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                                                                   Exhibit 99(b)

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

     I, Joseph G. NeCastro, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial 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
          June 30, 2002 (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/ Joseph G. NeCastro
                               -------------------------------------------------
                               Joseph G. NeCastro
                               Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

August 12, 2002

                                      E-4

