Document:

EX-10.19

Exhibit 10.19

ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT AND CONSENT

     This Assignment and Assumption Agreement and Consent (this “Agreement”) is made as of June ___,
2008, by and among The E. W. Scripps Company, an Ohio corporation (“Assignor”), Scripps Networks
Interactive, Inc., an Ohio corporation (“Assignee”), and Jennifer L. Weber (“Executive”).

Preliminary Statements:

     A. Assignor and Executive are parties to that certain Employment Agreement, dated as of July
30, 2007 (the “Employment Agreement”), attached as Exhibit A hereto.

     B. Assignor and Assignee are parties to that certain Separation and Distribution Agreement,
dated as of June ___, 2008 (the “Separation Agreement”). Capitalized terms used herein but not
otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Separation Agreement.

     C. In connection with the Separation, Executive will become an employee of Assignee.

     D. Assignor wishes to grant, sell, assign, transfer and deliver to Assignee on the
Distribution Date, and Assignee wishes to assume on the Distribution Date, the Employment
Agreement, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

     E. Executive wishes to consent to the assignment of the Employment Agreement from Assignor to
Assignee.

     NOW THEREFORE, intending to be legally bound, the parties hereto do hereby covenant and agree
as follows:

     1. Assignment. Effective as of, but subject to the occurrence of, the Distribution
Date, Assignor hereby grants, sells, assigns, transfers and delivers to Assignee all of the right,
title and interest of Assignor in and to the Employment Agreement; provided, however, that, except
as otherwise provided in the Separation Agreement, Assignor retains and does not grant, sell,
assign, transfer or deliver any rights accruing to Assignor prior to the Distribution Date that are
intended to accrue to the benefit of the EWS Business, including, without limitation, rights under
Sections 9(d) and 9(e).

     2. Assumption. Effective as of, but subject to the occurrence of, the Distribution
Date, Assignee hereby assumes and agrees to pay, discharge or perform, as appropriate, all
liabilities and obligations of Assignor first arising or accruing under the Employment Agreement on
or after the Distribution Date (the “Assumed Liabilities”).

     3. Excluded Liabilities. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary,
Assignee is not assuming and shall not assume, or become responsible for, at any time, any
liabilities or obligations of Assignor arising or accruing under the Employment Agreement other
than the Assumed Liabilities.

 

 

     4. Agreements of Executive. Executive hereby consents to the assignment of the
Employment Agreement from Assignor to Assignee effective as of, but subject to the occurrence of,
the Distribution Date and agrees that such assignment shall not constitute a termination of
employment or Good Reason for Executive to terminate her employment. Executive and Assignee agree
that upon effectiveness of the assignment contemplated by this Agreement, all references to the
“Company” in the Employment Agreement shall mean Assignee and all references to employee benefit
plans of Assignor in the Employment Agreement shall mean the comparable plans of Assignee. Except
as otherwise provided in the Separation Agreement, Executive agrees that her obligations to
Assignor under Section 9(b) with respect to Confidential Information (as defined in the Employment
Agreement) of Assignor related to the EWS Business, Section 9(d) with respect to works-for-hire
created as an employee of Assignor for the benefit of the EWS Business prior to the Distribution
Date and Section 9(e) with respect to the EWS Business shall continue in effect in accordance with
their terms for the benefit of Assignor.

     5. Further Action. The parties will from time to time after the date hereof, without
further consideration, execute, acknowledge and deliver such further acts, assignments, transfers,
conveyances, assumptions and assurances as may be reasonably required to carry out the intent of
this Agreement and to assign, transfer, convey and deliver unto Assignee, and for Assignee to
accept and assume, the Employment Agreement.

     6. Governing Law. This Agreement will be governed by, and construed in accordance
with, the laws of the State of Ohio, without reference to principles of conflict of laws.

     7. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, which together shall
constitute one and the same agreement. The parties may execute more than one copy of this
Agreement, each of which shall constitute an original.

[Signature Page Follows]

2

 

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first
written above.

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	THE E. W. SCRIPPS COMPANY

 	 
	 	By:  	 	 
	 	 	Name:  	 	 
	 	 	Title:  	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	SCRIPPS NETWORKS INTERACTIVE, INC.

 	 
	 	By:  	 	 
	 	 	Name:  	 	 
	 	 	Title:  	 	 
	 
	 
	 	 Jennifer L. Weber

 	 
	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 

3

 

	 	 	 	 	 
	THE E.W. SCRIPPS COMPANY

P.O. BOX 5380

CINCINNATI, OHIO 45201

312 WALNUT STREET, SUITE 2800 

CINCINNATI, OHIO 45202

	 	KENNETH W. LOWE

PRESIDENT AND

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
	 	PHONE (513) 977-3028

FAX (513) 977-3024

E-MAIL lowe@scripps.com
	 
	 	 	 	 

July 30, 2007

Ms. Jennifer L. Weber

c/o The E. W. Scripps Company

312 Walnut Street

2800 Scripps Center

Cincinnati, OH 45202

Re: Employment Agreement

Dear Jennifer:

The E. W. Scripps Company (the “Company”) agrees to employ you and you agree to accept
such employment upon the following terms and conditions:

1. Term. Subject to the provisions for earlier termination provided in paragraph
10 below, the term of your employment hereunder shall become effective as of July 30, 2007
and shall continue through and until July 29, 2010. Such period shall be referred to as
the “Term,” notwithstanding any earlier termination of your employment for any reason. The
Company shall provide you with at least ninety (90) days’ notice prior to the expiration
of the Term if the Company does not intend to continue to employ you beyond the expiration
of the Term. If the Company does not provide you with such notice and the parties do not
otherwise agree in writing to renew, extend, or replace this agreement, the Term shall
automatically renew for one one-year term.

2. Duties. You will be the Senior Vice President of Human Resources of the
Company, reporting to the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the
Company (“Reporting Senior”). You agree to devote substantially all your business time,
and apply your best reasonable efforts, to promote the business and affairs of the Company
and its affiliated companies during your employment. You will perform such duties and
responsibilities commensurate with your position and title during the Term, and as may be
reasonably assigned to you from time to time by your Reporting Senior. You shall not,
without the prior written consent of the Company, directly or indirectly, during the Term,
other than in the performance of duties naturally inherent to the businesses of the
Company and in furtherance thereof, render services of a business, professional, or
commercial nature to any other person or firm, whether for compensation or otherwise;
provided, however, that so long as it does not materially interfere with the performance
of your duties

PARENT OF THE SCRIPPS MEDIA COMPANIES

 

 

Jennifer L. Weber

July 30, 2007

Page 2

hereunder, you may serve as a director, trustee or officer of, or otherwise participate in,
educational, welfare, social, religious, civic, professional, or trade organizations. Your
principal place of business shall be in Cincinnati, Ohio.

3. Compensation.

(a) Annual Salary. For all the services rendered by you in any capacity under this
Agreement, the Company agrees to pay you Four Hundred Thousand Dollars ($400,000) a year in
base salary (“Annual Salary”), less applicable deductions and withholding taxes, in
accordance with the Company’s payroll practices as they may exist from time to time during
the Term. Your Annual Salary may be increased by the Company’s Compensation Committee in
conjunction with your annual performance review conducted pursuant to the guidelines and
procedures of the Company applicable to similarly situated executives, but in no event shall
your Annual Salary be less than the annual salary amount established under this paragraph
3(a) for the immediately previous calendar year.

(b) Bonus. You shall participate in the Company’s executive bonus plan with a target
bonus opportunity of 50% of your Annual Salary as established under paragraph 3(a) (“Bonus”).
The Bonus amount actually paid shall be based on your attainment, within the range of the
minimum and maximum performance objectives, of strategic and financial goals established for
you by the Company and approved by the Company’s Compensation Committee. The Company shall
pay to you any Bonus under this paragraph 3(b) by no later than March 15 of the following
calendar year.

(c) Long-Term Incentive Plans. During your employment hereunder, you shall be
eligible to participate in all equity incentive plans of the Company, including but not
limited to, the Company’s 1997 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended, or any successor to such
plan, applicable to similarly situated executives of the Company as shall be determined by
the Company’s Compensation Committee.

