News Release Details

DAVENPORT, Iowa--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 21, 2003--Lee Enterprises, Incorporated (NYSE:LEE), reported today that, excluding the effects of acquisitions and divestitures, publishing revenue on an operating basis increased 2.8 percent in December compared with a year ago.

Total advertising revenue increased 1.9 percent. Retail advertising revenue increased 3.3 percent. Classified revenue decreased 0.8 percent, with employment advertising down 6.5 percent, automotive advertising down 1.2 percent, real estate advertising up

• 8.7 percent, other newspaper classified categories down 2.8 percent, and classified in alternative publications up 0.1 percent. National advertising revenue, a small category for Lee, decreased 1.4 percent.

Circulation revenue increased 0.8 percent. Online revenue increased 47.7 percent.

Including the results of acquisitions and divestitures, total publishing revenue increased 59.8 percent.

Lee Enterprises is based in Davenport, Iowa. Lee owns 38 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
                             December 2002
                              (Unaudited)

               Publishing Revenue -- Operating Basis (1)

                           December                 Year To Date
(Thousands)        ------------------------ --------------------------
                    2002     2001      %      2002      2001      %
                   -------- -------- ------ --------- --------- ------
                     (2)     (2)(3)            (2)     (2)(3)
Advertising:
  Retail...........$19,699  $19,072    3.3%  $57,211   $55,246    3.6%
  National.........    944      957   (1.4)    3,127     3,161   (1.1)
  Classified:
    Daily
     Newspapers:
      Employment...  1,999    2,139   (6.5)    6,884     7,254   (5.1)
      Automotive...  2,295    2,323   (1.2)    6,993     6,841    2.2
      Real Estate..  1,681    1,546    8.7     5,521     5,122    7.8
      All Other....  1,474    1,517   (2.8)    4,918     4,824   (0.1)
    Alternative
     publications..  1,338    1,336    0.1     4,971     4,717    5.4
                   -------- --------        --------- ---------
    Total
     Classified....  8,787    8,861   (0.8)   29,188    28,758    1.5
                   -------- --------        --------- ---------
    Total
     Advertising... 29,430   28,890    1.9    89,526    87,165    2.7
Circulation........  8,964    8,897    0.8    25,859    25,683    0.7
Online.............    734      497   47.7     2,266     1,588   42.7
Other..............  5,950    5,566    6.9    17,892    17,519    2.1
                   -------- --------        --------- ---------
    Total -- Same
     Property
     Operating
     Basis......... 45,078   43,850    2.8   135,543   131,955    2.7
Equity Basis
 Adjustment........ (9,540)  (9,071)   5.2   (28,038)  (26,730)   4.9
Acquired/Divested
 Properties and
 Other............. 21,055      627    NM     63,042     2,135    NM
                   -------- --------        --------- ---------
    Total
     Publishing
     Revenue.......$56,593  $35,406   59.8% $170,547  $107,360   58.9%
                   ======== ========        ========= =========


          Daily Newspaper Advertising -- Operating Basis (1)

                                  December           Year To Date
                            -------------------- --------------------
(Thousands of Inches)        2002   2001    %     2002   2001    %
                            ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
                             (2)   (2)(3)         (2)   (2)(3)

Retail......................  714    701    1.9% 2,003  2,023   (1.0)%
National....................   25     28  (10.7)    85     96  (11.5)
Classified..................  502    513   (2.1) 1,594  1,597   (0.2)
                            ------ ------        ------ ------
    Total, Same Property
     Operating Basis........1,241  1,242     --% 3,682  3,716   (0.9)%
                            ====== ======        ====== ======

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 Tuesday and one fewer Saturday than the
    prior period. The year to date had one more Tuesday and one fewer
    Monday 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.