Exhibit 24
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

                  We,   the   undersigned    directors   of   Lee   Enterprises,
Incorporated,  hereby severally  constitute Richard D. Gottlieb,  Larry L. Bloom
and G. C.  Wahlig,  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,  in the
capacities  indicated below,  the Registration  Statement filed herewith and any
amendments to said Registration  Statement,  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  Act 1933 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 Registration Statement on Form S-3 and any
and all amendments thereto.

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this power has been
signed below by the  following  persons on behalf of the  registrant  and in the
capacities and on the date indicated:

Signature                                   Title                     Date

/s/ Lloyd G. Schermer
Lloyd G. Schermer                      Chairman of the          January 29, 1997
                                       Board of Directors

/s/ J. P. Guerin
J. P. Guerin                           Director                 January 29, 1997

/s/ Phyllis Sewell
Phyllis Sewell                         Director                 January 29, 1997

/s/ Mark Vittert
Mark Vittert                           Director                 January 29, 1997

/s/ Ronald L. Rickman
Ronald L. Rickman                      Director                 January 29, 1997

/s/ Richard W. Sonnenfeldt
Richard W. Sonnenfeldt                 Director                 January 29, 1997

/s/ Rance E. Crain
Rance E. Crain                         Director                 January 29, 1997

/s/ Charles E. Rickershauser, Jr.
Charles E. Rickershauser, Jr.          Director                 January 29, 1997

/s/ Andrew E. Newman
Andrew E. Newman                       Director                 January 29, 1997