4. Benefits. During your employment hereunder, you shall be entitled to participate
in any employee retirement, pension and welfare benefit plan or program available to
similarly situated executives of the Company, or to the Company’s employees generally, as
such plans and programs may be in effect from time to time, including, without limitation,
pension, profit sharing, savings, estate preservation and other retirement plans or programs,
401(k), medical, dental, life insurance, short-term and long-term disability insurance plans,
accidental death and dismemberment protection, travel accident protection, and all other
plans that the Company may have or establish from time to time and in which you would be
entitled to participate under the terms of the applicable plan. This provision is not
intended, nor shall it have the effect of, reducing any benefit to which you were entitled as
of the effective date of this Agreement. However, this provision shall

 

 

Jennifer L. Weber
 July
30, 2007

Page 3

not be construed to require the Company to establish any welfare, compensation or long-term
incentive plans, or to prevent the modification or termination of any plan once established,
and no action or inaction with respect to any plan shall affect this Agreement. You shall be
entitled to be reimbursed by the Company for tax and financial planning up to a maximum of
$10,000 per year, and for the annual membership fees and other dues associated with one
luncheon club. In addition, the Company shall pay the costs of an annual “senior executive”
physical examination. You shall be entitled to no less than four (4) weeks of Paid Time Off
(“PTO”) per calendar year.

5. Business Expenses. During your employment hereunder, the Company shall reimburse
you for reasonable travel and other expenses incurred in the performance of your duties as
are customarily reimbursed to similarly situated executives of the Company.

6. Entitlements in Event of Death. In the event of your death during your employment
hereunder, your beneficiary or estate shall, for the one-year period following your death,
receive payments equal to your Annual Salary. Also, your family members who are covered under
a Company medical plan at the time of your death shall be entitled to receive commensurate
medical coverage at the Company’s expense throughout this same one-year period. In addition,
your beneficiary or estate shall receive (i) any Bonus earned in the prior calendar year, but
that has not yet been paid; (ii) the target bonus opportunity for the calendar year of your
death, pro-rated for the portion of the year through the date of death, payable, less
applicable deductions and withholding taxes, by March 15th of the following year; which such
bonus shall be in lieu of any bonus that you would have otherwise been entitled to receive
under the terms of the Executive Bonus Plan for that year, and (iii) reimbursement for all
documented business expenses previously incurred for which you have not been reimbursed. In
addition, your beneficiary or estate shall be entitled to any vested benefits accrued and
earned by you hereunder, in each case up to and including the date of your death. In the
event of your death after the termination of your employment while you are entitled to
receive compensation under paragraph 10(d), your beneficiary or estate shall receive any
Annual Salary payable under paragraph 10(d)(i) up to the date on which the death occurs.

7. Entitlements in Event of Permanent Disability. In the event of your permanent
disability during your employment hereunder (as defined under and covered by a Company
employee disability plan), your employment hereunder shall terminate. However, for the
one-year period beginning on the date of such disability, you shall continue to receive
payments equal to your Annual Salary. Also, your family members who are covered under a
Company medical plan at the time of your permanent disability shall be entitled to receive
commensurate medical coverage at the Company’s expense for the same one-year period. In
addition, you shall receive (i) any Bonus earned in the prior calendar year, but that has not
yet

 

 

Jennifer L. Weber

July 30, 2007

Page 4

been paid; and (ii) the target bonus opportunity for the calendar year in which your
permanent disability occurs, pro-rated for the portion of the year through the date of your
permanent disability, payable, less applicable deductions and withholding taxes, by March
15th of the following year; which such bonus shall be in lieu of any bonus that you would
have otherwise been entitled to receive under the terms of the Executive Bonus Plan for that
year. In addition, you shall be entitled to any vested benefits accrued and earned by you
hereunder, in each case up to and including the date of your permanent disability, and any
amount payable to you pursuant to the applicable disability plan.

8. Change in Control Protections, You shall be included in and covered by the
Company’s Senior Executive Change in Control Plan, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Your Termination Pay Multiple, as defined in the Plan, will be at least “2.” In the event
that such plan is terminated or you are excluded from the plan for any reason during the
Term, the Company agrees to promptly amend this Agreement so that you are similarly covered
and eligible for the same benefits and protection thereunder.

9. Non-Competition, Confidential Information, Etc.

(a) Non-Competition. You agree that your employment with the Company is on an
exclusive basis and that, while you are employed by the Company, you will not engage in any
other business activity that would otherwise conflict with your duties and obligations
(including your commitment of substantially all business time) under this Agreement. You
agree that, during the Non-Compete Period (as defined below), you shall not directly or
indirectly engage in or participate as an owner, partner, stockholder, officer, employee,
director, agent of or consultant for any business competitive with any business of the
Company, without the prior written consent of the Company; provided, however,
that this provision shall not prevent you from investing as a less-than-one-percent (1%)
stockholder in the securities of any company listed on a national securities exchange or
quoted on an automated quotation system. The Non-Compete Period shall cover the entire Term;
provided, however, that, if your employment terminates before the end of the
Term, the Non-Compete Period shall terminate, if earlier, (i) six (6) months after you
terminate your employment for Good Reason or the Company terminates your employment without
Cause, or on such earlier date as you may make the election under paragraph 9(i) (which
relates to your ability to terminate your obligations under this paragraph 9(a) in exchange
for waiving your right to certain compensation and benefits); or (ii) twelve (12) months
after the Company terminates your employment for Cause. (Defined terms used without
definitions in the preceding sentence have the meanings provided in paragraphs 10(a) and
(b).)

(b) Confidential Information. You agree that, during the Term or at any time
thereafter, (i) you shall not use for any purpose other than the duly authorized

 

 

Jennifer L. Weber 
July
30, 2007

Page 5

business of the Company, or disclose to any third party, any information relating to the
Company or any of its affiliated companies which is proprietary to the Company or any of its
affiliated companies (“Confidential Information”), including any trade secret or any written
(including in any electronic form) or oral communication incorporating Confidential
Information in any way (except as may be required by law or in the performance of your duties
under this Agreement consistent with the Company’s policies); and (ii) you will comply with
any and all confidentiality obligations of the Company to a third party, whether arising
under a written agreement or otherwise. Information shall not be deemed Confidential
Information which (x) is or becomes generally available to the public other than as a result
of a disclosure by you or at your direction or by any other person who directly or indirectly
receives such information from you, or (y) is or becomes available to you on a
non-confidential basis from a source which is entitled to disclose it to you.

(c) No Solicitation or Interference. You agree that, during the Term and for
one (1) year thereafter, you shall not, directly or indirectly:

	 	(i)	 	employ or solicit the employment of any person who is then or has
been within six (6) months prior thereto, an employee of the Company or any of
its affiliated companies; or
	 
	 	(ii)	 	interfere with, disturb or interrupt the relationships (whether or
not such relationships have been reduced to formal contracts) of the Company or
any of its affiliated companies with any customer, supplier or consultant.

(d) Ownership of Works. The results and proceeds of your services under this
Agreement, including, without limitation, any works of authorship resulting from your
services to the Company or any of its affiliates during your employment with the Company
and/or any of its affiliated companies and any works in progress resulting from such
services, shall be works-made-for-hire and the Company shall be deemed the sole owner
throughout the universe of any and all rights of every nature in such works, whether such
rights are now known or hereafter defined or discovered, with the right to use the works in
perpetuity in any manner the Company determines in its sole discretion without any further
payment to you. If, for any reason, any of such results and proceeds are not legally deemed a
work- made-for-hire and/or there are any rights in such results and proceeds which do not
accrue to the Company under the preceding sentence, then you hereby irrevocably assign and
agree to assign any and all of your right, title and interest thereto, including, without
limitation, any and all copyrights, patents, trade secrets, trademarks and/or other rights of
every nature in the work, whether now known or hereafter defined or discovered, and the
Company shall have the right to use the work in perpetuity throughout the universe in any
manner the Company determines in its sole discretion without any further payment to you. You
shall, as may be requested by the Company from time to time, do any and all things which the

 

 

Jennifer
L. Weber 
July
30, 2007

Page 6

Company may deem useful or desirable to establish or document the Company’s rights in any
such results and proceeds, including, without limitation, the execution of appropriate
copyright, trademark and/or patent applications, assignments or similar documents and, if you
are unavailable or unwilling to execute such documents, you hereby irrevocably designate your
Reporting Senior or his designee as your attorney-in-fact with the power to execute such
documents on your behalf. To the extent you have any rights in the results and proceeds of
your services under this Agreement that cannot be assigned as described above, you
unconditionally and irrevocably waive the enforcement of such rights. This paragraph 9(d) is
subject to, and does not limit, restrict, or constitute a waiver by the Company or any of its
affiliated companies of any ownership rights to which the Company or any of its affiliated
companies may be entitled by operation of law by virtue of being your employer.

