Craig Dennis Joins Lee Enterprises as Publisher in Provo.

PROVO, Utah -- Veteran newspaper executive Craig B. Dennis will join Lee Enterprises, Incorporated (NYSE:LEE), as publisher of The Daily Herald (http://www.heraldextra.com) in Provo.

He also will become president of Pulitzer Utah Newspapers, Inc., responsible for leading a network of weekly newspapers, specialty publications and online operations in the Provo region.

Dennis, 51, currently is associate publisher and director of sales for Nevada County Publishing Co. in Grass Valley, Calif., near Sacramento. He previously was president and publisher of the Auburn Journal and senior publisher of Gold Country Media, also in the Sacramento region. His career includes extensive sales, marketing and newspaper publishing experience in the Pacific Northwest, including serving as publisher of the Community News Group, a Seattle Times Co. subsidiary; as publisher and divisional manager of the former Whidbey Press, Inc., in Oak Harbor, Wash.; and as publisher, editor and owner of the Chinook Observer, a weekly newspaper in Long Beach, Wash.

Greg R. Veon, Lee vice president for publishing, said the appointment is effective Oct. 23.

"Central Utah is one of our fastest-growing markets, and we look to Craig and our strong team in Provo to continue building on our reputation as the Number 1 source of local news, information and advertising, in both print and online," Veon said. "Craig brings an exceptional range of experience in all areas of publishing, especially in news, advertising, interactive media and community leadership. We're delighted to welcome him into Lee."

Dennis is an economics graduate of Stanford University, where he was editor of The Stanford Daily, and he received an MBA from the University of Washington. He is a member of the board of directors of Suburban Newspapers of America and is chair of the Internet and communications committee. He is a past president of the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association, where he chaired committees for advertising sales and the annual better newspaper contest. His current community activities include serving on the board of directors of the Boys and Girls Club of Auburn, where he is past chair of the marketing committee. He also serves on the board of directors of the Auburn Area Chamber of Commerce and is chair of the finance committee. He also is actively involved in Leadership Auburn and Rotary Club of Grass Valley. He is an avid cyclist and skier.

Dennis has been married 27 years to Geri, a sixth-grade teacher, and they have two adopted sons, Brandon, 17, and Rylan, 13.

"I'm excited to be joining Lee as well as serving the many communities in Utah County," Dennis said. "I feel very fortunate at having the opportunity to move to such a great market."

He succeeds Albert Manzi, who has left the company.

Lee Enterprises is a premier publisher of local news, information and advertising in primarily midsize markets, with 51 daily newspapers and a joint interest in five others, rapidly growing online sites and more than 300 weekly newspapers and specialty publications in 23 states. Lee's newspapers have circulation of 1.7 million daily and 1.9 million Sunday, reaching more than four million readers daily. Lee's online sites reach more than two million users, and Lee's weekly publications have distribution of more than 4.5 million households. In addition to Lincoln and St. Louis, Lee's newspaper markets include Madison, Wis.; Davenport, Iowa; Billings, Mont.; Bloomington, Ill.; Tucson, Ariz.; and Napa, Calif. 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.

Photo: www.lee.net/newsphoto/craig-dennis.jpg