Lee Enterprises Ad Revenues Up 1.8% in August

By: E&P Staff Lee Enterprises Inc. reported Monday that its same-property advertising increased 1.8% in August over the same period in 2005.

Total advertising revenue including the impact of acquisitions and divestitures over the past year -- and including the results of the recent announced sales agreement for shoppers and commercial printing operations in the Pacific Northwest -- were up 1.8% from August 2005 to $43.2 million, Lee said.

Lee said the total advertising revenue was down 2.0% at the former Pulitzer Inc., which was acquired in June 2005, Pulitzer revenue is reported in statistical periods, and for the statistical reporting period ended Aug. 27, 2006, total revenue was down 1.6%.

In St. Louis, where Lee publishes the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and community papers, advertising revenue decreased 2.8%, and total revenue was off 2.6%. In the other former Pulitzer newspapers, advertising revenue decreased 0.2,%, and total revenue increased 0.4%, Lee said.

Chairman and CEO Mary Junck said the results varied widely by region, with properties in the West turning in the best performances.

"In the Midwest, we believe our revenue results in St. Louis compare favorably with other metropolitan markets," Junck said. "More importantly, we also believe we've set the stage for strong performance in St. Louis with a continuing rollout of key actions, including a revitalized top management team, a restructured sales force and new sales programs."

In Lee's 50% partnership in Madison, Wis. -- which is reported using the equity method of accounting and is not included in same-property revenue -- advertising revenue in August increased 4.4%, and total revenue increased 1.1%.

Reporting advertising categories on a same-property basis, Lee said retail advertising increased 1.3%.

Classified advertising revenue increased 0.3 %, with a strong performance by shoppers offsetting weak help-wanted and automotive. Employment classified was down 1.1%, automotive was down 6.7%, real estate was flat, but classified in non-daily publications surged 20.9%.

National advertising revenue decreased 12.9%, Lee said. Online advertising revenue increased 42.9%, and niche publication ad revenue was also strong, up in 7.1%.

Circulation revenue decreased 0.5%, Lee said.