News Release Details

DAVENPORT, Iowa, Sep 19, 2002 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Lee Enterprises, Incorporated (NYSE:LEE), reported today that, excluding the effects of acquisitions and divestitures, publishing revenue in August decreased 1.1 percent compared with a year ago.

Total advertising revenue decreased 1.0 percent. Retail advertising revenue increased 0.6 percent. Classified revenue decreased 3.7 percent, with employment advertising down 14.1 percent, automotive advertising up 3.1 percent, real estate advertising up 13.4 percent, and other newspaper classified categories down 13.6 percent. National advertising revenue, a small category for Lee, increased 5.0 percent.

Circulation revenue increased 1.6 percent, reflecting unit growth.

Online revenue increased 23.0 percent.

Including the results of acquisitions and divestitures, total publishing revenue increased 50.8 percent.

Lee Enterprises is based in Davenport, Iowa. Lee owns 39 daily newspapers and a joint interest in six others, along with associated online services. Lee also owns more than 175 weekly newspapers, shoppers and classified and specialty publications. Its stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol LEE. More information about Lee Enterprises is available at www.lee.net.

    The monthly and year-to-date statistical information follows.

                     LEE ENTERPRISES, INCORPORATED
                    Revenue and Statistical Summary
                              August 2002
                              (Unaudited)
               Publishing Revenue -- Operating Basis (1)
                         August                   Year To Date
(Thousands)    --------------------------- ---------------------------
                  2002      2001       %      2002      2001       %
               --------- --------- ------- --------- --------- -------
                  (2)      (2)(3)             (2)      (2)(3)
Advertising:
 Retail........$ 16,979  $ 16,877    0.6 % $184,073  $183,313    0.4 %
 National......     981       934    5.0     11,069    11,515   (3.9)
 Classified:
  Daily
   Newspapers:
     Employment   2,955     3,440  (14.1)    28,858    37,669  (23.4)
     Automotive   2,459     2,385    3.1     25,244    25,039    0.8
     Real
      Estate...   2,108     1,859   13.4     20,032    19,417    3.2
     All Other.   1,823     2,109  (13.6)    19,056    18,326    4.0
  Alternative
   publications   2,044     2,031    0.6     18,902    18,834    0.4
               --------- ---------         --------- ---------
  Total
   Classified..  11,389    11,824   (3.7)   112,092   119,285   (6.0)
               --------- ---------         --------- ---------
  Total
   Advertising.  29,349    29,635   (1.0)   307,234   314,113   (2.2)
Circulation....   8,388     8,257    1.6     93,254    93,393   (0.1)
Online.........     749       609   23.0      6,831     5,606   21.9
Other..........   5,885     6,380   (7.8)    65,718    69,119   (4.9)
               --------- ---------         --------- ---------
  Total -- Same
   Property
   Operating
   Basis.......  44,371    44,881   (1.1)   473,037   482,231   (1.9)
Equity Basis
 Adjustment....  (8,625)   (8,196)    NM    (87,373)  (91,205)    NM
Acquired/
 Divested
 Properties and
 Other.........  20,578       662     NM     96,753     9,744     NM
               --------- ---------         --------- ---------
  Total
   Publishing
   Revenue.....$ 56,324  $ 37,347   50.8   $482,417  $400,770   20.4
               ========= =========         ========= =========
          Daily Newspaper Advertising -- Operating Basis (1)
                          August                  Year To Date
               --------------------------- ---------------------------
(Thousands of
 Inches)          2002      2001      %       2002      2001      %
                 -------   -------  ------   -------   -------  ------
                   (2)     (2)(3)              (2)     (2)(3)
Retail.........     615       609    1.0 %    6,675     6,776   (1.5)%
National.......      29        34  (14.7)       348       372   (6.5)
Classified.....     599       589    1.7      6,131     6,088    0.7
                 -------   -------           -------   -------
  Total, Same
   Property
   Operating
   Basis.......   1,243     1,232    0.9     13,154    13,236   (0.6)
                 =======   =======           =======   =======
Notes to Revenue and Statistical Summary:
(1) Operating basis includes 100% of the revenue and statistical
    information of Madison Newspapers, Inc. (MNI), which for financial
    reporting purposes is reported using the equity method of
    accounting. Lee owns 50% of the stock of MNI.
(2) The month had one more Saturday and one fewer Wednesday than the
    prior period. The year to date has one more Saturday and one fewer
    Sunday than the prior period.
(3) Previously reported same-property data has been restated for
    comparative purposes to exclude acquired/divested properties.
(4) The Company's fiscal year ends on September 30.
(5) The Company disclaims responsibility for updating information
    beyond release date.

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "Safe Harbor" for forward-looking statements. This release contains information that may be deemed forward-looking and that is based largely on the Company's current expectations and is subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. Among such risks, trends and other uncertainties are changes in advertising demand, newsprint prices, interest rates, labor costs, legislative and regulatory rulings and other results of operations or financial conditions, difficulties in integration of acquired businesses or maintaining employee and customer relationships and increased capital and other costs. The words "may," "will," "would," "could," "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "projects," "considers" and similar expressions generally identify forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are made as of the date of this release. The Company does not publicly undertake to update or revise its forward-looking statements.

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

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