UNITED STATES

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


         DATE OF REPORT (DATE OF EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED) APRIL 24, 2003

                         COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 0-16914

                            THE E.W. SCRIPPS COMPANY
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)




                  OHIO                                 31-1223339
    (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF                 (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
     INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)              IDENTIFICATION NUMBER)

           312 WALNUT STREET                              45202
            CINCINNATI, OHIO                           (ZIP CODE)
(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)

       REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE: (513) 977-3000

                                 NOT APPLICABLE

          (FORMER NAME OR FORMER ADDRESS, IF CHANGED SINCE LAST REPORT)

                            THE E.W. SCRIPPS COMPANY

Item 5.  Other Events

      The Edward W. Scripps Trust (the "Scripps Trust"), the controlling
      shareholder of The E.W. Scripps Company (the "Company"), is offering
      7,000,000 of the Class A Common Shares (the "Shares") of the Company
      through Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated and Merrill Lynch, Pierce,
      Fenner & Smith Incorporated (the "Underwriters") pursuant to an
      Underwriting Agreement (the "Underwriting Agreement") dated April 24,
      2003, among the Company, the Scripps Trust and the Underwriters. The
      Shares are registered on a Registration Statement (the "Registration
      Statement") on Form S-3 of the Company filed with the Securities and
      Exchange Commission on March 25, 2003 (file number 333-104008). Filed
      herewith as Exhibit 1.1 is the Underwriting Agreement, which is
      incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.

Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.

        (a) Financial Statements. Not applicable.

        (b) Pro Forma Financial Information. Not applicable.

        (c) Exhibits. The following exhibits are being filed herewith:

        1.1 Underwriting Agreement dated April 24, 2003, among The E.W.
            Scripps Company, The Edward W. Scripps Trust, Morgan Stanley &
            Co. Incorporated and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
            Incorporated.


                                        2

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                    THE E.W. SCRIPPS COMPANY



                                    By:  /s/ E. John Wolfzorn
                                         ------------------------------
                                         E. John Wolfzorn
                                         Vice President and Treasurer

Dated: April 24, 2003



                            THE E.W. SCRIPPS COMPANY

                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS

EXHIBIT NO. ITEM PAGE ------- ------- ------- 1.1 Underwriting Agreement dated April 24, 2003, among The E.W. Scripps Company, The Edward W. Scripps Trust, Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (incorporated by reference to Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-104008)).
3

                                                                     Exhibit 1.1


                                    7,000,000
                              CLASS A COMMON SHARES
                           (PAR VALUE $0.01 PER SHARE)

                            THE E.W. SCRIPPS COMPANY

                             UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

April 24, 2003

Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
           Incorporated
c/o Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
   1585 Broadway
   New York, New York 10036

Dear Sirs and Mesdames:

      The Edward W. Scripps Trust (the "SELLING SHAREHOLDER") proposes to issue
and sell to the Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the "UNDERWRITERS") an
aggregate of 7,000,000 Class A Common Shares (par value $0.01 per share) (the
"SHARES") of The E.W. Scripps Company (the "COMPANY"). The Class A Common Shares
(par value $0.01 per share) of the Company to be outstanding after giving effect
to the sales contemplated hereby are hereinafter referred to as the "COMMON
SHARES."

      The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"COMMISSION") a registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-104008),
including a prospectus, relating to the Shares. The registration statement as
amended at the time it became effective, including the information (if any)
deemed to be part of the registration statement at the time of effectiveness
pursuant to Rule 430A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"SECURITIES ACT"), is hereinafter referred to as the "REGISTRATION STATEMENT";
the prospectus in the form first used to confirm sales of Shares is hereinafter
referred to as the "PROSPECTUS." If the Company has filed an abbreviated
registration statement to register additional Common Shares pursuant to Rule
462(b) under the Securities Act (the "RULE 462 REGISTRATION STATEMENT"), then
any reference herein to the term "REGISTRATION STATEMENT" shall be deemed to
include such Rule 462 Registration Statement.

      1. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents
and warrants to and agrees with each of the Underwriters that:

            (a) The Company meets the requirements for use of Form S-3 under the
      Securities Act. The Registration Statement has become effective; no stop
      order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement is in
      effect, and no proceedings for such purpose are pending before or, to the
      best of the Company's knowledge, threatened by the Commission.

            (b) (i) The Registration Statement, when it became effective, did
      not contain and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will not
      contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
      material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
      statements therein not misleading, (ii) the Registration Statement and the
      Prospectus comply and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will
      comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and the applicable
      rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and (iii) the
      Prospectus does not contain and, as amended or supplemented, if
      applicable, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or
      omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in
      the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading,
      except that the representations and warranties set forth in this paragraph
      do not apply to statements or omissions in the Registration Statement or
      the Prospectus based upon information relating to any Underwriter
      furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through Morgan
      Stanley & Co. Incorporated ("MORGAN STANLEY") expressly for use therein.

            (c) The documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
      reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, when they
      became effective or at the time they were or hereafter are filed with the
      Commission, complied and will comply in all material respects with the
      requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and the regulations of
      the Commission thereunder or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
      amended (the "EXCHANGE ACT") and the rules and regulations of the
      Commission thereunder, as applicable, and when read together with the
      other information in the Prospectus, at the time the Registration
      Statement became effective, at the time the Prospectus was issued and on
      the Closing Date, as defined below, did not and will not contain an untrue
      statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to
      be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of
      the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

            (d) The Company has been duly incorporated, is validly existing as a
      corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Ohio, has the
      corporate power and authority to own its property and to conduct its
      business as described in the Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact
      business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct
      of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such
      qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or
      be in good standing would not have a material adverse effect on the
      business, financial position or results of operations of the Company and
      its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (a "MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT").

            (e) Each subsidiary of the Company has been duly incorporated, is
      validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the
      jurisdiction of its


                                        2

      incorporation, has the corporate power and authority to own its property
      and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and is duly
      qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each
      jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or
      leasing of property requires such qualification, except to the extent that
      the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not have a
      Material Adverse Effect; all of the issued shares of capital stock or
      equity interests of each subsidiary of the Company have been duly and
      validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable; the
      capital stock or equity interests of each subsidiary owned by the Company,
      directly or through subsidiaries, is owned free and clear of all liens,
      encumbrances, equities or claims; and the subsidiaries listed on Schedule
      II hereto are the only "significant subsidiaries" of the Company (as such
      term is defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act).

            (f) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered
      by the Company.

            (g) The authorized capital stock of the Company conforms as to legal
      matters to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus.

            (h) The Common Shares (including the Shares to be sold by the
      Selling Shareholder) outstanding have been duly authorized and are validly
      issued, fully paid and non-assessable and are listed on the New York Stock
      Exchange (the "NYSE").

