News Release Details

DECATUR, Ill., Jul 16, 2002 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Lee Enterprises (NYSE:LEE) announced today that Linda Lindus, publisher of The Southern Illinoisan in Carbondale, has been appointed publisher of the Herald & Review in Decatur. Dennis DeRossett, operations manager at The Southern, has been promoted to publisher in Carbondale.

James W. Hopson, Lee Enterprises vice president for publishing, said Lindus will continue to have group publishing responsibilities for central and southern Illinois. "She's changing her base of operations from one very fine newspaper to another," he said. "In Decatur, she'll be able to provide more direct leadership in developing regional marketing synergies with our new newspapers in Mattoon and Charleston."

He added: "Decatur's gain is not Carbondale's loss, though. Linda has developed a strong and successful team at The Southern, and she'll continue to work closely with Dennis, who has proved that he is exceptionally suited to succeed her as publisher."

At the Herald & Review, Lindus succeeds James Santori, who has left the company.

Her group publishing responsibilities include the Decatur Strategic Business unit, Journal Gazette in Mattoon, Times-Courier in Charleston and The Southern Illinoisan.

Before joining Lee two years ago as publisher in Carbondale, Lindus was an award-winning publisher and editor in Arizona and Utah, most recently publisher of The Spectrum in St. George, Utah, and chief executive officer of the company's Utah Strategic Marketing Group. In 1999, she received Thomson Newspapers' President's Award for Advertising Excellence. In 1995, she received Arizona Newspapers Association's Presidential Award in recognition as a master editor and publisher. She also served on the state's Freedom of Information and First Amendment Coalition boards. In 1992 she became the first woman to serve as president of the Arizona Newspapers Association.

She serves on the boards of the Illinois Press Association, Southern Illinois Community Foundation and Carbondale Community-City-University, and is active in Carbondale Rotary International and Southern Illinois Economic Development EDGE.

DeRossett, a veteran newspaper publisher who began his career in Carbondale, returned as operations manager a year ago, overseeing circulation, distribution and packaging, and leading the newspaper in marketing, promotion, production and readership initiatives.

"Not only is he every bit ready to lead The Southern, he has a very special love for the region, even living on a farm that has been in his family since 1840," Lindus said. "As much as I hate to leave, I'm comforted knowing that Dennis is stepping up."

DeRossett joined The Southern in 1976 while getting a journalism degree from Southern Illinois University. He later became city editor at the Harrisburg Daily Register; publisher of the Daily Journal in Eldorado, Ill.; publisher of the Evening Leader in St. Mary's, Ohio; group manager for 12 daily and weekly publications in Missouri; and publisher of the Beatrice Daily Sun in Nebraska; and publisher of the News & Eagle in Enid, Okla. He became publisher of the Effingham Daily News and Shelbyville Daily Union in 1999.

He is a member of the Southern Illinois Editorial Association board of directors. As publisher in other communities, he served on numerous civic and economic development boards. He was president of economic development boards in Enid and St. Mary's, and was president of the chamber of commerce in Beatrice. He served as a diplomat for the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. He also has been active in state press associations. While he was publisher in Enid, the News & Eagle received the Oklahoma Press Association's Sequoyah Award for general excellence two years in a row.

"I am very grateful for the opportunity to publish the daily newspaper in my home area," he said. "It has long been a dream and a goal of mine, so this is a very exciting time for me and my family."

The Herald & Review and The Southern Illinoisan are among 45 daily newspapers in Lee Enterprises. The Journal Gazette in Mattoon and the Times-Courier in Charleston joined Lee in April, along with 14 other daily newspapers acquired from Howard Publications. Lee, which is based in Davenport, Iowa, also owns more than 175 weekly newspapers and specialty publications, along with associated online services. Lee's 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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