As summer comes to a close, Connect Clermont uses this opportunity to thank organizations that believe in the power and potential of hyper-localized news. Among its most valued partners in 2026 is the Scripps Howard Fund, whose ongoing advisory and material support advances Good News, Good Works, and Good Deeds in Clermont County.
The Scripps Howard Fund leads a mission to engage with communities through media education, childhood literacy, and vital local initiatives. For more than 60 years, the Scripps Howard Foundation and Fund have supported First Amendment issues, including the free press, and made a positive impact in communities where The E.W. Scripps Company has a presence.
Their recent contributions extend beyond financial support; by sharing experiences and setting an example for the next generation of journalists, the Scripps Howard Fund has become a valuable resource for Connect Clermont’s editorial success in 2026.
Sue Porter of the Scripps Howard Foundation and Gail Koford of Connect Clermont.Few people have brought more experience and insight to Connect Clermont’s Good News initiative than Sue Porter, retired Vice President of Programs for the Scripps Howard Foundation.
In the 1970s, Porter served as the editor of three local newspapers owned by Gerald Fortney: The Williamsburg Times, Milford Advertiser, and Clermont County Courier. She later joined Scripps and became editor of a daily edition of The Cincinnati Post serving Clermont County.
Porter’s Scripps career spanned 39 years, ultimately earning her leadership roles that supported programs like journalism education, childhood literacy, and more. She has continued to share her knowledge with Connect Clermont, serving for several years on its Good News Advisory Council, mentoring participants in its news programs and providing a Scripps Howard grant to support the organization’s work.
“Clermont County is coming of age with unprecedented economic and population growth,” Porter said. “Through its Good News efforts, Connect Clermont is not only celebrating this progress but fulfilling the need to engage people in their communities and with each other.”
She added, “It’s only natural for Scripps, one of the nation’s oldest media companies, to support Connect Clermont; Scripps has been doing well by doing good since 1878.”
Connect Clermont CEO Bob Pautke and Amanda Brown of The E.W. Scripps Company.Scripps’ commitment to education and youth development reflects the core principles of Connect Clermont’s Good Works pillar.
Amanda Brown, Vice President of Consumer Strategy and Insights for The E.W. Scripps Company, brought her professional expertise to Connect Clermont’s Content Creators & Leadership Program. Brown is a graduate of Ohio University with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism and Advertising Management and Marketing. She served as a curriculum reviewer and class instructor for high school students interested in pursuing media careers after graduation.
Brown saw firsthand the value of empowering students to apply what they are learning to real-world challenges.
“It was truly exciting to see the students so engaged in understanding how creative strategy, consumer research, and media planning can be applied to real-life advertising projects!” Brown said.
She noted that the program lets students see how brands use storytelling and content production across different facets of marketing while connecting them with professionals who share their interests.
“As a member of their Good Works Advisory Panel… I find it just as exciting and rewarding too!” she said.
WCPO's Adrian Whitsett with community leaders.Scripps demonstrated its capacity for Good Deeds during the New Richmond flood relief efforts of April 2025.
In an exclusive outdoor interview, WCPO Tri-State anchor Adrian Whitsett sat down with Connect Clermont CEO Bob Pautke, the Clermont County Emergency Management Director Pam Haverkos, Village of New Richmond Administrator Kathryn Gail Bailey, and United Way-211 Community Connections Director Amy Story.
The interview increased awareness for Connect Clermont’s flood relief donation campaign, which raised $6,100. Whitsett’s reporting appeared on-air and in WCPO and Connect Clermont digital publications. The story gave New Richmond families visibility and helped funnel volunteers and resources into additional disaster recovery efforts.
Whitsett’s involvement showed that partnership can go beyond broader education and mentoring opportunities to direct, on-the-ground reporting and support through local journalism.
Several other individuals at Scripps have maintained an ongoing relationship with Connect Clermont and its mission to amplify local voices and improve the quality of life in Clermont County.
Connect Clermont President/CEO Bob Pautke summed up the organization’s appreciation:
“The people from Scripps, Sue Porter, Amanda Brown, Mike Canan, and folks from WCPO are appreciated for their encouragement, ideas, and support in all phases of our Good News, Good Deeds, and Good Works programs.”
Their partnership reminds us that when community-minded organizations work together, good things happen.
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