            (i) The Company has the full right, power and authority to enter
      into this Agreement. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in
      violation of its charter or by-laws or in default in the performance or
      observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained
      in any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit
      agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the
      Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of
      them may be bound, or to which any of the property or assets of the
      Company or any subsidiary is subject except for such defaults that would
      not result in a Material Adverse Effect; and the execution and delivery of
      this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
      herein and compliance by the Company with its obligations hereunder have
      been duly authorized by the Company and do not and will not, whether with
      or without the giving of notice or the passage of time or both conflict
      with or constitute a breach of, or default under, or result in the
      creation or imposition of any tax, lien, charge or encumbrance upon the
      Shares to be sold by the Selling Shareholder or any property or assets of
      the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to any contract,
      indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement, note,
      license, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or
      any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its
      subsidiaries may be bound, or to which any of the property or assets of
      the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject, nor will such action
      result in any violation of the provisions of the certificate of
      incorporation or by-laws of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any
      applicable treaty, law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ
      or decree of any government, government instrumentality or court, domestic
      or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its
      subsidiaries or any of its properties.


                                        3

            (j) No filing with, or consent, approval, authorization, order,
      registration, qualification or decree of, any court or governmental
      authority or agency, domestic or foreign, is necessary or required for the
      performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement or in
      connection with the sale and delivery of the Shares under this Agreement
      or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
      except such as may have previously been made or obtained or as may be
      required under the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the
      Commission thereunder or state securities or blue sky laws.

            (k) Since the respective dates as of which information is given in
      the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (i) there has not occurred
      any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective
      material adverse change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in
      the earnings, business or operations of the Company and its subsidiaries,
      taken as a whole, from that set forth in the Prospectus (exclusive of any
      amendments or supplements thereto subsequent to the date of this
      Agreement), whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business,
      (ii) there have been no transactions entered into by the Company or any of
      its subsidiaries, other than those in the ordinary course of business,
      which are material with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries, taken
      as a whole, and (iii) there has been no dividend or distribution of any
      kind declared, paid or made by the Company on any class of its capital
      stock.

            (l) There are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or, to
      the best of the Company's knowledge, threatened to which the Company or
      any of its subsidiaries is a party or to which any of the properties of
      the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject that are required to be
      described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus and are not so
      described or any statutes, regulations, contracts or other documents that
      are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the
      Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that
      are not described or filed as required.

            (m) Each preliminary prospectus filed as part of the registration
      statement as originally filed or as part of any amendment thereto, or
      filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act, complied when so
      filed in all material respects with the Securities Act and the rules and
      regulations of the Commission thereunder.

            (n) The Company is not, and after giving effect to the offering and
      sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds thereof as
      described in the Prospectus will not be, required to register as an
      "investment company" as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act
      of 1940, as amended.

            (o) The Company and its subsidiaries (1) are in compliance with any
      and all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws and regulations
      relating to the protection of human health and safety, the environment or
      hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants
      ("ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS"), (2) have received all permits, licenses or other
      approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct
      their respective businesses and (3) are in compliance with all terms and
      conditions of any such permit, license or approval, except where such
      noncompliance with Environmental Laws, failure to receive required
      permits, licenses or other approvals


                                        4

      or failure to comply with the terms and conditions of such permits,
      licenses or approvals would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a
      Material Adverse Effect.

            The Company knows of no costs or liabilities that have arisen under
      Environmental Laws (including, without limitation, any capital or
      operating expenditures required for clean-up, closure of properties or
      compliance with Environmental Laws or any permit, license or approval, any
      related constraints on operating activities and any potential liabilities
      to third parties) which would, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material
      Adverse Effect.

            (p) There are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the
      Company and any person granting such person the right to require the
      Company to file a registration statement under the Securities Act with
      respect to any securities of the Company, except as disclosed in the
      documents incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, or the
      right to require the Company to include such securities with the Shares
      registered pursuant to the Registration Statement.

            (q) The Company and its subsidiaries have good and marketable title
      to all real properties and all other properties and assets owned by them,
      in each case free from liens, encumbrances and defects that would
      materially affect the value thereof or materially interfere with the use
      made or to be made thereof by them; and the Company and its subsidiaries
      hold any leased real or personal property under valid and enforceable
      leases with no exceptions that would materially interfere with the use
      made or to be made thereof by them.

            (r) The Company and its subsidiaries possess adequate and effective
      certificates, authorities, permits and licenses issued by appropriate
      governmental agencies, regulatory authorizations or bodies (including all
      licenses required by the Federal Communications Commission (the "FCC"))
      necessary to conduct the business now operated by them and have not
      received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or
      modification of any such certificate, authority, permit or license that,
      if determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would
      individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect, and each
      of the Company and its subsidiaries are presently conducting their
      respective businesses in substantial compliance with all applicable rules
      and regulations of the FCC, and each of them has made all material filings
      required under any federal, state, local or other law, regulation or rule
      (including any material filings required by the FCC) and has obtained all
      material authorizations, consents and approvals from other persons, in
      order to conduct its respective business.

            (s) No labor dispute with the employees of the Company or any
      subsidiary exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent that
      might have a Material Adverse Effect.

            (t) The Company and each member of its Control Group (as defined
      below) is in compliance in all material respects with all presently
      applicable provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
      1974, as amended ("ERISA"), and the


                                        5

      regulations and published interpretations thereunder; no "reportable
      event" (for which a filing is required with the Pension Benefit Guaranty
      Corporation) (as defined in ERISA and the regulations and published
      interpretations thereunder) has occurred with respect to any material
      "pension plan" (as defined in ERISA and the regulations and published
      interpretations thereunder) established or maintained by the Company or
      any member of its Control Group; neither the Company nor any member of its
      Control Group has incurred nor expects to incur any material liability
      under (i) Title IV of ERISA with respect to termination of a "pension
      plan" or withdrawal from any multiemployer "pension plan" (as defined in
      ERISA and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder) or
      (ii) Section 412 or 4971 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
      (the "CODE"); and each material "pension plan" established or maintained
      by the Company that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of
      the Code is so qualified in all material respects and has received a
      favorable determination letter as to its qualifications and nothing has
      occurred, whether by action or failure to act, which would cause the loss
      of such qualification. For purposes of this subsection, "Control Group" is
      defined to include any entity which is part of a group which includes the
      Company and is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.

