LA CROSSE, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 19, 2015--
Lee Enterprises (NYSE:LEE), a leading provider of news, information and
advertising in 50 markets, has selected Michael Burns as publisher of
the River Valley Newspaper Group. Burns, 47, will oversee operations at
the La Crosse Tribune, Winona Daily News, The Chippewa Herald and
six additional non-daily publications. He is formerly the publisher
of The Press-Enterprise in Riverside County, California.
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating officer Kevin Mowbray said
Burns is an aggressive and energetic leader with an excellent record of
achievement.
“Mike brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to Lee,” Mowbray said.
“He’s community focused with a strong commitment to local news and local
advertisers. He’ll be a great asset to the readers and businesses served
by the River Valley group.”
Burns’ career includes seven years with Freedom Communications — most
recently as publisher of The Press-Enterprise and chief revenue
officer of Freedom News Group. From 2008 to 2012, he was corporate vice
president of sales and market development, and president and publisher
of The Gazette Media Company in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Additionally, he has held key leadership positions with The Gannett
Company and Tribune Company.
“Lee Enterprises has been a leader in transforming our industry, and I’m
grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the organization,” Burns
said. “I look forward to contributing to Lee’s continued success by
serving readers with relevant and timely local news and helping
advertisers reach the markets they desire.”
Burns is a graduate of Eastern Connecticut University in Willimantic,
Connecticut and also holds a Master of Public Administration from
Florida Atlantic University. He and his wife, Megan, have three children.
He succeeds Rusty Cunningham, who was named editor of the La Crosse
Tribune — a position he also held from 1997 to 2001. Cunningham is a
36-year veteran of Lee newspapers and has been publisher of the River
Valley Newspaper Group since 2004.
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed spending more time in the newsroom since the
editorship of the Tribune became vacant a couple of months ago,”
Cunningham said. “It has reinforced that my heart lies with journalism
and covering a wonderful community.”
ABOUT LEE
Lee Enterprises is a leading provider of local news and information, and
a major platform for advertising, in its markets, with 46 daily
newspapers and a joint interest in four others, rapidly growing digital
products and nearly 300 specialty publications in 22 states. Lee's
newspapers have circulation of 1.0 million daily and 1.5 million Sunday,
reaching more than three million readers in print alone. Lee's markets
include St. Louis, MO; Lincoln, NE; Madison, WI; Davenport, IA;
Billings, MT; Bloomington, IL; and Tucson, AZ. Lee Common Stock is
traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol LEE. For more
information about Lee, please visit www.lee.net.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150519006670/en/
Source: Lee Enterprises
Lee Enterprises
Charles Arms, 563-383-2100
Director of
Communications
IR@lee.net
