CINCINNATI—Veteran media executive Marcellus Alexander is joining the board of directors for the E.W. Scripps Company, the company has announced. This will temporarily put 12 members on the company’s board, but Roger Ogden has informed the company that he will retire when his term expires on the date of Scripps’ shareholders meeting in 2020.

Alexander has been working in broadcasting, communications and government relations for more than 40 years, including previous positions as the executive vice president of the NAB and president of the National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation. He had previous experience as vice president and general manager at local TV stations in Philadelphia and Baltimore.

“Marcellus is an established leader in broadcast media who will bring his experience and deep understanding of the continued evolution of our business to the boardroom as we further expand our footprint across the country,” said Adam Symson, Scripps president and CEO. “His passion for educating and teaching other young leaders in the industry resonates with Scripps’ longtime motto, ‘give light and the people will find their own way.’”

WASHINGTON — TV and radio broadcasters have a new resource to help fund internships to grow the pool of young engineering talent for the broadcast industry.

Pilot, NAB’s technology innovation initiative, in partnership with the National Association of Broadcasters Educational Foundation, today announced the launch of a new program to provide grants to NAB members that establish paid engineering and media technology internships at their radio and TV stations.

“We believe these internships will help NAB member stations attract the best and brightest and expand awareness of the exciting work that a career in broadcast technology can provide,” said NAB CTO Sam Matheny. “We are thrilled to be working with NABEF on this program, as a key component of Pilot’s technology education efforts.”

Initial grants will be for part-time internships in the spring 2019 academic term and full-time internships in the summer of next year. The program is aimed at helping NAB members that do not offer engineering or media-technology internships at the moment.

The new initiative will also help selected stations identify and support interns as well as assist with their attending the 2019 NAB Show in Las Vegas.

The deadline for NAB members to apply for the grants is Aug. 15 for the spring 2019 internships. The deadline for the summer internship grants is Nov. 2.

“Through these grants, we expect to provide more opportunities for students to explore and learn about broadcast technology and engineering,” said NABEF President Marcellus Alexander. “The result will be an increase in the pool of talent for our industry.”

More information is available on the NAB Pilot website.

[Want more information like this? Subscribe to our newsletter and get it delivered right to your inbox.]

NEW YORK—The Broadcasters Foundation of America has announced the six winners of the 2018 Ward L. Quaal Leadership Awards. BFA hands out the Leadership Awards annually to recognize career contributions to the broadcast industry and the community at-large, per the organization’s press release.

Here are the 2018 recipients:

· Marcellus Alexander, president, NAB Education Foundation

· Joe Bilotta, president and CEO, JMB Solution, LLC

· Richard Bodorff, partner, Wiley Rein LLP

· Steve Jones, vice president and general manager, ABC Radio

· Patrick Maines, former president and CEO, The Media Institute

· Bill McElveen, executive vice president, Alpha Media

The Awards will be presented during the Broadcasters Foundation annual breakfast at the NAB Show, which this year will take place on April 11 at 7 a.m. To register for the breakfast or find out additional information, contact the BFA at info@thebfoa.org.

WASHINGTON—The National Association of Broadcasters has announced that Marcellus Alexander will be stepping down from his role as the head of the NAB Television Department at the end of the year. He has been retained, however, to serve as senior advisor to the department and the TV Board through the end of 2018, according to Gordon Smith, NAB president and CEO.

Alexander will maintain his position as president of the NAB Education Foundation, a role which he has served in since 2004.

According to the press release, one reason for Alexander taking on a smaller role with the TV department is his desire to spend more time with his family.

“It has been an honor and privilege to work under Gordon’s leadership, with an engaged board, a motivated staff and talented colleagues,” said Alexander. “I look forward to continuing to help advance our rapidly evolving industry in my new role. Our work at NAB and NABEF is as important as ever, as we embrace innovation and welcome the future.”

Alexander's official last day as head of the NAB Television Department will be Dec. 31.