            (u) The Company and its subsidiaries own, possess or can acquire on
      reasonable terms, adequate trademarks, trade names and other rights to
      inventions, know-how, patents, copyrights, confidential information and
      other intellectual property (collectively, "INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS")
      necessary to conduct the business now operated by them, or presently
      employed by them, and have not received any notice of infringement of or
      conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any intellectual
      property rights that, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its
      subsidiaries, would individually or in the aggregate have a Material
      Adverse Effect.

            (v) There are no pending actions, suits or proceedings against or
      affecting the Company, any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective
      properties that, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its
      subsidiaries, would individually or in the aggregate have a Material
      Adverse Effect, or would materially and adversely affect the ability of
      the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement, or which are
      otherwise material in the context of the sale of the Shares; and no such
      actions, suits or proceedings are, to the Company's knowledge, threatened
      or contemplated.

            (w) The accountants who certified the financial statements and
      supporting schedules included or incorporated by reference in the
      Registration Statement are independent public accountants as required by
      the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission
      thereunder.

            (x) The financial statements included or incorporated by reference
      in the Registration Statement and Prospectus present fairly the financial
      position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates
      shown and their results of operations and cash flows for the periods
      shown, and such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with
      generally accepted accounting principles in the United States applied on a
      consistent basis; any schedules included or incorporated by reference in
      the Registration Statement present fairly the information required to be
      stated therein.


                                        6

      2. Representations and Warranties of the Selling Shareholder. The Selling
Shareholder represents and warrants to and agrees with each of the Underwriters
that:

            (a) The Selling Shareholder is a trust duly formed and validly
      existing pursuant to Ohio law.

            (b) To the best knowledge of the Selling Shareholder, the
      representations and warranties of the Company contained in Section 1
      hereof are true and correct. The Selling Shareholder has reviewed and is
      familiar with the Registration Statement and the Prospectus with respect
      to all information contained therein and with respect to such information
      neither the Prospectus nor any amendments or supplements thereto includes
      any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact
      necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
      circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Selling
      Shareholder is not prompted to sell the Shares to be sold by it under this
      Agreement by any information concerning the Company or any subsidiary of
      the Company which is not set forth in the Prospectus.

            (c) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered
      by the Selling Shareholder.

            (d) The Selling Shareholder has the full right, power and authority
      to enter into this Agreement and to sell, transfer and deliver the Shares
      to be sold by it hereunder. The execution and delivery of this Agreement
      and the sale and delivery of the Shares to be sold by it and the
      consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and compliance by the
      Selling Shareholder with its obligations hereunder have been duly
      authorized by the Selling Shareholder and do not and will not, whether
      with or without the giving of notice or passage of time or both, conflict
      with or constitute a breach of, or default under, or result in the
      creation or imposition of any tax, lien, charge or encumbrance upon the
      Shares to be sold by the Selling Shareholder or any property or assets of
      the Selling Shareholder pursuant to any contract, indenture, mortgage,
      deed of trust, loan or credit agreement, note, license, lease or other
      agreement or instrument to which the Selling Shareholder is a party or by
      which the Selling Shareholder may be bound, or to which any of the
      property or assets of the Selling Shareholder is subject, nor will such
      action result in any violation of the provisions of the trust agreement of
      the Selling Shareholder, or any applicable treaty, law, statute, rule,
      regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any government, government
      instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over
      the Selling Shareholder or any of its properties.

            (e) The Selling Shareholder has not taken, and will not take,
      directly or indirectly, any action which is designed to or which has
      constituted or which might reasonably be expected to cause or result in
      stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company
      to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares.

            (f) No filing with, or consent, approval, authorization, order,
      registration, qualification or decree of, any court or governmental
      authority or agency, domestic or foreign, is necessary or required for the
      performance by the Selling Shareholder of its obligations under this
      Agreement or in connection with the sale and delivery of the


                                        7

      Shares under this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions
      contemplated by this Agreement, except such as may have previously been
      made or obtained or as may be required under the Securities Act or the
      rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder or state securities or
      blue sky laws.

            (g) Neither the Selling Shareholder nor any of its affiliates
      directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or
      is controlled by, or is under common control with, or has any other
      association with (within the meaning of Article I, Section 1(q) of the
      By-laws of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.), any
      member firm of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.

            (h) The Selling Shareholder agrees to deliver to the Underwriters on
      or prior to the Closing Date a properly completed and executed United
      States Treasury Department Form W-9 (or other applicable form or statement
      specified by Treasury Department regulations in lieu thereof).

            (i) The Selling Shareholder has, and on the Closing Date will have,
      valid title to, or a valid "security entitlement" within the meaning of
      Section 8-501 of the New York Uniform Commercial Code (the "UCC") in
      respect of, the Shares to be sold by the Selling Shareholder free and
      clear of all security interests, claims, liens, equities or other
      encumbrances and the legal right and power, and all authorization and
      approval required by law, to enter into this Agreement and to sell,
      transfer and deliver the Shares to be sold by the Selling Shareholder or a
      security entitlement in respect of such Shares.

            (j) Upon payment for the Shares to be sold by the Selling
      Shareholder pursuant to this Agreement, delivery of the Shares, as
      directed by the Underwriters, to Cede & Co. ("CEDE") or such other nominee
      as may be designated by the Depository Trust Company ("DTC"), registration
      of the Shares in the name of Cede or such other nominee and the crediting
      of the Shares on the books of DTC to securities accounts of the
      Underwriters (assuming that neither DTC nor any such Underwriter has
      notice of any adverse claim (within the meaning of Section 8-105 of the
      UCC) to the Shares), (A) DTC shall be a "protected purchaser" of the
      Shares within the meaning of Section 8-303 of the UCC, (B) under Section
      8-501 of the UCC, the Underwriters will acquire a valid security
      entitlement in respect of the Shares and (C) no action based on any
      "adverse claim", within the meaning of Section 8-102 of the UCC, to the
      Shares may be asserted against the Underwriters with respect to such
      security entitlement; for purposes of this representation, the Selling
      Shareholder may assume that when such payment, delivery and crediting
      occur, (x) the Shares will have been registered in the name of Cede or
      another nominee designated by DTC, in each case on the Company's share
      registry in accordance with its certificate of incorporation, code of
      regulations and applicable law, (y) DTC will be registered as a "clearing
      corporation" within the meaning of Section 8-102 of the UCC and (z)
      appropriate entries to the accounts of the Underwriters on the records of
      DTC will have been made pursuant to the UCC.

      3. Agreements to Sell and Purchase. The Selling Shareholder hereby agrees
to sell to the Underwriters, and each Underwriter, upon the basis of the
representations and warranties herein contained, but subject to the conditions
hereinafter stated, agrees, severally and not


                                        8

jointly, to purchase from the Selling Shareholder at $75.512 a share (the
"PURCHASE PRICE") the number of Shares set forth in Schedule I hereto opposite
the name of such Underwriter.

