News Release Details

DAVENPORT, Iowa--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 23, 2005--Daniel K. Hayes, director of communications for Lee Enterprises, Incorporated (NYSE:LEE), has been appointed vice president for communications.

Hayes, 60, has overseen internal and external communications for the publishing company as it has increased its number of newspapers in recent years and expanded into online services.

"Dan plays a vital leadership role for our company, and this promotion recognizes that," said Mary Junck, Lee chairman and chief executive officer. "He's a terrific communicator and a great organizer. You can throw him anything - he gets it done, and always with grace."

Junck, who announced the promotion Friday, said Hayes' expertise and hard work helped make Lee's recent acquisition of Pulitzer newspapers a smooth and successful transition for employees throughout the company. In the June transaction, Lee acquired 14 daily newspapers, including the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and more than 100 non-daily publications.

"At the corporate office, we rely on Dan's astute counsel," Junck said.

Hayes joined Lee's corporate team in 1998 after a distinguished tenure at the Quad-City Times in Davenport. He led the newspaper as editor for 12 years, after serving as managing editor and executive editor for the previous 12 years. He has been with Lee 36 years.

"Lee has always been an exciting company, and that's especially true now. We have more great newspapers, more great people and a continuing great track record of growth," Hayes said. "What could be easier to communicate?"

In his 29 years at the Times, Hayes helped implement the world's first electronic production system. He also helped develop the Quad-City Times Bix 7 into a world-recognized race for runners. Ed Froehlich, director of the race, said Hayes "is the one most responsible for the success of the Bix 7. I don't admire anybody more than Dan Hayes."

Under Hayes' leadership, the Quad-City Times received many honors, including the Inland Press Association Community Service Award.

"He's one of the best newsmen I've ever known and the most devoted," said Bill Wundram, a long-time columnist for the Quad-City Times who worked with Hayes for many years. "He's one of my all-time favorite people."

In 2002, Hayes received a Lee President's Award for his outstanding contribution to Lee's acquisition of Howard Publications, a deal including 16 daily newspapers.

Hayes began his career in 1966 at the Galesburg Register-Mail in Illinois. He has served as a discussion leader for the American Press Institute and is a past member of the Mid-American Press Institute board of directors and the professional advisory board for the School of Journalism at the University of Iowa. He is a graduate of Southern Illinois University in journalism and of the St. Ambrose Institute for Management Development. He and his wife, Carol, have a son and a daughter.

Lee Enterprises owns 52 daily newspapers and a joint interest in six others. Lee also operates associated online services and more than 300 weekly newspapers, shoppers and classified and specialty publications. Lee is based in Davenport, Iowa, and its stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol LEE. For more information about Lee Enterprises, please visit www.lee.net.

CONTACT: Lee Enterprises, Incorporated, Davenport
Joyce Dehli, 563-383-2100
Joyce.Dehli@Lee.net

SOURCE: Lee Enterprises, Incorporated