E. W. Scripps Co. may offer up...

E. W. Scripps Co. may offer up to 8 million common shares in an initial public offering worth as much as $144 million, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing. The firm publishes 20 daily newspapers across the country, operates nine television stations and markets syndicated columns and the “Peanuts” and “Garfield” comic strips. The company plans to sell 5.35 million class A common shares at $15 to $18 each through First Boston Corp. Proceeds from the sale will be used to help pay off debt incurred while completing acquisitions in 1986, according to the filing.