      The Company hereby agrees that, without the prior written consent of
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated on behalf of the Underwriters, it will not,
during the period ending 90 days after the date of the Prospectus, (i) offer,
pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase,
purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to
purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any
common shares of the Company or any securities convertible into or exercisable
or exchangeable for common shares of the Company or (ii) enter into any swap or
other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the
economic consequences of ownership of common shares of the Company, whether any
such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by
delivery of common shares of the Company or such other securities, in cash or
otherwise.

      The restrictions contained in the preceding paragraph shall not apply to
(A) the Shares to be sold hereunder, (B) transactions by any person other than
the Company or the Selling Shareholder relating to common shares or other
securities of the Company, (C) the grant of options or common shares of the
Company under the Company's stock and incentive plans as in effect on the date
hereof or the issuance of common shares of the Company under the Company's
non-employee director stock plan, (D) the issuance by the Company of common
shares of the Company upon the exercise of an option or a warrant or the
conversion of a security outstanding on the date hereof disclosed in the
Prospectus, or (E) the issuance by the Company of unregistered securities in
connection with acquisitions, which securities will not be registered for resale
before the end of the 90-day period.

      The Selling Shareholder hereby agrees that, without the prior written
consent of Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated on behalf of the Underwriters, it
will not, during the period ending 180 days after the date of the Prospectus,
(i) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to
purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or
warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or
indirectly, any common shares of the Company or any securities convertible into
or exercisable or exchangeable for common shares of the Company or (ii) enter
into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in
part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of common shares of the
Company, whether any such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is
to be settled by delivery of common shares of the Company or such other
securities, in cash or otherwise.

      The restrictions contained in the preceding paragraph shall not apply to
the Shares to be sold hereunder. In addition, the Selling Shareholder agrees
that, without the prior written consent of Morgan Stanley on behalf of the
Underwriters, it will not, during the period ending 180 days after the date of
the Prospectus, make any demand for, or exercise any right with respect to, the
registration of any Common Shares or any security convertible into or
exercisable or exchangeable for Common Shares.

      4. Terms of Public Offering. The Company and the Selling Shareholder are
advised by you that the Underwriters propose to make a public offering of their
respective portions of the Shares as soon after this Agreement has become
effective as in your judgment is advisable. The


                                        9

Company and the Selling Shareholder are further advised by you that the Shares
are to be offered to the public initially at $77.25 a share (the "PUBLIC
OFFERING PRICE").

      5. Payment and Delivery. Payment for the Shares to be sold by the Selling
Shareholder shall be made to the Selling Shareholder in Federal or other funds
immediately available in New York City against delivery of such Shares for the
respective accounts of the Underwriters at 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on
April 30, 2003, or at such other time on the same or such other date, not later
than May 7, 2003, as shall be designated in writing by you. The time and date of
such payment are hereinafter referred to as the "CLOSING DATE."

      The Shares shall be registered in such names and in such denominations as
you shall request in writing not later than one full business day prior to the
Closing Date. The Shares shall be delivered to you on the Closing Date for the
respective accounts of the Underwriters, with any transfer taxes payable in
connection with the transfer of the Shares to the Underwriters duly paid,
against payment of the Purchase Price therefor.

      6. Conditions to the Underwriters' Obligations. The obligations of the
Selling Shareholder to sell the Shares to the Underwriters and the several
obligations of the Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Shares on the
Closing Date are subject to the following conditions:

            (a) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement and
      prior to the Closing Date:

                  (i) there shall not have occurred any downgrading, nor shall
            any notice have been given of any intended or potential downgrading
            or of any review for a possible change that does not indicate the
            direction of the possible change, in the rating accorded any of the
            Company's securities by any "nationally recognized statistical
            rating organization," as such term is defined for purposes of Rule
            436(g)(2) under the Securities Act; and

                  (ii) there shall not have occurred any change, or any
            development involving a prospective change, in the condition,
            financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business or operations
            of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from that set
            forth in the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendments or supplements
            thereto subsequent to the date of this Agreement) that, in your
            judgment, is material and adverse and that makes it, in your
            judgment, impracticable to market the Shares on the terms and in the
            manner contemplated in the Prospectus.

            (b) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date a
      certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by an executive officer of
      the Company, to the effect set forth in Section 6(a)(i) above and to the
      effect that (i) since the date of this Agreement and since the date as of
      which information is given in the Prospectus, there has not occurred any
      material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in
      the earnings, business and operations of the Company and its subsidiaries,
      taken as a whole, (ii) the representations and warranties of the Company
      contained in this Agreement are true and correct as of the Closing Date
      and (iii) the Company has complied with all of the


                                       10

      agreements and satisfied all of the conditions on its part to be performed
      or satisfied hereunder on or before the Closing Date. The officer signing
      and delivering such certificate may rely upon the best of his or her
      knowledge as to proceedings threatened.

            (c) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date a
      certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by a trustee or an officer
      of the Selling Shareholder, to the effect that (i) the representations and
      warranties of the Selling Shareholder contained in this Agreement are true
      and correct as of the Closing Date and (ii) the Selling Shareholder has
      complied with all of the agreements and satisfied all of the conditions on
      its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder on or before the Closing
      Date. The trustee or officer signing and delivering such certificate may
      rely upon the best of his or her knowledge as to proceedings threatened.

            (d) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an
      opinion of Baker & Hostetler LLP, counsel for the Company, dated the
      Closing Date, to the effect that:

                  (i) the Company has been duly incorporated, is validly
            existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the
            State of Ohio, has the corporate power and authority to own its
            property and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus,
            and to such counsel's knowledge is duly qualified to transact
            business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the
            conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property
            requires such qualification, except to the extent that the failure
            to be so qualified or be in good standing would not have a Material
            Adverse Effect;

                  (ii) each subsidiary of the Company identified in Schedule II
            hereto (each, a "SIGNIFICANT SUBSIDIARY") has been duly
            incorporated, is validly existing as a corporation in good standing
            under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, has the
            corporate power and authority to own its property and to conduct its
            business as described in the Prospectus, and to such counsel's
            knowledge is duly qualified to transact business and is in good
            standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business
            or its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification,
            except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in
            good standing would not have a Material Adverse Effect;

                  (iii) all of the issued shares of capital stock or equity
            interests of each Significant Subsidiary have been duly and validly
            authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable; and the
            capital stock or equity interests of each subsidiary owned by the
            Company, directly or through subsidiaries, is, to the best of such
            counsel's knowledge, owned free and clear of all liens,
            encumbrances, equities or claims;

                  (iv) this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
            delivered by the Company;