(e) Litigation.

	 	(i)	 	You agree that, during the Term, for one (1) year thereafter and,
if longer, during the pendency of any litigation or other proceeding, and except
as may be required by law or legal process, (x) you shall not communicate with
anyone (other than your own attorneys and tax advisors), except to the extent
necessary in the performance of your duties under this Agreement, with respect to
the facts or subject matter of any pending or potential litigation, or regulatory
or administrative proceeding involving the Company or any of its affiliated
companies, other than any litigation or other proceeding in which you are a
party-in-opposition, without giving prior notice to the Company’s General
Counsel’s Office; and (y) in the event that any other party attempts to obtain
information or documents from you with respect to such matter, either through
formal legal process such as a subpoena or by informal means such as interviews,
you shall promptly notify the Company’s General Counsel’s Office before providing
any information or documents.
	 
	 	(ii)	 	You agree to cooperate with the Company and its attorneys, both
during and after the termination of your employment, in connection with any
litigation or other proceeding arising out of or relating to matters in which you
were involved prior to the termination of your employment. Your cooperation shall
include, without limitation, providing assistance to the Company’s counsel,
experts or consultants, and providing truthful testimony in pretrial and trial or
hearing proceedings. In the event that your cooperation is requested after the
termination of your employment, the Company will (x) seek to minimize
interruptions to your schedule to the extent consistent with its interests in the
matter; and (y) reimburse you for all reasonable and appropriate out-of-pocket
expenses actually

 

 

Jennifer L. Weber

July 30, 2007

Page 7

	 	 	 	incurred by you in connection with such cooperation upon reasonable
substantiation of such expenses.
	 
	 	(iii)	 	Except as required by law or legal process, you agree
that you will not testify in any lawsuit or other proceeding which directly
or indirectly involves the Company or any of its affiliated companies, or
which may create the impression that such testimony is endorsed or approved
by the Company or any of its affiliated companies. In all events, you shall
give advance notice to the Company’s General Counsel’s Office of such
testimony promptly after you become aware that you may be required to provide
it. The Company expressly reserves its attorney-client and other privileges
except if expressly waived in writing.

(f) Return of Property. All documents, data, recordings, or other property,
whether tangible or intangible, including all information stored in electronic form,
obtained or prepared by or for you and utilized by you in the course of your employment
with the Company or any of its affiliated companies shall remain the exclusive property
of the Company. In the event of the termination of your employment for any reason, the
Company reserves the right, to the extent permitted by law and in addition to any other
remedy either may have, to deduct from any monies otherwise payable to you the
following: (i) all amounts you may directly owe to the Company or any of its affiliated
companies at the time of or subsequent to the termination of your employment with the
Company; and (ii) the reasonable value of the Company property which you retain in your
possession after the termination of your employment with the Company. In the event that
the law of any state or other jurisdiction requires the consent of an employee for such
deductions, this Agreement shall serve as such consent.

(g) Non-Disparagement. During the Term hereof and for one (1) year following the
termination hereof for any reason, you shall not make, nor cause any one else to make or
cause on your behalf, any public disparaging or derogatory statements or comments
regarding the Company or its affiliated companies, or its officers or directors;
likewise the Company will not make, nor cause any one else to make, any public
disparaging or derogatory statements or comments regarding you.

(h) Injunctive Relief. The Company has entered into this Agreement in order to obtain
the benefit of your unique skills, talent, and experience. You and the Company acknowledge and
agree that your violation of paragraphs 9(a) through (h) of this Agreement may result in
irreparable damage to the Company and/or its affiliated companies and, accordingly, the Company may
obtain injunctive and other equitable relief for any breach or threatened breach of such
paragraphs, in addition to any other remedies available to the
Company. 
(i) Survival;
Modification of Terms. The obligations set forth under paragraphs 9(a) through (i) shall remain
in full force and effect for the entire period provided

 

 

Jennifer L. Weber

July 30, 2007

Page 8

therein notwithstanding the termination of your employment under this Agreement for any
reason or the expiration of the Term; provided, however, that your
obligations under paragraph 9(a) (but not under any other provision of this Agreement) shall
cease if you terminate your employment for Good Reason or the Company terminates your
employment without Cause and you notify the Company in writing that you have elected to waive
your right to receive, or to continue to receive, termination payments and benefits under
paragraphs 10(d)(i) through (iv). You and the Company agree that the restrictions and
remedies contained in paragraphs 9(a) through (h) are reasonable and that it is your
intention and the intention of the Company that such restrictions and remedies shall be
enforceable to the fullest extent permissible by law. If a court of competent jurisdiction
shall find that any such restriction or remedy is unenforceable but would be enforceable if
some part were deleted or the period or area of application reduced, then such restriction or
remedy shall apply with the modification necessary to make it enforceable.

10. Termination.

(a) Termination for Cause. The Company may, at its option, terminate your
employment under this Agreement for Cause and thereafter shall have no obligations under this
Agreement, including, without limitation, any obligation to pay Annual Salary or Bonus or
provide benefits. “Cause” shall mean exclusively: (i) embezzlement, fraud or other conduct
that would constitute a felony (other than traffic-related citations); (ii) willful
unauthorized disclosure of Confidential Information; (iii) your material breach of this
Agreement; (iv) your gross misconduct or gross neglect in the performance of your duties
hereunder; (v) your willful failure to cooperate with a bonafide 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 (vi) your 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 you written notice prior to terminating your employment pursuant to (iii), (iv),
(v), or (vi), of this paragraph 10(a), 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,
you shall have twenty (20) business days from the giving of such notice within which to cure
any failure, breach or refusal under (iii), (iv), (v), or (vi) of this paragraph 10(a);
provided, however, that, if the Company reasonably expects irreparable injury
from a delay of twenty (20) business days, the Company may give you notice of such shorter
period within which to cure as is reasonable under the circumstances.

 

 

Jennifer L. Weber

July 30, 2007 
Page 9

(b) Good Reason Termination. You may terminate your employment under this Agreement
for Good Reason at any time during the Term by written notice to the Company no more than
thirty (30) days after the later of the occurrence of the event constituting Good Reason or
your having knowledge of such event. Such notice shall state an effective date no earlier
than thirty (30) business days after the date it is given. The Company shall have ten (10)
business days from the giving of such notice within which to cure and, in the event of such
cure, your notice shall be of no further force or effect. Good Reason shall mean without your
consent (other than in connection with the termination or suspension of your employment or
duties for Cause or in connection with your Permanent Disability) exclusively: (i) the
assignment to you of duties or responsibilities substantially inconsistent with or materially
less than your position(s) or duties as Senior Vice President of Human Resources; (ii) the
withdrawal of material portions of your duties described in paragraph 2; (iii) the relocation
of your position to a location more than twenty-five (25) miles outside the Cincinnati, Ohio
metropolitan area; (iv) the material breach by the Company of this Agreement; or (v) the
failure of any successor to all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to assume the
Company’s obligations under this Agreement; or (vi) a change in reporting structure that you
report to someone else other than the Chief Executive Officer, Executive Vice President and
Chief Operating Officer or Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the
Company or similar positions then in effect.

(c) Termination Without Cause. The Company may terminate your employment under this
Agreement without Cause or at any time during the Term by written notice to you.

