Linda Lindus Becomes Publisher of The Pantagraph in Bloomington
BLOOMINGTON, Ill., Jun 30, 2005 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Lee Enterprises, Incorporated (NYSE:LEE), announced today that group publisher Linda Lindus has been appointed publisher of The Pantagraph in Bloomington, Ill., and president of the Pantagraph Publishing Co.
Lindus, who has been publisher of the Herald & Review in Decatur, Ill., since 2002, also oversees Lee newspapers in Carbondale, Mattoon and Charleston, Ill., and Park Hills, Mo.
Kevin Mowbray, Lee vice president for publishing, made the announcement today at staff meetings in Bloomington. He said, in part:
"Since The Pantagraph joined Lee Enterprises, you've become acquainted with Linda as your group publisher. While she's widely respected and greatly liked in that role, I can guarantee you that you'll appreciate her even more as your very own publisher. If you'd like to check me on that, just make a call to Decatur or Carbondale.
"While she was publisher in Carbondale, The Southern Illinoisan won two Lee President's Awards, increased circulation and turned in some of the best overall records in Lee. While she has been in Decatur, the Herald & Review, received Lee's top honor, Enterprise of the Year, in 2003, and The Southern Illinoisan, which remains one of the newspapers she oversees, received the same honor in 2004. Of course, she credits everyone else, but many of them make a point to credit her and the winning environment she creates."
Mary Junck, Lee chairman and chief executive officer, said Lindus also serves in other key companywide roles and is a member of the company's top executive team. "With her extensive and highly successful marketing, editing and publishing background, Linda became an indispensable resource and team captain in preparing for our just-completed acquisition of Pulitzer. When the need to fill this vacancy occurred, she was the obvious choice."
Lindus succeeds Henry Bird, who has announced plans to leave the newspaper.
"The Pantagraph serves a vibrant market," Lindus said. "In the past few months I've met many of the people who bring the newspaper to the region's residents each day and I'm excited to be joining the newspaper's great team. The Pantagraph with its historic building has been a cornerstone of downtown's history and it is wonderful to be a part of the newspaper's future."
Lindus said she is committed to editorial excellence and participating with the readers in providing a newspaper that exceeds their information and news expectations. In 2003 and 2004 the Herald & Review captured the Illinois Press Association's award for general excellence, the state's top award, as well as numerous Associated Press awards. During her tenure at The Southern Illinoisan, it held title to that award.
She joined Lee in 2000 as publisher in Carbondale and moved to Decatur as publisher and group leader in 2002. Previously, she 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. She received the Arizona Newspapers Association's Presidential Award as a master editor and publisher.
She is a board member of the Illinois Press Association, and currently serves on the boards of the Salvation Army, Decatur Police Foundation, Chamber of Commerce of Decatur and Macon County, and chairs the "Decatur, We Like It Here" Committee.
The Pantagraph is among 14 daily newspapers that Lee gained June 3 in its acquisition of Pulitzer Inc. Pantagraph Publishing Co. also publishes seven weekly newspapers and four specialty publications - Woodford County Journal and Woodford Star in Eureka, Farmer City Journal, The Heyworth Star, LeRoy Journal, The Mahomet Citizen, Community News in Bloomington, Auto Dealer, Business to Business, House to Home and HomeFinder magazines.
With the acquisition, Lee owns 52 daily newspapers and a joint interest in six others, along online services and more than 300 weekly newspapers, shoppers and specialty publications. 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.
SOURCE: Lee Enterprises
Lee Enterprises, Davenport Dan Hayes, 563-383-2163 Dan.Hayes@Lee.net