                                       11

                  (v) the authorized capital stock of the Company conforms as to
            legal matters to the description thereof contained in the
            Prospectus;

                  (vi) the Common Shares (including the Shares to be sold by the
            Selling Shareholder) outstanding have been duly authorized and are
            validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable;

                  (vii) the sale of the Shares by the Selling Shareholder is not
            subject to statutory preemptive rights or, to the best of such
            counsel's knowledge, similar rights of any securityholder of the
            Company;

                  (viii) the Registration Statement, including any Rule 462(b)
            Registration Statement, has been declared effective under the
            Securities Act; any required filing of the Prospectus pursuant to
            Rule 424(b) has been made in the manner and within the time period
            required by Rule 424(b); and, to the best of such counsel's
            knowledge, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
            Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement has
            been issued under the Securities Act and no proceedings for that
            purpose have been instituted or are pending or threatened by the
            Commission;

                  (ix) the Registration Statement, including any Rule 462(b)
            Registration Statement and the Rule 430A Information, as applicable,
            the Prospectus, excluding the documents incorporated by reference
            therein, and each amendment or supplement to the Registration
            Statement and Prospectus, excluding the documents incorporated by
            reference therein, as of their respective effective or issue dates
            (other than the financial statements and financial schedules and
            other financial data included therein or omitted therefrom, as to
            which such counsel need express no opinion) complied as to form in
            all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act
            and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder;

                  (x) the documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus
            (other than the financial statements and financial schedules and
            other financial data included therein or omitted therefrom, as to
            which such counsel need express no opinion), when they became
            effective or were filed with the Commission, as the case may be,
            complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements
            of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission
            thereunder;

                  (xi) the form of certificate used to evidence the Common
            Shares complies in all material respects with all applicable
            statutory requirements, with any applicable requirements of the
            charter and code of regulations of the Company and the requirements
            of the NYSE;

                  (xii) to the best of such counsel's knowledge, there is not
            pending or threatened any action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or
            investigation, to which the Company or any subsidiary is a party, or
            to which the property of the Company or any subsidiary is subject,
            before or brought by any court or governmental agency


                                       12

            or body, domestic or foreign, which might reasonably be expected to
            result in a Material Adverse Effect, or which might reasonably be
            expected to materially and adversely affect the properties or assets
            of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or the
            consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement or
            the performance by the Company of its obligations thereunder;

                  (xiii) the information contained or incorporated by reference
            in the Prospectus under "Description of Capital Stock" and "Business
            - Federal Regulation of Broadcasting" and in the Registration
            Statement under Item 15, to the extent that it constitutes matters
            of law, summaries of legal matters, the Company's charter and code
            of regulations or legal proceedings, or legal conclusions, has been
            reviewed by such counsel and is correct in all material respects;

                  (xiv) to the best of such counsel's knowledge, there are no
            statutes or regulations that are required to be described in the
            Prospectus that are not described as required;

                  (xv) all descriptions in the Registration Statement of
            contracts and other documents to which the Company or its
            subsidiaries are a party are accurate in all material respects; to
            the best of such counsel's knowledge, there are no franchises,
            contracts, indentures, mortgages, loan agreements, notes, leases or
            other instruments required to be described or referred to in the
            Prospectus or the Registration Statement or to be filed as exhibits
            thereto other than those described or referred to therein or filed
            or incorporated by reference as exhibits thereto, and the
            descriptions thereof or references thereto are correct in all
            material respects;

                  (xvi) to the best of such counsel's knowledge, neither the
            Company nor any subsidiary is in violation of its charter or by-laws
            and no default by the Company or any subsidiary exists in the due
            performance or observance of any material obligation, agreement,
            covenant or condition contained in any contract, indenture,
            mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement, note, lease or
            other agreement or instrument known to such counsel to which the
            Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any
            of them may be bound or to which any of the property or assets of
            the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject, except for such
            defaults that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect;

                  (xvii) no filing with, or authorization, approval, consent,
            license, order, registration, qualification or decree of, any court
            or governmental authority or agency, domestic or foreign (other than
            under the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the
            Commission thereunder, which have been obtained, or as may be
            required under the securities or blue sky laws of the various
            states, as to which such counsel need express no opinion) is
            necessary or required in connection with the due authorization,
            execution and delivery of this Agreement or for the offering, sale
            or delivery of the Shares;


                                       13

                  (xviii) the execution, delivery and performance of this
            Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated in
            this Agreement and in the Registration Statement (including the sale
            of the Shares) and compliance by the Company with its obligations
            under this Agreement do not and will not, whether with or without
            the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, conflict with or
            constitute a breach of, or default under or result in the creation
            or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property
            or assets of the Company or any subsidiary pursuant to any contract,
            indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement, note,
            lease or any other agreement or instrument, known to such counsel,
            to which the Company or any subsidiary is a party or by which it or
            any of them may be bound, or to which any of the property or assets
            of the Company or any subsidiary is subject (except for such
            conflicts, breaches or defaults or liens, charges or encumbrances
            that would not have a Material Adverse Effect), nor will such action
            result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws
            of the Company or any subsidiary, or any applicable law, statute,
            rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree, known to such
            counsel, of any government, government instrumentality or court,
            domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any
            subsidiary or any of their respective properties, assets or
            operations;

                  (xix) each of the Company and its subsidiaries has obtained
            all material licenses required by the FCC for the conduct and
            operation of its respective businesses, and such licenses are in
            full force and effect. The Company and its subsidiaries are
            presently conducting their respective businesses in substantial
            compliance with all applicable rules and regulations of the FCC;

                  (xx) the Company is not, and after giving effect to the
            offering and sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds
            thereof as described in the Prospectus will not be, required to
            register as an "investment company" as such term is defined in the
            Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended; and

                  (xxi) nothing has come to the attention of such counsel that
            causes such counsel to believe that (A) the Registration Statement
            or the Prospectus, including the documents incorporated by reference
            or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein (except for the
            financial statements and financial schedules and other financial and
            statistical data included therein, as to which such counsel need not
            express any belief), do not comply as to form in all material
            respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the
            applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder or the
            Exchange Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the
            Commission thereunder, as applicable, (B) the Registration Statement
            or the Prospectus included therein, including the documents
            incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference
            therein (except for the financial statements and financial schedules
            and other financial and statistical data included therein, as to
            which such counsel need not express any belief), at the time the
            Registration Statement became effective contained an untrue
            statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact
            required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
            therein not misleading or (C)


                                       14

            the Prospectus, including the documents incorporated by reference or
            deemed to be incorporated by reference therein (except for the
            financial statements and financial schedules and other financial and
            statistical data included therein, as to which such counsel need not
            express any belief), as of its date or as of the Closing Date
            contained or contains an untrue statement of a material fact or
            omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make
            the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
            which they were made, not misleading.