(d) Termination Payments/Benefits. In the event that your employment terminates under
paragraph 10(b) or (c), you shall thereafter receive the following, less applicable
deductions and withholding taxes:

	 	(i)	 	a lump sum payment equal to your Annual Salary, as in effect on
the date on which your employment terminates, calculated through the end of the
Term. Such payment shall be made within thirty (30) days of the termination of
your employment;
	 
	 	(ii)	 	payments equal to your target bonus opportunity, as in effect on
the date on which your employment terminates, calculated through the end of the
Term and paid in accordance with the Company’s then effective bonus payment
practices;
	 
	 	(iii)	 	medical and dental insurance coverage provided under COBRA at no
cost to you (except as hereafter described) pursuant to the plans then covering
the employees of the Company (until the end of the Term or, if earlier, the date
on which you become eligible for medical and dental

 

 

Jennifer L. Weber

July 30, 2007

Page 10

	 	 	 	coverage from a third party); provided, that, during the period that the
Company provides you with this coverage, an amount equal to the applicable COBRA
premiums (or such other amounts as may be required by law) will be included in
your income for tax purposes to the extent required by law and the Company may
withhold taxes from your compensation for this purpose; and provided,
further, that you may elect to continue your medical and dental insurance
coverage under COBRA at your own expense for the balance, if any, of the period
required by law; and
	 
	 	(iv)	 	life insurance coverage pursuant to the policy then covering the
employees of the Company in the amount then furnished to the Company employees at
no cost (the amount of such coverage will be reduced by the amount of life
insurance coverage furnished to you at no cost by a third party employer).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event your employment is terminated pursuant to
paragraphs 10(b) or (c) with less than one (1) year remaining in the Term, you will be
entitled to the benefits described in paragraphs 10(d)(i) — (iv) for a period of one (1) year
following the effective date of termination. You understand and agree that notice given by
the Company in accordance with paragraph 1 that it does not intend to continue to employ you
beyond the expiration of the Term does not constitute termination pursuant to paragraph
10(c).

(e) Termination of Benefits. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary (except as otherwise provided in paragraph 10(d) with respect to medical and dental
benefits and life insurance), participation in all the Company benefit plans and programs
will terminate upon the termination of your employment except to the extent otherwise
expressly provided in such plans or programs and subject to any vested rights you may have
under the terms of such plans or programs.

(f) Resignation from Official Positions. If your employment with the Company
terminates for any reason, you shall be deemed to have resigned at that time from any and all
officer or director positions that you may have held with the Company or any of its
affiliated companies and all board seats or other positions in other entities you held on
behalf of the Company. If, for any reason, this paragraph 10(f) is deemed insufficient to
effectuate such resignation, you agree to execute, upon the request of the Company, any
documents or instruments which the Company may deem necessary or desirable to effectuate such
resignation or resignations, and you hereby authorize the Secretary and any Assistant
Secretary of the Company to execute any such documents or instruments as your
attorney-in-fact.

11. Severance Contingent On Release. Waiver and Non-Compete Agreement. If,
pursuant to paragraph 1, the Company gives proper notice that it does not intend to

 

 

Jennifer L. Weber

July 30, 2007

Page 11

employ you beyond the expiration of the Term, and your employment hereunder ends as a result,
if you execute and do not later revoke or materially violate the Release, Waiver and
Non-Compete Agreement in a form materially similar to the document attached hereto as Exhibit
A, you will be entitled to the benefits described in paragraphs 10(d)(i) — (iv) for a period
of six (6) months following the end of your employment.

12. Company’s Policies. You agree that, during your employment hereunder, you will
comply in all material respects with all of the Company’s written policies, including, but
not limited to, the Company’s Employee Handbook and Ethics Code.

13. Indemnification; D&O Liability Insurance. If you are made a party to, are
threatened to be made a party to, receive any legal process in, or receive any discovery
request or request for information in connection with, any action, suit or proceeding,
whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “Proceeding”), by reason of the
fact that you were an officer, director, employee, or agent of the Company or any of its
affiliated companies, or were serving at the request of or on behalf of the Company or any of
its affiliated companies, the Company shall indemnify and hold you harmless to the fullest
extent permitted or authorized by the Company’s Articles of Incorporation or Code of
Regulations or, if greater, by the laws of the State of Ohio, against all costs, expenses,
liabilities and losses you incur in connection therewith. Such indemnification shall continue
even if you have ceased to be an officer, director, employee or agent of the Company or any
of its affiliated companies, and shall inure to the benefit of your heirs, executors and
administrators. The Company shall reimburse you for all costs and expenses you incur in
connection with any Proceeding within 20 business days after receipt by the Company of a
written requests for such reimbursement and appropriate documentation associated with such
expenses. In addition, the Company agrees to maintain a director’s and officer’s liability
insurance policy or policies covering you at a level and on terms and conditions commensurate
to the coverage the Company provides other similarly situated executives of the Company.

14. Notices. All notices under this Agreement must be given in writing, by personal
delivery facsimile or by mail, if to you, to the address shown on this Agreement (or any
other address designated in writing by you), with a copy to any other person you designate in
writing, and, if to the Company, to the address shown on this Agreement (or any other address
designated in writing by the Company), with a copy, to the attention of the Company’s General
Counsel’s Office. Any notice given by mail shall be deemed to have been given three days
following such mailing.

15. Assignment. This is an Agreement for the performance of personal services by you
and may not be assigned by you or the Company except that the Company may assign this
Agreement to any affiliated company of or any successor-in-interest

 

 

Jennifer L. Weber

July 30, 2007

Page 12

to the Company, provided that such assignee or transferee assumes the liabilities,
obligations and duties of the Company under this Agreement, either contractually or as a
matter of law.

16. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in
accordance with, the laws of the State of Ohio.

17. No Implied Contract. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to
impose any obligation on the Company or you to renew this Agreement or any portion thereof.
The parties intend to be bound only upon execution of a written agreement and no negotiation,
exchange of draft or partial performance shall be deemed to imply an agreement. Neither the
continuation of employment nor any other conduct shall be deemed to imply a continuing
agreement upon the expiration of the Term.

18. Entire Understanding. Except where specifically stated otherwise herein, this
Agreement contains the entire understanding of the parties hereto relating to the subject
matter contained in this Agreement, and can be changed only by a writing signed by both
parties.

19. Void Provisions. If any provision of this Agreement, as applied to either party
or to any circumstances, shall be found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be
unenforceable but would be enforceable if some part were deleted or the period or area of
application were reduced, then such provision shall apply with the modification necessary to
make it enforceable, and shall in no way affect any other provision of this Agreement or the
validity or enforceability of this Agreement.

20. Supersedes Prior Agreements. With respect to the period covered by the Term, this
Agreement supersedes and cancels all prior agreements relating to your employment by the
Company or any of its affiliated companies.

21. Deductions and Withholdings, Payment of Deferred Compensation. All amounts
payable under this Agreement shall be paid less deductions and income and payroll tax
withholdings as may be required under applicable law and any property (including shares of
the Company’s Class A Common Stock), benefits and perquisites provided to you under this
Agreement shall be taxable to you as may be required under applicable law. Notwithstanding
any other provisions of this Agreement to the contrary, no payment for any restricted shares
or distribution of any other deferred compensation shall be made sooner than the earliest
date permitted under the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code or the rules or regulations
promulgated thereunder, as in effect on the date of such payment, in order for such payment
to be taxable at the time of the distribution thereof without imposition of penalty taxes
under the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004.

 

 

Jennifer L. Weber

July 30, 2007

Page 13

If the foregoing correctly sets forth our understanding, please sign, date and return all
three (3) copies of this Agreement to the undersigned for execution on behalf of the Company;
after this Agreement has been executed by the Company and a fully-executed copy returned to
you, it shall constitute a binding agreement between us.

Sincerely yours,

	 	 	 	 	 
	THE E. W. SCRIPPS COMPANY

 	 	 
	/s/ Kenneth W. Lowe
 	 	 
	Kenneth W. Lowe 	 	 
	President & Chief Executive Officer 	 	 
	 
	ACCEPTED AND AGREED:

 	 	 
	/s/ Jennifer L. Weber
 	 	 
	Jennifer L. Weber 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 

Dated: 8/9/07EX-10.20

Exhibit 10.20

Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc. Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan

(Effective January 1, 2009)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Page	 
	ARTICLE 1. INTRODUCTION
	 	 	1	 
	ARTICLE 2. DEFINITIONS
	 	 	2	 
	ARTICLE 3. PLAN PARTICIPATION
	 	 	3	 
	ARTICLE 4. BENEFITS PAYABLE; TIME AND FORM OF PAYMENT
	 	 	3	 
	ARTICLE 5. PAYMENT OF SERP BENEFITS
	 	 	5	 
	ARTICLE 6. PLAN ADMINISTRATION
	 	 	5	 
	ARTICLE 7. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
	 	 	5	 

ARTICLE 1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Effective Date. Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc. (“SNI”) adopts this Plan effective
as of January 1, 2009, pursuant to the Employee Matters Agreement by and between The E.W. Scripps
Company and Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc. (“Employee Matters Agreement”). In order to comply
with Section 409A of the Code, the Plan shall consist of two parts, one of which shall be named
“Part One” and the other of which shall be named “Part Two”. Except as otherwise provided herein,
Part One of the Plan shall be governed by the terms and conditions of the Scripps Supplemental
Executive Retirement Plan as in effect on October 3, 2004, a copy of which is attached hereto as
Exhibit A (but with all references to Scripps or EWSCO changed to Scripps Networks
Interactive, Inc. where appropriate). Part Two of the Plan shall be governed by the terms and
conditions set forth herein.

