John Trevis Hearn began publishing The Sentinel in December 1886, while The News was started in 1921 by Robert P. Scripps and Roy W.[2] The two merged in 1926 under Scripps-Howard ownership, with the first edition of The Knoxville News-Sentinel appearing on November 22 of that year.The News Sentinel was added to the nation's largest newspaper company with more than 200 local dailies and USA Today.Joel Christopher, formerly of Louisville Courier Journal, was appointed the executive editor[5] at Knoxville News Sentinel in January 2019.[citation needed] The News Sentinel has sponsored four winners of the Scripps National Spelling Bee: Cites Sources