            (e) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an
      opinion of Baker & Hostetler LLP, counsel for the Selling Shareholder,
      dated the Closing Date, to the effect that:

                  (i) the Selling Shareholder is a trust duly formed and validly
            existing pursuant to the laws of the State of Ohio;

                  (ii) no filing with, or consent, approval, authorization,
            license, order, registration, qualification or decree of, any court
            or governmental authority or agency, domestic or foreign, (other
            than the issuance of the order of the Commission declaring the
            Registration Statement effective and such authorizations, approvals
            or consents as may be necessary under the state securities or blue
            sky laws, as to which such counsel need express no opinion) is
            necessary or required to be obtained by such Selling Shareholder for
            the performance by such Selling Shareholder of its obligations under
            this Agreement or in connection with the offer, sale or delivery of
            the Shares;

                  (iii) this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
            delivered by or on behalf of the Selling Shareholder;

                  (iv) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement
            and the sale and delivery of the Shares and the consummation of the
            transaction contemplated in this Agreement and the Registration
            Statement and compliance by the Selling Shareholder with its
            obligation under this Agreement have been duly authorized by all
            necessary action on the part of the Selling Shareholder and do not
            and will not, whether with or without the giving of notice or
            passage of time or both, conflict with or constitute a breach of, or
            default under or result in the creation or imposition of any tax,
            lien, charge or encumbrance upon the Shares or any property or
            assets of the Selling Shareholder pursuant to, any contract,
            indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement, note,
            license, lease or other instrument or agreement known to such
            counsel to which the Selling Shareholder is a party or by which it
            may be bound, or to which any of the property or assets of the
            Selling Shareholder may be subject, nor will such action result in
            any violation of the provisions of the trust agreement of the
            Selling Shareholder, or any law, administrative regulation, judgment
            or order of any governmental agency or body or any administrative or
            court decree having jurisdiction over the Selling Shareholder or any
            of its properties;


                                       15

                  (v) to the best of such counsel's knowledge, the Selling
            Shareholder has valid title to, or a valid security entitlement in
            respect of, the Shares to be sold by the Selling Shareholder free
            and clear of all security interests, claims, liens, equities and
            other encumbrances, and the Selling Shareholder has the legal right
            and power, and all authorization and approval required by law, to
            enter into this Agreement and to sell, transfer and deliver the
            Shares to be sold by the Selling Shareholder or a security
            entitlement in respect of such Shares; and

                  (vi) upon payment for the Shares to be sold by the Selling
            Shareholder pursuant to this Agreement, delivery of the Shares, as
            directed by the Underwriters, to Cede or such other nominee as may
            be designated by DTC, registration of the Shares in the name of Cede
            or such other nominee and the crediting of the Shares on the books
            of DTC to securities accounts of the Underwriters (assuming that
            neither DTC nor any such Underwriter has notice of any adverse claim
            within the meaning of Section 8-105 of the UCC to such Shares), (A)
            DTC shall be a "protected purchaser" of such Shares within the
            meaning of Section 8-303 of the UCC, (B) under Section 8-501 of the
            UCC, the Underwriters will acquire a valid security entitlement in
            respect of the Shares and (C) no action based on any "adverse claim"
            (within the meaning of Section 8-102 of the UCC) to the Shares may
            be asserted against the Underwriters with respect to such security
            entitlement; in giving this opinion, counsel for the Selling
            Shareholder may assume that when such payment, delivery and
            crediting occur, (x) the Shares will have been registered in the
            name of Cede or another nominee designated by DTC, in each case on
            the Company's share registry in accordance with its certificate of
            incorporation, code of regulations and applicable law, (y) DTC will
            be registered as a "clearing corporation" within the meaning of
            Section 8-102 of the UCC and (z) appropriate entries to the accounts
            of the Underwriters on the records of DTC will have been made
            pursuant to the UCC.

            (f) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an
      opinion of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, counsel for the Underwriters, dated
      the Closing Date, with respect to such matters as you shall reasonably
      request.

            (g) With respect to Section 6(d)(xxi) above, Baker & Hostetler LLP
      may state that its belief is based upon its participation in the
      preparation of the Registration Statement and Prospectus and any
      amendments or supplements thereto and review and discussion of the
      contents thereof, but are without independent check or verification,
      except as specified in its opinion.

            (h) The Underwriters shall have received, on each of the date hereof
      and the Closing Date, a letter dated the date hereof or the Closing Date,
      as the case may be, in form and substance satisfactory to the
      Underwriters, from Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent public accountants,
      containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in
      accountants' "comfort letters" to underwriters with respect to the
      financial statements and certain financial information contained in the
      Registration Statement and the Prospectus; provided that the letter
      delivered on the Closing Date shall use a "cut-off date" not earlier than
      the date hereof.


                                       16

      7. Covenants of the Company. In further consideration of the agreements of
the Underwriters herein contained, the Company covenants with each Underwriter
as follows:

            (a) To furnish to you, without charge, three signed copies of the
      Registration Statement (including exhibits thereto) a conformed copy of
      the Registration Statement (without exhibits thereto) and to furnish to
      you in New York City, without charge, prior to 10:00 a.m. New York City
      time on the business day next succeeding the date of this Agreement and
      during the period mentioned in Section 7(c) below, as many copies of the
      Prospectus and any supplements and amendments thereto or to the
      Registration Statement as you may reasonably request.

            (b) Before amending or supplementing the Registration Statement or
      the Prospectus, to furnish to you a copy of each such proposed amendment
      or supplement and not to file any such proposed amendment or supplement to
      which you reasonably object, and to file with the Commission within the
      applicable period specified in Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act any
      prospectus required to be filed pursuant to such Rule.

            (c) If, during such period after the first date of the public
      offering of the Shares as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters
      the Prospectus is required by law to be delivered in connection with sales
      by an Underwriter or dealer, any event shall occur or condition exist as a
      result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in
      order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
      when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or if, in
      the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, it is necessary to amend or
      supplement the Prospectus to comply with applicable law, forthwith to
      prepare, file with the Commission and furnish, at its own expense, to the
      Underwriters and to the dealers (whose names and addresses you will
      furnish to the Company) to which Shares may have been sold by you on
      behalf of the Underwriters and to any other dealers upon request, either
      amendments or supplements to the Prospectus so that the statements in the
      Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the
      circumstances when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, be
      misleading or so that the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will
      comply with law.

            (d) To endeavor to qualify the Shares for offer and sale under the
      securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as you shall reasonably
      request.