1.2 History. SNI has assumed the deferred compensation obligations under the Scripps
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (“Scripps SERP”) with respect to SNI Participants pursuant
to the terms of the Employee Matters Agreement (“Assumed Amounts”). Any SNI Participant with
respect to whom deferred compensation obligations are assumed hereunder shall automatically
participate, and be a “Covered Employee”, in the Plan with respect to such Assumed Amounts as of
the Effective Date. Capitalized terms used in this Article 1 that are not defined in this Plan
shall have the meaning set forth in the Employee Matters Agreement.

1.3 Purpose. The purpose of the SERP is to supplement benefits payable to, and on behalf
of, covered employees by the SNI Pension Plan, a tax qualified retirement plan maintained by SNI.
In general, the SERP provides covered employees with benefits approximately equal to the additional
benefits they would have earned under the SNI Pension Plan, by reason of their SNI and SNI-related
employment, in the absence of the annual compensation limits and maximum benefit limits imposed by
Section 401(a)(17) and Section 415, respectively, of the Code.

1.4 Part One. Except as otherwise provided herein, Part One of the Plan shall exclusively
govern Assumed Amounts that immediately prior to the Effective Date were governed by Part One of
the Scripps SERP, and it is intended that such amounts shall be exempt from the application of
Section 409A of the

-1-

 

Code. As of the Effective Date, all of the Covered Employee’s rights with respect to such Assumed
Amounts under the Scripps SERP, if any, shall automatically be extinguished and become rights under
Part One of this Plan without further action. Nothing contained herein is intended to materially
enhance a benefit or right existing under Part One of the Scripps SERP as of October 3, 2004, or
add a new material benefit or right under Part One of the Plan.

1.5 Part Two. Part Two of the Plan shall govern any Assumed Amounts that immediately prior
to the Effective Date were governed by Part Two of the Scripps SERP as well as the benefits that
accrue on behalf of Covered Employees under this Plan on and after the Effective Date. As of the
Effective Date, all of the Covered Employee’s rights with respect to such Assumed Amounts under the
Scripps SERP, if any, shall automatically be extinguished and become rights under Part Two of this
Plan without further action.

1.6 Participating Employers. SNI and its subsidiaries who participate in the SERP
(collectively, the “Participating SERP Employers”) each agree to pay the benefits which their own
Covered Employees become entitled to receive under the terms of the SERP. Each Covered Employee
only will receive SERP benefits from the particular Participating SERP Employer by whom he/she was
employed. SERP benefits shall not be advance funded, but rather shall only be payable from the
general assets of the Participating SERP Employer, with the covered employee being a general
creditor of his/her Participating SERP Employer.

1.8 Interpretation. It is intended that (i) the SERP constitute an unfunded deferred
compensation plan for a select group of management or highly compensated employees, within the
meaning of Sections 201(2) and 401(a)(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended (“ERISA”); (ii) the SERP be an excess benefit plan, within the meaning of Sections 3(36)
and 4(b)(5) of ERISA; and (iii) that the SERP comply with Section 409A of the Code. Accordingly,
all provisions of the SERP are to be interpreted and carried out in a manner consistent with the
aforesaid intentions.

ARTICLE 2. DEFINITIONS

	2.1	 	“Adjusted Annual Compensation” means a Covered Employee’s “Annual Compensation” under the SNI
Pension Plan, but determined without regard to any limitations imposed by reason of Section
401(a)(17) of the Code on the maximum amount that may recognized as Annual Compensation. A
Covered Employee’s Adjusted Annual Compensation also shall include (to the extent not already
included in Annual Compensation) the following amounts, which shall be added to the Covered
Employee’s compensation for the taxable year in which such amounts are earned:

	 	(a)	 	Payments in the nature of deferred compensation which have been designated by
the Pension Board as includable in an employee’s Adjusted Annual Compensation for
purposes of this Plan; and
	 
	 	(b)	 	Other forms of executive compensation or incentive compensation which have been
designated by the Pension Board as includable in an employee’s Adjusted Annual
Compensation for purposes of this Plan.

2.2 “Beneficiary” means a Covered Employee’s “Beneficiary” under the SNI Pension Plan.

2.3 “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

	2.4	 	“Covered Employee” means a management or highly compensated employee of a Participating SERP
Employer (i) who is eligible to receive a vested benefit under the SNI Pension Plan that is
limited by reason of Section 401(a)(17) and/or Section 415 of the Code, and (ii) who has not
been

-2-

 

	 	 	expressly excluded from participation in the SERP by agreement with his/her Participating SERP Employer.
	 
	2.5	 	“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
	 
	2.6	 	“Participating SERP Employer” means a “Participating Employer” under the SNI Pension Plan.
	 
	2.7	 	“Pension Board” means the “Pension Board” under the SNI Pension Plan.
	 
	2.8	 	“SNI” means Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc., or any successor, including, without
limitation, the surviving corporation resulting from any merger or consolidation of SNI with
any other corporation, limited liability company, joint venture, partnership or other entity
or entities.
	 
	2.9	 	“SNI Pension Plan” or “Pension Plan” means the document entitled SNI Pension Plan, as the
same may be amended from time to time, including the tax qualified pension plan provided for
thereunder.
	 
	2.10	 	“SNI SERP” or “SERP” or “Plan” means this document, as the same may be amended from time to
time, including the nonqualified pension plan provided for hereunder.
	 
	2.11	 	“Separation from Service” means a termination of employment in such a manner as to constitute
a “separation from service” as defined under Section 409A of the Code and shall include
terminations due to death. Upon a sale or other disposition of the assets of SNI or any member
of its controlled group to an unrelated purchaser, the Pension Board reserves the right, to
the extent permitted by Section 409A of the Code, to determine whether Covered Employees
providing services to the purchaser after and in connection with the purchase transaction have
experienced a Separation from Service.
	 
	2.12	 	“SERP Benefit” means any benefit payable under the SNI SERP to or on behalf of a Covered
Employee.
	 
	2.13	 	In addition to the foregoing, in the case of any terms which are used in the SERP and not
defined herein but which are defined in the SNI Pension Plan, such terms shall have the
meanings set forth in the SNI Pension Plan.
	 
	2.14	 	Whenever appropriate, words used herein in the singular may be read as the plural and the
plural may be read as the singular. Unless otherwise clear from the context, words used herein
in the masculine shall also be deemed to include the feminine.

ARTICLE 3. PLAN PARTICIPATION

An individual must be a Covered Employee in order to participate in the SNI SERP.

ARTICLE 4. BENEFITS PAYABLE; TIME AND FORM OF PAYMENT

4.1 General. A Covered Employee (i) whose Separation from Service occurs on or after
January 1, 2009 for any reason other than death or (ii) whose Separation from Service occurred on
or after January 1, 2005 but prior to January 1, 2009 and who has not commenced payment of benefits
under the Plan (or its predecessor, the Scripps SERP) prior to January 1, 2009, shall receive the
benefit described in this Article 4, payable at the time and in the form described in this Article
4. For purposes of this Article 4, payment to a Covered Employee shall include payment to his/her
Beneficiary. Any rules adopted by the Pension

-3-

 

Board regarding the computation of a Covered Employee’s SERP Benefit shall have the same force and
effect as if expressly included in this document.

4.2 Calculation of Benefit. A Covered Employee’s SERP Benefit shall be a lump sum payment
actuarially equivalent to the benefit calculated as follows:

Difference between:

	 	(a)	 	The Covered Employee’s “normal retirement benefit” under the SNI Pension Plan,
and
	 
	 	(b)	 	What the Covered Employee’s “normal retirement benefit” would be if computed on
the basis of his/her Adjusted Annual Compensation and without any Code Section 415
maximum benefit limitation;

Reduced by:

	 	(c)	 	If the date the Covered Employee Separates from Service occurs on or after the
date he/she has both attained age 55 and completed at least 10 years of service, .416%
for each month by which the commencement of benefit payments precedes the Covered
Employee’s 62nd birthday; or
	 
	 	(d)	 	In all other cases, .5% for each month, if any, by which the commencement of
benefit payments precedes the Covered Employee’s 65th birthday.

