<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE MARCH 31, 1999 FORM 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-30-1999 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1999 <CASH> 15,859 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 64,900 <ALLOWANCES> 4,701 <INVENTORY> 3,344 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 91,617 <PP&E> 314,642 <DEPRECIATION> 180,183 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 652,126 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 72,210 <BONDS> 186,133 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 88,636 <OTHER-SE> 247,637 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 652,126 <SALES> 261,745 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 265,273 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 0 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 208,770 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 7,252 <INCOME-PRETAX> 51,152 <INCOME-TAX> 19,545 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 31,607 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 31,607 <EPS-PRIMARY> .71 <EPS-DILUTED> .70