News Release Details

DAVENPORT, Iowa--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 1, 2002--Lee Enterprises, Incorporated (NYSE:LEE), has completed the sale of two publications in southern Oregon to Ottaway Newspapers, Inc.

They are the Ashland Daily Tidings, a Monday-Saturday afternoon newspaper with circulation of 5,100, and Nickel Want Ad Newspaper, a classified advertising publication in Medford, with weekly distribution of 30,000. Terms were not disclosed.

John Wilcox, executive vice president of Ottaway, said both publications will complement reader and advertising markets served by the Medford Mail Tribune, a 27,000 paid circulation daily published by Ottaway. After the purchase, Ottaway will publish 13 daily and more than a dozen weekly newspapers in 10 states. Ottaway is a wholly owned subsidiary of Dow Jones & Company.

With the sale, Lee owns 38 daily newspapers and a joint interest in six others. Lee also owns more than 175 weekly newspapers, shoppers and classified and specialty publications, along with associated online services. Lee is based in Davenport, Iowa, and 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.

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