The actuarial factors and assumptions used under the SNI Pension Plan to convert the normal form of
retirement benefit into a lump sum form of benefit shall be used to convert the SERP Benefit into a
lump sum.

The SERP Benefit shall include a gross-up intended to cover the Medicare hospital insurance tax
assessable to the employee on the amount payable under the SERP.

4.3 Calculation of Benefit in the Event of Death. In the event the Covered Employee’s
Separation from Service is due to death, the SERP Benefit payable to the Covered Employee’s
“surviving spouse” as defined in the SNI Pension Plan shall be a lump sum payment actuarially
equivalent to the benefit calculated as follows:

Difference between:

	 	(a)	 	The “Surviving Spouse’s Benefit” under the SNI Pension Plan, and
	 
	 	(b)	 	What the “Surviving Spouse’s Benefit” would be if computed on the basis of the
Covered Employee’s Adjusted Annual Compensation and without any Code Section 415
maximum benefit limitation.

The SNI Pension Plan actuarial factors and assumptions shall be used to convert the SERP Benefit
into a lump sum.

The SERP Benefit shall include a gross-up intended to cover any Medicare hospital insurance tax
assessable on the amount payable under the SERP.

4.4 Time of Payment. The SERP Benefit of a Covered Employee whose Separation from Service
occurs for any reason including death on or after January 1, 2009 shall be distributed within 30
days after the first business day of the seventh month following the Covered Employee’s Separation
from Service.

-4-

 

The SERP Benefit of a Covered Employee whose Separation from Service occurred on or after January
1, 2005 but prior to January 1, 2009 and who has not commenced payment of benefits under the Plan
prior to January 1, 2009 shall be paid as of a date in 2009 selected by the Pension Board, provided
that payment shall not occur earlier than 6 months following the Covered Employee’s Separation from
Service.

4.5 Form of Payment. A Covered Employee’s SERP Benefit shall be paid in cash in the form
of a single lump sum.

4.6 Pre-2009 Payments. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Article 4 to the
contrary, if a Covered Employee commences payment of his or her SERP Benefit in conjunction with
his benefit under the Scripps Pension Plan prior to January 1, 2009, then such benefit shall be
payable under this Plan at the same time and in the same form elected by the Covered Employee under
the Scripps Pension Plan. Such time and form of payment shall not be subject to change as of or
after the Effective Date and shall not be affected by any changes in the time or form of payment of
the benefit under the Scripps Pension Plan or the SNI Pension Plan that occur on or after January
1, 2009.

ARTICLE 5. PAYMENT OF SERP BENEFITS

All SERP Benefits shall be paid in cash from the general assets of a Covered Employee’s
Participating SERP Employer. If a Covered Employee is entitled to a SERP Benefit on account of
service with more than one Participating SERP Employer, the Pension Board shall determine the
manner in which the obligation to pay such SERP Benefit shall be equitably apportioned between or
among such Participating SERP Employers. A Covered Employee shall have the status of a general
creditor of his/her Participating SERP Employer with respect to any claim for SERP Benefits.

ARTICLE 6. PLAN ADMINISTRATION

The SERP Plan shall be administered in the same manner as the SNI Pension Plan by the Pension Board
and/or its designee(s). The Pension Board shall have the same rights, powers and duties with
respect to the SERP Plan as it has under the terms of the SNI Pension Plan. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, the Pension Board has full authority to (i) interpret the Plan, (ii)
determine all questions relating to the rights and status of Covered Employees and their SERP
Benefits, and (iii) make such rules and regulations for the administration of the Plan as are not
inconsistent with its express terms and provisions.

ARTICLE 7. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

	7.1	 	ERISA and Governing Law. The SERP Plan is a combination of an excess benefit plan, as
defined in Sections 3(36) and 4(b)(5) of ERISA, and an unfunded deferred compensation plan for
a select group of management or highly compensated employees, as defined in Section 201(2) and
401(a)(1) of ERISA. As such, the Plan is expressly excluded from all, or substantially all, of
the provisions of ERISA, including but not limited to Parts 2 and 3 of Title I thereof. None
of the statutory rights and protections conferred on participants by ERISA are conferred under
the terms of this Plan, except as expressly noted or required by operation of law. To the
extent not superseded by federal law, the laws of the State of Ohio shall control in any and
all matters relating to the Plan.

	7.2	 	Incorporation of SNI Pension Plan Provisions By Reference. The provisions of the SNI
Pension Plan are hereby fully incorporated by reference, but only to the extent reference is
made by the Plan to such provisions or otherwise necessary for the proper administration of
the Plan. The eligibility of each Covered Employee for SERP Benefits and the amount of SERP
Benefits will be based, in part, upon the interpretations of the SNI Pension Plan provisions,
as made by the

-5-

 

	 	 	fiduciaries thereof and such fiduciaries’ interpretations will be fully binding on this Plan
and all parties hereto.

	7.3	 	Claims and Appeals Procedure. The claims and appeals procedure set forth in the SNI
Pension Plan shall be equally applicable to claims and appeals under the SERP Plan, and such
provisions hereby are incorporated into this Plan by reference.

	7.4	 	Benefits Are Nonassignable. No SERP Benefit may be pledged, assigned, anticipated or
alienated in any way by any Covered Employee or Beneficiary or personal representative of the
foregoing. Moreover, no Covered Employee, Beneficiary or personal representative of the
foregoing shall have any right to cause benefits otherwise payable under this Plan to be
accelerated or paid on any basis or in any form other than on the basis and in the forms
provided for under Article 4.

	7.5	 	Amendment, Suspension or Termination of Plan. SNI hereby reserves the right and power
to amend, suspend or terminate this Plan, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to
time. Moreover, SNI may amend the Plan at any time in its sole discretion to ensure that the
Plan complies with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code or other applicable law. In no
event shall any such action by SNI eliminate or reduce any benefit that, prior to such action,
had already become payable under the Plan without the consent of the Covered Employee, unless
SNI determines in good faith that such action is necessary to ensure compliance with Section
409A of the Code. Each Participating SERP Employer also has the right to withdraw from the
Plan with respect to all employees whose SERP Benefits have not yet become payable under
Article 4 hereof prior to such withdrawal. All actions pursuant to this Section 7.5 shall be
set forth in a written instrument executed by an appropriate corporate officer.

	7.6	 	Delay and/or Discretionary Acceleration of Payments. To the extent permitted under
Section 409A of the Code, SNI may, in its sole discretion, delay payment of a SERP Benefit in
accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(b)(7). To the extent permitted by Section
409A of the Code, SNI may, in its sole discretion, accelerate the time of a payment under the
Plan in accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(j). In the event SNI exercises
its discretion to delay or accelerate the time of payment under the Plan it shall also
determine, in its sole discretion, the manner in which the SERP Benefit shall be calculated as
of such delayed or accelerated payment date.

	7.7	 	No Guarantee Of Employment. Nothing contained herein shall be construed as a contract
of employment between a Participating SERP Employer and any employee, or as a right of any
employee to continue in the employment of a Participating SERP Employer, or as a limitation of
the right of a Participating SERP Employer to discharge any of its employees, with or without
cause, at any time.

	7.8	 	Severability. If any provision of this Plan shall be held illegal or invalid for any
reason, said illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining provisions hereof;
instead, each provision shall be fully severable and the Plan shall be construed and enforced
as if said illegal or invalid provision had never been included herein.

	7.9	 	Successor Employer. In the event of the dissolution, merger, consolidation or
reorganization of a Participating SERP Employer, the Participating SERP Employer shall have
the unilateral right (but not the obligation) to assign or transfer its participation in the
Plan, or any liability or other obligation arising thereunder, in whole or in part to a
successor, in which case such successor shall be substituted for the former Participating SERP
Employer under the Plan. The substitution of a successor shall constitute a full and complete
assumption of all associated Plan liabilities by such successor and a full and complete
discharge of the former Participating SERP Employer

-6-

 

	 	 	with respect thereto, and the successor shall thereupon have all of the powers, duties and
responsibilities of the prior Participating SERP Employer under the Plan.
	 
