News Release Details

MUNSTER, Ind., Jul 16, 2002 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- William V. Monopoli, whose 23-year journalism career includes leading three daily newspapers, has joined Lee Enterprises (NYSE:LEE) as publisher of The Times of Northwest Indiana.

Monopoli, who most recently was president and publisher of the Press & Sun-Bulletin in Binghamton, N.Y., succeeds William Howard, who retired in December.

James W. Hopson, Lee Enterprises vice president for publishing, introduced Monopoli to the staff today in Munster. "Bill brings an impressive record of leadership, ingenuity and success," Hopson said. "He's both strategic and practical, and he's both a player and an exceptionally fine coach."

Monopoli, 52, noted that The Times has maintained a reputation within the industry as "the Munster Model" for ingenuity in advertising sales, production and intensity of local news coverage. "I am delighted to have the opportunity to lead a team that has been so successful in meeting the needs of readers and advertisers," he said. "As good as The Times already is, I can see that you're continually making it better."

He began his career in 1971 at the Observer-Dispatch in Utica, N.Y., working four years as a reporter and copy editor. He served four years as senior editor for legal affairs at The Financial Post in Toronto, Ontario, later working for the Canadian Bar Association as director of legislation and law reform. In 1987, he joined the Gannett Co., Inc. as publisher of Suburban Newspaper Group in Cherry Hill., N.J., operating seven weeklies. In 1989, he was promoted to president and publisher of The Times in Gainesville, Ga., and in 1991, he became president and publisher of the Times Herald in Port Huron, Mich. He advanced to the Press & Sun-Bulletin in 1997.

Monopoli received a bachelor of arts degree in government from Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y.; a master of arts degree in political science from York University in Toronto, and a juris doctor degree from Boston College Law School.

Monopoli has received numerous awards from Gannett for excellence in newspaper management.

In Binghamton, he was a board member of the Southern Tier Chapter of the American Red Cross, and in June he received the chapter's Outstanding Community Leadership Award. He also was a director of the Broome County Chamber of Commerce and Partnership 2000.

He and his wife, Mary, have a son, 13, and a daughter, 6.

The Times of Northwest Indiana publishes nine editions for 51 communities, including Munster, Hammond, Merrillville and Valparaiso. Circulation is 87,000 daily and 95,000 Sunday.

Lee Enterprises gained ownership of The Times in April through the purchase of Howard Publications. Lee is based in Davenport, Iowa. It owns 39 daily newspapers and a 50 percent interest in six others. Lee also owns more than 175 weekly newspapers, shoppers and specialty publications, along with associated online services. Its stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol LEE. More information about Lee is available at www.lee.net.

CONTACT: Lee Enterprises, Davenport Dan Hayes, 563/383-2163 dan.hayes@lee.net

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