EXHIBIT 99(a)

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Kenneth W. Lowe, President and Chief Executive Officer of The E. W. Scripps Company (the “Company”), hereby certify, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1) The Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the period ended March 31, 2003 (the “Report”), which this certification accompanies, fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

/s/    Kenneth W. Lowe

Kenneth W. Lowe

President and Chief Executive Officer

May 13, 2003

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