	7.10	 	Compliance with Code Section 409A. It is intended that Part Two of the Plan comply
with Section 409A of the Code so as to prevent the inclusion in gross income of any amounts
deferred hereunder in a taxable year prior to the taxable year or years in which such amounts
would otherwise actually be distributed or made available to Covered Employees and their
Beneficiaries. The provisions of the Plan shall be construed, administered, and governed in a
manner that effects such intent. Although the Pension Board and SNI shall use their best
efforts to avoid the imposition of taxation, interest and penalties under Section 409A of the
Code, the tax treatment of benefit accruals and payments under SERP is not warranted or
guaranteed. Neither SNI nor the Pension Board shall be held liable for any taxes, interest,
penalties or other monetary amounts owed by any Covered Employee or Beneficiary or other
taxpayer as a result of the Plan. Any reference in this Plan to Section 409A of the Code will
also include 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. For purposes of the Plan, the phrase “permitted by Section 409A of the Code,” or
words or phrases of similar import, shall mean that the event or circumstance shall only be
permitted to the extent it would not cause an amount deferred or payable under the Plan to be
includible in the gross income of a Covered Employee or Beneficiary under Section 409A(a)(1)
of the Code.
	 
	7.11	 	Limited Cash-Outs. The Pension Board may, in its sole discretion, require a
mandatory lump sum payment of amounts deferred under the Plan that do not exceed the
applicable dollar amount under Section 402(g)(1)(B) of the Code, provided that the payment
results in the termination and liquidation of the entirety of the Covered Employee’s interest
under the Plan, including all agreements, methods, programs, or other arrangements which,
together with this Plan, are treated as a single non-qualified deferred compensation plan
under Section 409A of the Code and provided further that in the event such payment is made to
a “specified employee” (as defined in Section 409A) upon a Separation from Service, such
payment shall not be made sooner than 6 months following Separation from Service. The
provisions of this Section 7.11 shall apply to both Part One and Part Two of the Plan.
	 
	7.12	 	Covered Employees Deemed to Accept Plan. By accepting any benefit under the Plan,
each Covered Employee and each person claiming under or through any such Covered Employee
shall be conclusively deemed to have indicated his 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
Board, the Pension Board or SNI or the other Participating SERP Employers, in any case in
accordance with the terms and conditions of the Plan.

-7-

 

EXHIBIT A

to

Scripps Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan

See Scripps Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan as in effect on October 3, 2004

-8-

 

Appendix A

  

Scripps Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan

(As Amended and Restated Effective January 1, 2003)

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Page	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 1. INTRODUCTION
	 	 	2	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 2. DEFINITIONS
	 	 	3	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 3. PLAN PARTICIPATION
	 	 	5	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 4. BENEFITS PAYABLE
	 	 	6	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 5. PAYMENT OF SERP BENEFITS
	 	 	7	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 6. PLAN ADMINISTRATION
	 	 	8	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 7. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
	 	 	9	 

1

 

Scripps Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan

ARTICLE 1. INTRODUCTION

The E.W. Scripps Company, an Ohio corporation (“EWSCO”), hereby amends and restates the Scripps
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (sometimes heretofore called the Scripps Excess Benefit
Plan) to read in its entirety as set forth in this document, effective January 1, 2003.

The Scripps Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (“Scripps SERP” or “SERP”) originally was
established by a predecessor of EWSCO on October 27, 1982 in response to certain limitations that
were imposed upon tax qualified pension plans by the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of
1982 (“TEFRA”). TEFRA had the effect of reducing tax qualified pension benefits for executive
employees by limiting the amount of an employee’s annual compensation that may be recognized under
such a plan and limiting the maximum level of benefits that may be paid to an employee by such a
plan. Following the original adoption of the SERP by EWSCO, various affiliates of EWSCO thereafter
adopted the SERP from time to time for the benefit of their own executive employees.

The purpose of the SERP is to supplement benefits payable to, and on behalf of, covered employees
by the Scripps Pension Plan, a tax qualified retirement plan maintained by EWSCO and its
affiliates. In general, the SERP provides covered employees with the additional benefits they
would have earned under the Scripps Pension Plan, by reason of their Scripps and Scripps-related
employment, in the absence of the annual compensation limits and maximum benefit limits imposed by
Section 401(a)(17) and Section 415, respectively, of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
(“Code”).

EWSCO and its affiliates who participate in the SERP (collectively, the “Participating SERP
Employers”) each agree to pay the benefits which their own covered employees become entitled to
receive under the terms of the SERP. Each covered employee only will receive SERP benefits from
the particular Participating SERP Employer by whom he/she was employed. SERP benefits shall not be
advance funded, but rather shall only be payable from the general assets of the Participating SERP
Employer, with the covered employee being a general creditor of his/her Participating SERP
Employer.

It is intended that (i) the SERP constitute an unfunded deferred compensation plan for a select
group of management or highly compensated employees, within the meaning of Sections 201(2) and
401(a)(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”); (ii) the
SERP be an excess benefit plan, within the meaning of Sections 3(36) and 4(b)(5) of ERISA; and
(iii) there be no inconsistencies between the benefit and eligibility determinations made under the
SERP and those made under the Scripps Pension Plan. Accordingly, all provisions of the SERP are to
be interpreted and carried out in a manner consistent with the aforesaid intentions.

			
	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 1
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Scripps Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan

ARTICLE 2. DEFINITIONS

	2.1	 	“Adjusted Annual Compensation” means a Covered Employee’s “Annual Compensation” under the
Scripps Pension Plan, but determined without regard to any limitations imposed by reason of
Section 401(a)(17) of the Code on the maximum amount that may recognized as Annual
Compensation. A Covered Employee’s Adjusted Annual Compensation also shall include (to the
extent not already included in Annual Compensation) the following amounts, which shall be
added to the Covered Employee’s compensation for the taxable year in which such amounts are
earned:

	 	(a)	 	Bonuses earned in 1989 and later if paid more than one year after the calendar
year in which such bonuses were earned;
	 
	 	(b)	 	Other payments in the nature of deferred compensation which have been
designated by the Pension Board as includable in an employee’s Adjusted Annual
Compensation for purposes of this Plan; and
	 
	 	(c)	 	Any other forms of executive compensation which have been designated by the
Pension Board as includable in an employee’s Adjusted Annual Compensation for purposes
of this Plan.

	2.2	 	“Beneficiary” means a Covered Employee’s “Beneficiary” under the Scripps Pension Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Covered Employee’s SERP Benefit is to be distributed in the form of a 10-year installment payout pursuant to the next to last paragraph of Article 4 hereof, the Covered Employee may file a separate written beneficiary designation with the Pension Board for his SERP Benefit, in which case his/her Beneficiary shall
 be the person(s) named in such beneficiary designation.
	 
	2.3	 	“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
	 
	2.4	 	“Covered Employee” means a management or highly compensated employee of a Participating SERP Employer (i) who qualifies for a Normal Retirement Benefit, Early Retirement Benefit, Disability Retirement Benefit or Deferred Vested Benefit under the Scripps Pension Plan that is limited by reason of Section 401(a)(17) and/or Section 415 of the Code, and (ii) who has not been expressly excluded from participation in the SERP by agreement with his/her Participating SERP
 Employer.
	 
	2.5	 	“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
	 
	2.6	 	“EWSCO” means The E.W. Scripps Company, an Ohio corporation, or any successor.
	 
	2.7	 	“Participating SERP Employer” means a “Participating Employer” under the Scripps Pension Plan that is in the EWSCO control group under Section 414(b) or 414(c) of ERISA, or any other Participating Employer under the Scripps Pension Plan that adopts the SERP with the consent of the Pension Board.
	 
	2.8	 	“Pension Board” means the “Pension Board” under the Scripps Pension Plan.

			
	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 2
	 	3

 

 

Scripps Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan

	2.9	 	“Scripps Pension Plan” or “Pension Plan” means the document entitled Scripps Pension Plan (As Amended and Restated as of January 1, 1997), as the same may be amended and restated from time to time, including the tax qualified pension plan provided for thereunder.
	 
	2.10	 	“Scripps SERP” or “SERP” or “Plan” means this document, as the same may be amended from time to time, including the nonqualified pension plan provided for hereunder.
	 
	2.11	 	“SERP Benefit” means any benefit payable under the Scripps SERP to or on behalf of a Covered Employee .
	 
	2.12	 	In addition to the foregoing, in the case of any terms which are used in the SERP and not defined herein but which are defined in the Scripps Pension Plan, such terms shall have the meanings set forth in the Scripps Pension Plan.
	 
	2.13	 	Whenever appropriate, words used herein in the singular may be read as the plural and the plural may be read as the singular. Unless otherwise clear from the context, words used herein in the masculine shall also be deemed to include the feminine.

