for benefits filed by any person under the Plan (the “claimant”) is denied in whole or in part, the Committee shall issue a written notice of such adverse benefit determination to the claimant.  The notice shall be issued to the claimant within a reasonable period of time but in no event later than 90 calendar days from the date the claim for benefits was filed.  The notice issued by the Committee shall be written in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant, and shall include the following: (i) the specific reason or reasons for any adverse benefit determination; (ii) the specific Plan provisions on which any adverse benefit determination is based; (iii) a description of any further material or information that is necessary for the claimant to perfect his or her claim and an explanation of why the material or information is needed; and (iv) an explanation of the Plan’s claim review procedure and time limits applicable to the Plan’s claim 

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review procedures, including a statement of the claimant’s right to bring a civil action under Section 502(a) of ERISA following an adverse benefit determination on review.  The Committee shall comply with the additional requirements prescribed by DOL Reg. 2560.503-1 for claims including a determination of Disability.  


(b)    Appeal.   If the Committee denies a claim for benefits in whole or in part, or the claim is otherwise deemed to have been denied, the claimant or his or her duly authorized representative may submit to the Committee a written request for review of the claim denial within 60 calendar days of the receipt of the notice of adverse benefit determination, which request shall contain the following information: (i) the date on which the claimant’s request was filed with the Committee; provided, however, that the date on which the claimant’s request for review was in fact filed with the Committee shall control in the event that the date of the actual filing is later than the date stated by the claimant pursuant to this paragraph (i); (ii)  the specific portions of the adverse benefit determination which the claimant requests the Committee to review; (iii) a statement by the claimant setting forth the basis upon which he or she believes the Committee should reverse the previous adverse benefit determination and accept his or her claim as made; and (iv) any written material (offered as exhibits) which the claimant desires the Committee to examine in its consideration of his or her position as stated pursuant to paragraph (iii). The claimant or his or her duly authorized representative may: (x) submit written comments, documents, records and other information relating to the claim for benefits, and (y) review pertinent documents, including, upon request in the manner and form prescribed by the Committee and free of charge, be provided reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records, and other information relevant to the claimant’s claim for benefits.  


(c)    Review.  The review by the Committee shall take into account all comments, documents, records, and other information submitted by the claimant relating to the claim, without regard to whether such information was submitted or considered in the initial benefit determination.  The Committee shall furnish a written decision on review not later than 60 calendar days after receipt of the written request for review of the adverse benefit determination, unless special circumstances require an extension of the time for processing the appeal.  If an extension of time for review is required because of special circumstances, written notice of the extension shall be furnished to the claimant prior to the commencement of the extension, and the Committee shall furnish a written decision on review not later than 120 calendar days after receipt of the written request for review of the adverse benefit determination.  The decision on review shall be in writing, shall be written in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant, and, in the case of an adverse benefit determination on review, shall include (i) specific reasons for the adverse benefit determination, (ii) references to the specific Plan provisions on which the decision is based, (iii) a statement that the claimant is entitled to receive, upon request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records and other information relevant to the claimant’s claim for benefits, (iv) a statement that there is no voluntary appeal procedure offered by the Plan, and (v) a statement of the claimant’s right to bring a civil action under Section 502(a) of ERISA following an adverse benefit determination on review.  The Committee shall comply with the additional requirements prescribed by DOL Reg. 2560.503-1 for review of claims including a determination of Disability.



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10.    Participants Deemed to Accept Plan.  By accepting any benefit under the Plan, each Participant and each person claiming under or through any such Participant shall be conclusively deemed to have indicated his or her acceptance and ratification of, and consent to, all of the terms and conditions of the Plan and any action taken under the Plan by the Committee or the Company or its Subsidiaries, in any case in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Plan.


11.    Successors.  


(a)    Company Successors.  This Plan shall bind any successor of the Company, its assets or its businesses (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise), in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be obligated under this Plan if no succession had taken place. In the case of any transaction in which a successor would not by the foregoing provision or by operation of law be bound by this Plan, the Company shall require such successor expressly and unconditionally to assume and agree to perform the Company’s obligations under this Plan, in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place. The term “Company,” as used in this Plan, shall mean the Company as heretofore defined and any successor or assignee to the business or assets which by reason hereof becomes bound by this Plan.


(b)    Participant Successors.  This Plan shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Participant’s personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees and/or legatees.  The rights under this Plan are personal in nature and neither the Company nor any Participant shall, without the consent of the other, assign, transfer or delegate any rights or obligations hereunder except as expressly provided in this Section 11.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Participant’s right to receive a benefits hereunder shall not be assignable, transferable or delegable, whether by pledge, creation of a security interest or otherwise, other than by a transfer by his or her will or by the laws of descent and distribution and, in the event of any attempted assignment or transfer contrary to this Section 11(b), the Company shall have no liability to pay any amount so attempted to be assigned, transferred or delegated.


12.    Unfunded Plan Status.  All payments pursuant to the Plan shall be made from the general funds of the Company and no special or separate fund shall be established or other segregation of assets made to assure payment. No Participant or other person shall have under any circumstances any interest in any particular property or assets of the Company as a result of participating in the Plan.


13.    Withholding.  The Company will deduct and withhold from any amounts payable under the Plan such federal, state, local, foreign or other taxes as are required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.