            (e) The Company will timely file such reports pursuant to the
      Exchange Act as are necessary in order to make generally available to its
      securityholders as soon as practicable an earnings statement for the
      purposes of, and to provide the benefits contemplated by, the last
      paragraph of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act.

            (f) The Company, during the period when the Prospectus is required
      to be delivered under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, will file
      all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the
      Exchange Act within the time periods required by the Exchange Act and the
      rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.


                                       17

      8. Expenses. Whether or not the transactions contemplated in this
Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the Selling
Shareholder agrees to pay or cause to be paid all expenses incident to the
performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including: (i) the fees,
disbursements and expenses of the Company's counsel, the Company's accountants
and counsel for the Selling Shareholder in connection with the registration and
delivery of the Shares under the Securities Act and all other fees or expenses
in connection with the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement, any
preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus and amendments and supplements to any of
the foregoing, including all printing costs associated therewith, and the
mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters and dealers, in the
quantities hereinabove specified, (ii) all costs and expenses related to the
transfer and delivery of the Shares to the Underwriters, including any transfer
or other taxes payable thereon, (iii) the cost of printing or producing any Blue
Sky or Legal Investment memorandum in connection with the offer and sale of the
Shares under state securities or blue sky laws and all expenses in connection
with the qualification of the Shares for offer and sale under state securities
or blue sky laws as provided in Section 7(d) hereof, including filing fees and
the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in
connection with such qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky or Legal
Investment memorandum, (iv) the cost of printing certificates representing the
Shares, (v) the costs and charges of any transfer agent, registrar or
depositary, (vi) the costs and expenses of the Company relating to investor
presentations on any "road show" undertaken in connection with the marketing of
the offering of the Shares, including, without limitation, expenses associated
with the production of road show slides and graphics, fees and expenses of any
consultants engaged in connection with the road show presentations with the
prior approval of the Company, travel and lodging expenses of the
representatives and officers of the Company and any such consultants, and the
cost of any aircraft chartered in connection with the road show, (vii) the
document production charges and expenses associated with printing this Agreement
and (viii) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of the
obligations of the Company hereunder for which provision is not otherwise made
in this Section. It is understood, however, that except as provided in this
Section, Section 9 entitled "Indemnity and Contribution", and the last paragraph
of Section 11 below, the Underwriters will pay all of their costs and expenses,
including fees and disbursements of their counsel, stock transfer taxes payable
on resale of any of the Shares by them and any advertising expenses connected
with any offers they may make.

      The provisions of this Section shall not supersede or otherwise affect any
agreement that the Company and the Selling Shareholder may otherwise have for
the allocation of such expenses among themselves.

      9. Indemnity and Contribution. (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and
hold harmless each Underwriter, each person, if any, who controls any
Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or
Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and each affiliate of any Underwriter within the
meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act, from and against any and all
losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any
legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending or
investigating any such action or claim) caused by any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration
Statement or any amendment thereof, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus
(as amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments
or supplements thereto), or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state


                                       18

therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities are caused by any such untrue statement or omission or
alleged untrue statement or omission based upon information relating to any
Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through
Morgan Stanley expressly for use therein.

            (b) The Selling Shareholder agrees to indemnify and hold harmless
      each Underwriter, the Company, the directors of the Company, the officers
      of the Company who sign the Registration Statement, each person, if any,
      who controls any Underwriter or the Company within the meaning of either
      Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and
      each affiliate of any Underwriter within the meaning of Rule 405 under the
      Securities Act from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and
      liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses
      reasonably incurred in connection with defending or investigating any such
      action or claim) caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue
      statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or
      any amendment thereof, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (as
      amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments
      or supplements thereto), or caused by any omission or alleged omission to
      state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
      to make the statements therein not misleading, but only with reference to
      information relating to the Selling Shareholder furnished in writing by or
      on behalf of the Selling Shareholder expressly for use in the Registration
      Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendments or
      supplements thereto.

            (c) Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify
      and hold harmless the Company, the Selling Shareholder, the directors of
      the Company, the officers of the Company who sign the Registration
      Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company or the Selling
      Shareholder within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act
      or Section 20 of the Exchange Act from and against any and all losses,
      claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal
      or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending or
      investigating any such action or claim) caused by any untrue statement or
      alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration
      Statement or any amendment thereof, any preliminary prospectus or the
      Prospectus (as amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished
      any amendments or supplements thereto), or caused by any omission or
      alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
      therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but
      only with reference to information relating to such Underwriter furnished
      to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through Morgan Stanley
      expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any preliminary
      prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto.

            (d) In case any proceeding (including any governmental
      investigation) shall be instituted involving any person in respect of
      which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 9(a), 9(b) or 9(c), such
      person (the "INDEMNIFIED PARTY") shall promptly notify the person against
      whom such indemnity may be sought (the "INDEMNIFYING PARTY") in writing
      and the indemnifying party, upon request of the indemnified party, shall
      retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to
      represent the indemnified


                                       19

      party and any others the indemnifying party may designate in such
      proceeding and shall pay the fees and disbursements of such counsel
      related to such proceeding. In any such proceeding, any indemnified party
      shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses
      of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party unless
      (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have mutually
      agreed to the retention of such counsel or (ii) the named parties to any
      such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the
      indemnifying party and the indemnified party and representation of both
      parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or
      potential differing interests between them. It is understood that the
      indemnifying party shall not, in respect of the legal expenses of any
      indemnified party in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings
      in the same jurisdiction, be liable for (i) the fees and expenses of more
      than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all
      Underwriters and all persons, if any, who control any Underwriter within
      the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of
      the Exchange Act or who are affiliates of any Underwriter within the
      meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act, (ii) the fees and expenses
      of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for the
      Company, its directors, its officers who sign the Registration Statement
      and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of
      either such Section and (iii) the fees and expenses of more than one
      separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for the Selling
      Shareholder and all persons, if any, who control the Selling Shareholder
      within the meaning of either such Section, and that all such fees and
      expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. In the case of any such
      separate firm for the Underwriters and such control persons and affiliates
      of any Underwriters, such firm shall be designated in writing by Morgan
      Stanley & Co. Incorporated. In the case of any such separate firm for the
      Company, and such directors, officers and control persons of the Company,
      such firm shall be designated in writing by the Company. The indemnifying
      party shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected
      without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there
      be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to
      indemnify the indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by
      reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing
      sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an
      indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and
      expenses of counsel as contemplated by the second and third sentences of
      this paragraph, the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for
      any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if
      (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by
      such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such
      indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in
      accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No
      indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the
      indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened
      proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been
      a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified
      party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such
      indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter
      of such proceeding.