			
	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 2
	 	4

 

 

Scripps Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan

ARTICLE 3. PLAN PARTICIPATION

An individual must be a Covered Employee in order to participate in the Scripps SERP.

			
	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 3
	 	5

 

 

Scripps Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan

ARTICLE 4. BENEFITS PAYABLE

A Covered Employee shall be entitled to receive the benefits described in this Article 4, payable
as described in Article 5 hereof. For purposes of this Article 4, payment to a Covered Employee
shall include payment to his/her Beneficiary in accordance with any benefit election made by the
Covered Employee under the Scripps Pension Plan.

Upon qualifying to receive benefits under the Scripps Pension Plan, the Pension Board shall
determine whether a participant’s benefit amount has been limited by reason of Section 401(a)(17)
and/or Section 415 of the Code. If it has and the participant otherwise is a Covered Employee, the
Pension Board then shall compute the following:

	 	(a)	 	His/her actual benefit amount under the Scripps Pension Plan; and
	 
	 	(b)	 	What the benefit amount would be if computed on the basis of his/her Adjusted
Annual Compensation and without any Code Section 415 maximum benefit limitation (as
currently set forth in Section 6.02 of the Scripps Pension Plan).

After determining the amount by which paragraph (b) exceeds paragraph (a) above, the Pension Board
then shall gross up the difference by the combined employer/employee Medicare hospital insurance
tax assessable on such difference (currently 2.9%), and such grossed up amount shall represent the
amount of the Covered Employee’s SERP Benefit.

Except as provided in the following paragraph, a Covered Employee’s SERP Benefit shall be paid in
exactly the same form of benefit as his/her benefit under the Scripps Pension Plan is paid, and
using exactly the same actuarial adjustments and assumptions as are prescribed under the Scripps
Pension Plan.

In the case of any Covered Employee whose benefit under the Scripps Pension Plan is distributed as
a Lump-Sum Payment (Option E), his/her SERP Benefit will be paid in the form of a 10-year
installment payout, with the amount of the installments being computed using the same interest
factor that is used in computing his/her Lump-Sum Payment (Option E) under the Scripps Pension
Plan. If the Covered Employee should die before completion of the 10-year installment payout, all
remaining installments will be paid to the Covered Employee’s Beneficiary.

Any rules adopted by the Pension Board regarding the computation of a Covered Employee’s SERP
Benefit shall have the same force and effect as if expressly included in this document.

			
	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 4
	 	6

 

 

Scripps Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan

ARTICLE 5. PAYMENT OF SERP BENEFITS

All SERP Benefits shall be paid in cash from the general assets of a Covered Employee’s
Participating SERP Employer. If a Covered Employee is entitled to a SERP Benefit on account of
service with more than one Participating SERP Employer, the Pension Board shall determine the
manner in which the obligation to pay such SERP Benefit shall be equitably apportioned between or
among such Participating SERP Employers. A Covered Employee shall have the status of a general
creditor of his/her Participating SERP Employer with respect to any claim for SERP Benefits.

			
	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 5
	 	7

 

 

Scripps Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan

ARTICLE 6. PLAN ADMINISTRATION

The SERP Plan shall be administered in the same manner as the Scripps Pension Plan by the Pension
Board and/or its designee(s). The Pension Board shall have the same rights, powers and duties with
respect to the SERP Plan as it has under the terms of the Scripps Pension Plan. Without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, the Pension Board has full authority to (i) interpret
the SERP Plan, (ii) determine all questions relating to the rights and status of Covered Employees
and their SERP Benefits, and (iii) make such rules and regulations for the administration of the
SERP Plan as are not inconsistent with its express terms and provisions.

			
	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 6
	 	8

 

 

Scripps Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan

ARTICLE 7. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

	7.1	 	ERISA and Governing Law. The SERP Plan is a combination of an excess benefit plan, as defined in
Sections 3(36) and 4(b)(5) of ERISA, and an unfunded deferred
compensation plan for a select group of management or highly compensated
employees, as defined in Section 201(2) and 401(a)(1) of ERISA. As
such, the Plan is expressly excluded from all, or substantially all, of
the provisions of ERISA, including but not limited to Parts 2 and 3 of
Title I thereof. None of the statutory rights and protections conferred
on participants by ERISA are conferred under the terms of this Plan,
except as expressly noted or required by operation of law. To the
extent not superseded by federal law, the laws of the State of Ohio
shall control in any and all matters relating to the Plan.

	7.2	 	Incorporation of Scripps Pension Plan Provisions By Reference. The provisions of the
Scripps Pension Plan are hereby fully incorporated by reference, but only to the extent
reference is made by the SERP Plan to such provisions or otherwise necessary for the proper
administration of the SERP Plan. Eligibility for and payment of SERP Benefits under this Plan
shall be based solely upon benefit determinations and computations made under the terms of the
Scripps Pension Plan, excepting only the imposition of those benefit limitations attributable
to Sections 401(a)(17) and 415 of the Code and the different compensation standard hereunder.
The eligibility of each Covered Employee for SERP Benefits thus will be based, at least in
part, upon the interpretations of the Scripps Pension Plan provisions, as made by the
fiduciaries thereof; and such fiduciaries’ interpretations will be fully binding on this Plan
and all parties hereto. Except as expressly provided in the SERP Plan, any restrictions or
limitations imposed upon the payment of benefits under the Scripps Pension Plan shall be
equally applicable to the payment of benefits under the SERP Plan

	7.3	 	Claims and Appeals Procedure. The claims and appeals procedure set forth in the Scripps Pension Plan (currently Section 9.01 thereof) shall be equally applicable to claims and appeals under the SERP Plan, and such provisions hereby are incorporated into this Plan by reference.

	 
	7.4	 	

Benefits Are Nonassignable. No SERP Benefit may be pledged, assigned, anticipated or alienated in any way by any Covered Employee or Beneficiary or personal representative of the foregoing. Moreover, no Covered Employee, Beneficiary or personal representative of the foregoing shall have any right to cause benefits otherwise payable under this Plan to be accelerated or paid on any basis or in any form other than on the bases and in the forms provided for
 under Articles 4 and 5 hereof.

	7.5	 	Amendment, Suspension or Termination of Plan. EWSCO hereby reserves the right and
power to amend, suspend or terminate this Plan, in whole or in part, at any time and from time
to time; provided, however, that in no event shall EWSCO have the right to eliminate or reduce
any SERP Benefit which has already has become payable under Article 4 hereof prior to such
amendment, suspension or termination. Each Participating SERP Employer also have the right to
withdraw from the Plan with respect to all employees whose SERP Benefits have not yet become
payable under Article 4 hereof

			
	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 7
	 	9

 

 

Scripps Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan

	 	 	prior to such withdrawal. All actions pursuant to this Section 7.5 shall be set forth in a written instrument executed by an appropriate corporate officer.
	 
	7.6	 	No Guarantee Of Employment. Nothing contained herein shall be construed as a contract of employment between a Participating SERP Employer and any employee, or as a right of any employee to continue in the employment of a Participating SERP Employer, or as a limitation of the right of a Participating SERP Employer to discharge any of its employees, with or without cause, at any time.

	 
	7.7	 	

Severability. If any provision of this Plan shall be held illegal or invalid for any reason, said illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining provisions hereof; instead, each provision shall be fully severable and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if said illegal or invalid provision had never been included herein.

	7.8	 	Successor Employer. In the event of the dissolution, merger, consolidation or
reorganization of a Participating SERP Employer, the Participating SERP Employer shall have
the unilateral right (but not the obligation) to assign or transfer its participation in the
Plan, or any liability or other obligation arising thereunder, in whole or in part to a
successor, in which case such successor shall be substituted for the former Participating SERP
Employer under the Plan. The substitution of a successor shall constitute a full and complete
assumption of all associated Plan liabilities by such successor and a full and complete
discharge of the former Participating SERP Employer with respect thereto, and the successor
shall thereupon have all of the powers, duties and responsibilities of the prior Participating
SERP Employer under the Plan.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, The E.W. Scripps Company, acting by and through its duly authorized officer,
hereby adopts this Scripps Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (As Amended and Restated
Effective January 1, 2003), this ___ day of                     , 2003.

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	THE E.W. SCRIPPS COMPANY	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	BY:	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 

	 	 

			
	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 7
	 	10

 

 

Scripps Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan

			
	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 7
	 	11

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