Brooke Johnson
Title: President, Food Category – Scripps Networks Interactive
Education: BA and MA, Northwestern University
Best Advice in 7 Words or Less: Work hard; give other people credit.
 
Laureen Ong
Title: President, Travel Channel
Number of Years in Cable: 21
Education: MA, Columbia University; BA, Montclair State
Best Advice in 7 Words or Less: Have the courage to be vulnerable.
 
Burton Jablin
Title: President, Home Category – Scripps Networks Interactive
Number of Years in Cable: 19
Education: BA, Harvard University
Best Advice in 7 Words or Less: Stay focused on what matters.

Why Them? Turns out you can go home again. And again. Scripps has built an empire around the lifestyle categories of food, home and most recently, travel—and Johnson, Ong and Jablin are the stewards of each respective category. There are never too many cooks tuning into Food Network and Cooking Channel, which Johnson continues to fortify with new programming and complement with a powerhouse of brand extensions including new wine portfolio Entwine. Ong is bringing tremendous growth to Travel Channel, including the acquisition of TC International and hit “The Layover” app. Manning the home front is Jablin, the patriarch of HGTV and DIY and its expanding roster of hits. Buoyed by the 2012 series launches “Buying & Selling,” “Love It or List It” and “Hawaii Life,” HGTV’s increased focus on home-buying led to its best Q1 ever in 2013 Primetime and Total Day, with viewership up 8% during the quarter vs. 2012. Now that’s something to write home about.

Ong

Apple or Samsung? Samsung

Beatles or The Rolling Stones? Beatles

On a Saturday afternoon, you can find me.. birding and bicycling.

This is the hobby I’ve been itching to try, but haven’t found time: Bonsais

Film fest or music festival? Film

Jablin

This is the hobby I’ve been itching to try, but haven’t found time: Learn to play the piano.

Appetizer or dessert? Appetizer

I consider this person my mentor, and here’s why: Frank Gardner, retired executive at E.W. Scripps, Fox, and CBS—the person most responsible for giving me a chance at every phase of my career and an example of intelligence, integrity, and intensity in our industry.

If I could tell my 21-year-old self something today, it would be… have more fun and try not to worry so much.

Favorite vacation spot? Queenstown, New Zealand ?

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