LEE ACQUIRES PAPERS IN NEBRASKA, WISCONSIN

By: Staff Reports Madison Newspapers Expands Wisconsin Holdings



Lee Enterprises, based in Davenport, Iowa, has completed its
acquisition of three daily newspapers and 15 other publications in
Nebraska and Wisconsin.


Madison Newspapers Inc., which is half owned by Lee, also completed the
purchase of three dailies and eight other publications formerly owned
by Independent Media Group Inc.


Lee's three newest dailies include the Columbus (Neb.)
Telegram, an 11,500-circulation newspaper; the Fremont
(Neb.) Tribune, a 9,200-circulation paper; and The
Chippewa (Wis.) Herald, a 7,100-circulation daily. The other
fifteen properties included in the deal were weekly, shopper, and
total-market coverage (TMC) publications.


Madison Newspapers in Wisconsin acquired the Daily Register in
Portage, Wis., a 4,700-circulation daily; the News-Republic in
Baraboo, Wis., a 3,700 circulation daily; and the Shawano
Leader, a 6,140-circulation daily. The other publications included
in the Madison deal are three twice-weekly newspapers, one weekly
newspaper, three weekly shoppers, and one twice-weekly shopper.


Madison Newspapers will create a wholly owned subsidiary, Central
Wisconsin Newspapers, to hold the recently acquired papers.


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Staff reports









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