            (e) To the extent the indemnification provided for in Section 9(a),
      9(b) or 9(c) is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient in
      respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein,
      then each indemnifying party under such


                                       20

      paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party thereunder,
      shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party
      as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (1) in such
      proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by
      the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and the indemnified
      party or parties on the other hand from the offering of the Shares or (ii)
      if the allocation provided by clause 9(e)(i) above is not permitted by
      applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only
      the relative benefits referred to in clause 9(e)(i) above but also the
      relative fault of the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and of
      the indemnified party or parties on the other hand in connection with the
      statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or
      liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The
      relative benefits received by the Company and the Selling Shareholder on
      the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the
      offering of the Shares shall be deemed to be in the same respective
      proportions as the net proceeds from the offering of the Shares (before
      deducting expenses) received by the Company and the Selling Shareholder
      and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the
      Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover of the
      Prospectus, bear to the aggregate Public Offering Price of the Shares. The
      relative fault of the Company and the Selling Shareholder on the one hand
      and the Underwriters on the other hand shall be determined by reference
      to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of
      a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material
      fact relates to information supplied by the Company and the Selling
      Shareholder or by the Underwriters and the parties' relative intent,
      knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent
      such statement or omission. The Underwriters' respective obligations to
      contribute pursuant to this Section 9 are several in proportion to the
      respective number of Shares they have purchased hereunder, and not joint.

            (f) The Company, the Selling Shareholder and the Underwriters agree
      that it would not be just or equitable if contribution pursuant to this
      Section 9 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters
      were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of
      allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations
      referred to in Section 9(e). The amount paid or payable by an indemnified
      party as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred
      to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include,
      subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses
      reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with
      investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the
      provisions of this Section 9, no Underwriter shall be required to
      contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at
      which the Shares underwritten by it and distributed to the public were
      offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages that such
      Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or
      alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty
      of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of
      the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who
      was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The remedies provided
      for in this Section 9 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or
      remedies which may otherwise be available to any indemnified party at law
      or in equity.


                                       21

            (g) The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this
      Section 9 and the representations, warranties and other statements of the
      Company and the Selling Shareholder contained in this Agreement shall
      remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (a) any
      termination of this Agreement, (b) any investigation made by or on behalf
      of any Underwriter, any person controlling any Underwriter or any
      affiliate of any Underwriter, any Selling Shareholder or any person
      controlling the Selling Shareholder, or the Company, its officers or
      directors or any person controlling the Company and (c) acceptance of and
      payment for any of the Shares.

      10. Termination. The Underwriters may terminate this Agreement by notice
given by you to the Company, if after the execution and delivery of this
Agreement and prior to the Closing Date (i) trading generally shall have been
suspended or materially limited on, or by, as the case may be, any of the New
York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq National Market,
the Chicago Board of Options Exchange, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange or the
Chicago Board of Trade, (ii) trading of any securities of the Company shall have
been suspended on any exchange or in any over-the-counter market, (iii) a
material disruption in securities settlement, payment or clearance services in
the United States shall have occurred, (iv) any moratorium on commercial banking
activities shall have been declared by Federal or New York State authorities or
(v) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities, or any
change in financial markets or any calamity or crisis that, in your judgment, is
material and adverse and which, singly or together with any other event
specified in this clause (v), makes it, in your judgment, impracticable or
inadvisable to proceed with the offer, sale or delivery of the Shares on the
terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus.

      11. Effectiveness; Defaulting Underwriters. This Agreement shall become
effective upon the execution and delivery hereof by the parties hereto.

      If, on the Closing Date, either of the Underwriters shall fail or refuse
to purchase Shares that it has agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, and
the aggregate number of Shares which such defaulting Underwriter agreed but
failed or refused to purchase is not more than one-tenth of the aggregate number
of the Shares to be purchased on such date, the other Underwriter shall be
obligated to purchase the Shares which such defaulting Underwriter agreed but
failed or refused to purchase on such date; provided that in no event shall the
number of Shares that either Underwriter has agreed to purchase pursuant to this
Agreement be increased pursuant to this Section 11 by an amount in excess of
one-ninth of such number of Shares without the written consent of such
Underwriter. If, on the Closing Date, either Underwriter shall fail or refuse to
purchase Shares and the aggregate number of Shares with respect to which such
default occurs is more than one-tenth of the aggregate number of Shares to be
purchased, and arrangements satisfactory to you, the Company and the Selling
Shareholder for the purchase of such Shares are not made within 36 hours after
such default, this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of
any non-defaulting Underwriter, the Company or the Selling Shareholder. In any
such case either you or the Selling Shareholder shall have the right to postpone
the Closing Date, but in no event for longer than seven days, in order that the
required changes, if any, in the Registration Statement and in the Prospectus or
in any other documents or arrangements may be effected. Any action taken under
this paragraph shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in
respect of any default of such Underwriter under this Agreement.


                                       22

      If this Agreement shall be terminated by the Underwriters, or any of them,
because of any failure or refusal on the part of the Selling Shareholder to
comply with the terms or to fulfill any of the conditions of this Agreement, or
if for any reason the Selling Shareholder shall be unable to perform its
obligations under this Agreement, the Selling Shareholder will reimburse the
Underwriters or such Underwriters as have so terminated this Agreement with
respect to themselves, severally, for all out-of-pocket expenses (including the
fees and disbursements of their counsel) reasonably incurred by such
Underwriters in connection with this Agreement or the offering contemplated
hereunder.

      12. Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the
signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.

      13. Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.



                                       23

      14. Headings. The headings of the sections of this Agreement have been
inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed a part of
this Agreement.


                                    Very truly yours,

                                    THE E.W. SCRIPPS COMPANY



                                    By: /s/ E. John Wolfzorn
                                        -----------------------------------
                                        Name: E. John Wolfzorn
                                        Title: Vice President and Treasurer


                                    THE EDWARD W. SCRIPPS TRUST



                                    By: /s/ Donald E. Maihaus
                                        --------------------------------
                                        Name: Donald E. Maihaus
                                        Title: Secretary-Treasurer


Accepted as of the date hereof

Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

               Incorporated

By:  Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated

By: /s/ William L. Blais
    --------------------------------
    Name: William L. Blais
    Title: Executive Director


                                       24

                                                                      SCHEDULE I


NUMBER OF SHARES UNDERWRITER TO BE PURCHASED Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated ................... 3,500,000 Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated ............................ 3,500,000 --------- Total ............................................. 7,000,000
SCHEDULE II SIGNIFICANT SUBSIDIARIES Memphis Publishing Company Scripps Texas Newspapers, L.P. Collier County Publishing Company Scripps Howard Broadcasting Company Scripps Networks, Inc.