News release:



LEE ENTERPRISES WILL SELL TV STATIONS
TO EMMIS COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION

DAVENPORT, Iowa (May 8, 2000) -- Emmis Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: EMMS)
has agreed to purchase eight network-affiliated and seven satellite television
stations from Lee Enterprises (NYSE:LEE).

The  announcement  was made  today by  Jeffrey H.  Smulyan,  chairman  and chief
executive officer of Emmis Communications, and Richard D. Gottlieb, chairman and
chief executive officer of Lee Enterprises. They said the purchase price is
$562.5 million.

Emmis Communications, which is based in Indianapolis, Ind., currently owns seven
television  stations in addition to 15 radio  stations  that serve the country's
largest markets. Emmis also owns two radio networks,  several large regional and
specialty magazines, and related businesses in sales and publishing.

Smulyan  said  the  purchase   marks  a   significant   step  in  the  continued
diversification  of Emmis  Communications.  "The Lee  portfolio  offers Emmis an
excellent opportunity, with attractive properties and a strong upside," he said.
"Emmis  believes  in the future of  over-the-air  television,  its impact in the
future of local advertising dollars, and the value of the digital spectrum."

Gottlieb  said the sale will allow Lee  Enterprises  to focus on  continuing  to
expand  in  publishing,  online  and  information  services.  Lee  owns 21 daily
newspapers  and more than 80 other  weekly,  classified,  shopper and  specialty
publications,  along with associated  online  services.  Lee recently  announced
plans to buy three more daily  newspapers and 15 other  publications in Nebraska
and Wisconsin.

"Two months ago, when we announced  that our stations  would be sold, we set two
goals,"  Gottlieb  said.  "We wanted to conclude the best deal  possible for our
shareholders,  and we wanted to find a very good home for our 1,000 broadcasting
employees.  We believe we have met both goals and are absolutely  delighted that
Emmis will become the new owner."

Colleen Brown,  president of Lee Broadcasting,  said the transaction is expected
to be completed by late summer or early fall,  after  regulatory  clearances and
approval of the Federal  Communications  Commission.  Credit Suisse First Boston
and McFarland Dewey & Co. LLC facilitated the sale for Lee Enterprises.

The Lee television stations being purchased by Emmis Communications are:

     * KOIN-6 (CBS),  Portland,  Oregon (nation's 23rd largest Designated Market
       Area).
     * KRQE-13 (CBS), Albuquerque, New Mexico (49th DMA); and satellite stations
       KREZ-6 (CBS), Durango, Colorado / Farmington, New Mexico; and
       KBIM-10 (CBS), Roswell, New Mexico.
     * WSAZ-3 (NBC), Huntington / Charleston, West Virginia (59th DMA).
     * KSNW-3 (NBC), Wichita, Kansas (65th DMA); and satellite stations
       KSNG-11 (NBC), Garden City, Kansas;  KSNC-2 (NBC), Great Bend, Kansas;
       and KSNK-8 (NBC), Oberlin, Kansas.
     * KGMB-9 (CBS), Honolulu,  Hawaii (71st DMA); and satellite stations KGMD-9
       (CBS), Hilo, Hawaii; and KGMV-3 (CBS), Wailuku, Maui, Hawaii.
     * KGUN-9 (ABC), Tucson, Arizona (72nd DMA).
     * KMTV-3 (CBS), Omaha, Nebraska (73rd DMA).
     * KSNT-27 (NBC), Topeka, Kansas (138th DMA).

The Emmis purchase does not include Lee's remaining television station,  KMAZ-48
(Telemundo), El Paso, Texas (96th DMA), which will be sold separately.

Lee is based in  Davenport,  Iowa.  Its stock is  traded  on the New York  Stock
Exchange under the symbol LEE.

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The Private  Securities  Litigation  Reform Act of 1995 provides a "Safe Harbor"
for forward-looking  statements.  This news release contains certain information
that may be  deemed  forward-looking  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 uncertainties are changes in advertising  demand,
newsprint prices,  interest rates,  regulatory rulings,  availability of quality
broadcast programming at competitive prices, changes in the terms and conditions
of network affiliation  agreements,  quality and ratings of network over-the-air
broadcast programs,  legislative or regulatory initiatives affecting the cost of
delivery of  over-the-air  broadcast  programs to the Company's  customers,  and
other  economic  conditions  and the effect of  acquisitions,  investments,  and
dispositions on the Company's results of operations or financial condition.  The
words  "believe,"  "expect,"   "anticipate,"   "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 as of the date of this  report.  Further
information  concerning the Company and its businesses,  including  factors that
potentially could materially affect the Company's financial results, is included
in the Company's  annual report on Form 10-K.  The Company does not undertake to
publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements.

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A copy of this news release is available  at  www.lee.net  .
For more information, please contact Dan Hayes, 319-383-2163,  dan.hayes@lee.net
.