EXHIBIT 24

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY



We, the undersigned directors of Lee Enterprises, Incorporated, hereby severally
constitute  Richard D. Gottlieb and Larry L. Bloom,  and each of them,  our true
and lawful  attorneys  with full power to them, and each of them, to sign for us
and in our names, the capacities indicated below, the Annual Report on Form 10-K
of Lee Enterprises, Incorporated for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1996 to
be filed herewith and any amendments to said Annual Report, and generally do all
such things in our name and behalf in our  capacities as directors to enable Lee
Enterprises,  Incorporated  to  comply  with the  provisions  of the  Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 as amended,  and all  requirements  of the  Securities  and
Exchange Commission,  hereby ratifying and confirming our signatures as they may
be signed by our said  attorneys,  or either of them,  to said Annual  Report on
Form 10-K and any and all amendments thereto.

                                                          Date

/s/ Rance E. Crain
Rance E. Crain, Director                             November 13, 1996

/s/ J. P. Guerin
J. P. Guerin, Director                               November 13, 1996

/s/ Andrew E. Newman
Andrew E. Newman, Director                           November 13, 1996

/s/ Charles E. Rickershauser, Jr.
Charles E. Rickershauser, Jr., Director              November 13, 1996

/s/ Ronald L. Rickman
Ronald L. Rickman                                    November 13, 1996

/s/ Lloyd G. Schermer
Lloyd G. Schermer, Chairman of the Board
  and Director                                       November 13, 1996

/s/ Phyllis Sewell
Phyllis Sewell, Director                             November 13, 1996

/s/ Richard W. Sonnenfeldt
Richard W. Sonnenfeldt                               November 13, 1996

/s/ Mark Vittert
Mark Vittert, Director                               November 13, 1996