14.    Notice.   For the purpose of this Plan, notices and all other communications provided for in this Plan shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when actually delivered or mailed by United States registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, 

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addressed to the corporate Secretary at the Company’s corporate headquarters address, and to the Participant (at the last address of the Participant on the Company’s books and records).


15.    Amendment and Termination.  


(a)    Amendment.  The Committee expressly reserves the right, at any time and from time to time, without either the consent of or any prior notification to Participants, to amend, suspend or terminate the Plan, in whole or in part.  Moreover, this Plan shall terminate with respect to any Participant automatically and without further action or notice immediately prior to a transaction that either constitutes a (i) “Change in Control” with respect to that Participant as defined in the Scripps Senior Executive Change in Control Plan, or its successor, provided that the Participant is covered by that plan at the time of the transaction, or (ii) “Corporate Restructuring” with respect to that Participant as defined in The E. W. Scripps Company Retention Plan for General Managers and Publishers, or its successor, provided that the Participant is covered by that plan at the time of the transaction.   


(b)    Effect of Amendment or Termination.  A proper amendment of this Plan automatically shall effect a corresponding amendment to all Participants’ rights hereunder.  A proper termination of this Plan automatically shall effect a termination of all Participants’ rights and benefits hereunder without further action or notice; provided, however, no termination shall reduce or terminate any Participant’s right to receive, or continue to receive, any benefits that became payable prior to the date of such termination of the Plan.


16.    Governing Law.  Except to the extent preempted by federal law, the provisions of the Plan shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Ohio.


17.    Validity and Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of the Plan shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of the Plan, which shall remain in full force and effect, and any prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.


18.    Headings; Interpretation.  Headings in this Plan are inserted for convenience of reference only and are not to be considered in the construction of the provisions hereof.  Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the masculine pronoun wherever used herein shall be construed to include the feminine pronoun.  


19.    Section 409A.  It is intended that the payments provided under Section 4 of this Plan shall be exempt from the application of the requirements of Section 409A.  This Plan shall be construed, administered, and governed in a manner that effects such intent, and the Committee shall not take any action that would be inconsistent with such intent.  Specifically, any taxable benefits or payments provided under this Plan are intended to be separate payments that qualify for the “short-term deferral” exception to Section 409A to the maximum extent possible, and to the extent they do not so qualify, are intended to qualify for the separation pay exceptions to Section 409A, to the maximum extent possible. If none of these exceptions (or any other available exception) applies, then notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, and to the extent required 

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to comply with Section 409A, the payment shall be made on the first business day of the seventh month following the Termination Date.  To the extent that the period during which a Participant’s Release must become effective and irrevocable pursuant to Section 5 hereof begins in one calendar year and ends in a second calendar year, any payments subject to Section 409A shall be made or commence, to the extent required to comply with Section 409A, in the second calendar year and after the Participant’s Release has become effective and irrevocable in accordance with its terms.  The payments and benefits provided under this Plan may not be deferred, accelerated, extended, paid out or modified in a manner that would result in the imposition of an additional tax under Section 409A upon Participants. Although the Company will use its best efforts to avoid the imposition of taxation, interest and penalties under Section 409A, the tax treatment of the benefits provided under this Plan is not warranted or guaranteed.  Neither the Company, its Subsidiaries nor their respective directors, officers, employees or advisers shall be held liable for any taxes, interest, penalties or other monetary amounts owed by a Participant (or any other individual claiming a benefit through the Participant) as a result of this Plan.       
 





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EXHIBIT A
FORM OF PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT


[Date]


Dear [Name]: 


You have been selected to participate in The E. W. Scripps Company Executive Severance Plan (the “Plan”), subject to your execution and return of this letter agreement (this “Participation Agreement”) to The E. W. Scripps Company (the “Company”).


For purposes of calculating any severance payments you may become entitled to under Section 4 of the Plan, the following multiple will apply:  Severance Multiple – XX.


Note that the agreements you make by executing this Participation Agreement will be enforceable against you, regardless of whether or not your employment terminates in circumstances that entitle you to severance benefits under the Plan. Nevertheless, you agree that your participation in the Plan (even if you never become entitled to severance benefits pursuant to the Plan), as well as your continued employment by the Company, each in and of itself and without the other constitutes good and adequate consideration for the agreements you make in this Participation Agreement.


By signing this Participation Agreement you specifically agree that you have received and read the Plan and agree to be bound by its terms.  The Plan is incorporated into (made a part of) this Participation Agreement by this reference. You acknowledge and agree that the Company has not made any promises or representations to you concerning the Plan other than as set forth in the Plan and this Participation Agreement.


Please note that you are not required to participate in the Plan, and may decline participation in the Plan by not returning this Participation Agreement. If you want to accept participation in the Plan, you must execute this Participation Agreement and see that it is returned in person or via facsimile to the Company’s Vice President, Benefits and Compensation and Corporate Secretary at Julie.McGehee@scripps.com so that it is received no later than [Date]. This Participation Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, each of which is deemed to be an original and all of which taken together constitute one and the same agreement.


	
		
	THE E. W. SCRIPPS COMPANY
	ACCEPTED AND AGREED BY PARTICIPANT

	 
	 

	By: __________________________________
	Signed:_______________________________

	

Title: _________________________________
	Dated:________________________________