News Release Details

DAVENPORT, Iowa--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 20, 2002--Lee Enterprises, Incorporated (NYSE:LEE), reported today that, excluding the effects of acquisitions and divestitures, publishing revenue in October increased

• 4.3 percent compared with the previous year. Total advertising revenue increased 4.7 percent. Retail advertising revenue increased 5.9 percent. Classified revenue increased 2.6 percent, with employment advertising down 10.5 percent, automotive advertising up 5.3 percent, real estate advertising up 2.3 percent, other newspaper classified categories up 7.1 percent, and classified in alternative publications up 18.3 percent. National advertising revenue, a small category for Lee, increased 4.6 percent.

Circulation revenue was the same as a year ago. Online revenue increased 45.7 percent.

Including the results of acquisitions and divestitures, total publishing revenue increased 61.0 percent. Beginning in September 2002, Lee has revised its presentation of equity in earnings of associated companies to exclude those amounts from revenue.

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

The monthly and year-to-date statistical information follows.

                     LEE ENTERPRISES, INCORPORATED
                    Revenue and Statistical Summary
                             October 2002
                              (Unaudited)

               Publishing Revenue -- Operating Basis (1)

                             October and Year to Date
(Thousands)                 ---------------------------
                               2002      2001      %
                            --------- --------- -------
                                (2)     (2)(3)
Advertising:
  Retail..................  $ 17,758  $ 16,767    5.9 %
  National................     1,109     1,060    4.6
  Classified:
    Daily Newspapers:
      Employment..........     2,560     2,860  (10.5)
      Automotive..........     2,316     2,200    5.3
      Real Estate.........     1,952     1,909    2.3
      All Other...........     1,921     1,794    7.1
    Alternative
      publications........     1,850     1,564   18.3
                            --------- ---------
    Total Classified......    10,599    10,327    2.6
                            --------- ---------
    Total Advertising.....    29,466    28,154    4.7
Circulation...............     8,500     8,503     --
Online....................       768       527   45.7
Other.....................     5,848     5,566    5.1
                            --------- ---------
    Total -- Same Property
    Operating Basis.......    44,581    42,750    4.3
Equity Basis Adjustment...    (9,189)   (8,684)   5.8
Acquired/Divested
   Properties and Other...    20,561       681     NM
                            --------- ---------
    Total Publishing
    Revenue...............  $ 55,953  $ 34,747   61.0 %
                            ========= =========


          Daily Newspaper Advertising -- Operating Basis (1)

                             October and Year to Date
                            ---------------------------
(Thousands of Inches)          2002      2001      %
                            --------- --------- -------
                                (2)     (2)(3)
Retail...................        620       633   (2.1)%
National.................         33        36   (8.3)
Classified...............        553       562   (1.6)
                            --------- ---------
    Total, Same Property
    Operating Basis......      1,206     1,231   (2.0)%
                            ========= =========

Notes to Revenue and Statistical Summary:

(1) Operating basis includes 100% of the revenue and statistical
    information of Madison Newspapers, Inc. (MNI), which for financial
    reporting purposes is reported using the equity method of
    accounting. Lee owns 50% of the stock of MNI.
(2) The month and year to date had one more Thursday and one fewer
    Monday than the prior period.
(3) Previously reported same-property data has been restated for
    comparative purposes to exclude acquired/divested properties.
(4) The Company's fiscal year ends on September 30.
(5) The Company disclaims responsibility for updating information
    beyond release date.

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "Safe Harbor" for forward-looking statements. This release contains information that may be deemed forward-looking and 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 other uncertainties are changes in advertising demand, newsprint prices, interest rates, labor costs, legislative and regulatory rulings and other results of operations or financial conditions, difficulties in integration of acquired businesses or maintaining employee and customer relationships and increased capital and other costs. The words "may," "will," "would," "could," "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "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 made as of the date of this release. The Company does not publicly undertake to update or revise its forward-looking statements.