<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE MARCH 31, 1996 10-Q OF LEE ENTERPRISES, INCORPORATED AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1996 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1996 <CASH> 10,617 <SECURITIES> 200 <RECEIVABLES> 60,474 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 16,973 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 102,408 <PP&E> 109,228 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 548,838 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 107,537 <BONDS> 70,319 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 93,917 <OTHER-SE> 223,026 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 548,838 <SALES> 242,768 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 242,768 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 0 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 193,925 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 4,988 <INCOME-PRETAX> 44,943 <INCOME-TAX> 18,198 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 26,745 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 26,745 <EPS-PRIMARY> .56 <EPS-DILUTED> .56