LEE ENTERPRISES, Inc - Annual Report: 2009 (Form 10-K)

Table of Contents

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

[X]  ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Fiscal Year Ended September 27, 2009

OR

[  ]  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission File Number 1-6227

LEE ENTERPRISES, INCORPORATED

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

201 N. Harrison Street, Suite 600, Davenport, Iowa 52801

(Address of principal executive offices)

(563) 383-2100

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code

Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.  Yes [    ]  No [X]

Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.  Yes [    ]  No [X]

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes [X]  No  [    ]

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this Chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  [X]

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act:

Large accelerated filer  [    ]        Accelerated filer  [    ]        Non-accelerated filer  [X]        Smaller Reporting Company  [    ]

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).  Yes [    ]  No [X]

State the aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at which the common equity was last sold, or the average bid and asked price of such common equity, as of the last business day of the Registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter. Based on the closing price of the Registrant’s Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on March 27, 2009: approximately $12,576,000. For purposes of the foregoing calculation only, as required, the Registrant has included in the shares owned by affiliates the beneficial ownership of Common Stock and Class B Common Stock of officers and directors of the Registrant and members of their families, and such inclusion shall not be construed as an admission that any such person is an affiliate for any purpose.

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of November 30, 2009. Common Stock, $2 par value, 39,103,410 shares and Class B Common Stock, $2 par value, 5,766,805 shares.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the Lee Enterprises, Incorporated Definitive Proxy Statement to be filed in January 2010 are incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a “safe harbor” for forward-looking statements. This report contains information that may be deemed forward-looking that is based largely on Lee Enterprises, Incorporated’s current expectations, and is subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. Among such risks, trends and other uncertainties, which in some instances are beyond its control, are the Company’s ability to generate cash flows and maintain liquidity sufficient to service its debt, and comply with or obtain amendments or waivers of the financial covenants contained in its credit facilities, if necessary.

Other risks and uncertainties include the impact and duration of continuing adverse economic conditions, changes in advertising demand, potential changes in newsprint and other commodity prices, energy costs, interest rates and the availability of credit due to instability in the credit markets, labor costs, legislative and regulatory rulings, difficulties in achieving planned expense reductions, maintaining employee and customer relationships, increased capital costs, competition and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company’s publicly filed documents.

Any statements that are not statements of historical fact (including statements containing the words “may”, “will”, “would”, “could”, “believes”, “expects”, “anticipates”, “intends”, “plans”, “projects”, “considers” and similar expressions) generally should be considered forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are made as of the date of this report. The Company does not undertake to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements.

PART I

The Company experienced significant net losses in 2009 and 2008, due primarily to impairment of goodwill and other assets, and its financial position and liquidity have deteriorated. The information included herein should be evaluated in that context. See Item 1A, “Risk Factors”, and Notes 6 and 7 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, included herein, for additional information.

References to 2009, 2008, 2007 and the like mean the fiscal years ended the last Sunday in September.

ITEM 1.  BUSINESS

Lee Enterprises, Incorporated (the “Company”), is a premier provider of local news, information and advertising in primarily midsize markets, with 49 daily newspapers and a joint interest in four others, rapidly growing online sites and nearly 300 weekly newspapers and specialty publications in 23 states.

The Company is consistently focused on six key strategic priorities. They are to:

Certain aspects of these priorities are discussed below.

The Company was founded in 1890, incorporated in 1950, and listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) in 1978. Until 2001, the Company also operated a number of network-affiliated and satellite television stations. The Company has acquired and divested a number of businesses since 2001. The most significant of these transactions is discussed below.

PULITZER ACQUISITION

In 2005, the Company acquired Pulitzer Inc. (“Pulitzer”). Pulitzer published 14 daily newspapers and more than 100 weekly newspapers and specialty publications. Pulitzer also owned a 50% interest in TNI

1

Table of Contents

Partners (“TNI”), as described more fully below. The acquisition of Pulitzer increased the Company’s paid circulation by more than 50% and revenue by more than 60% at that time.

Pulitzer newspaper operations include St. Louis, Missouri, where its subsidiary, St. Louis Post-Dispatch LLC (“PD LLC”), publishes the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the only major daily newspaper serving the greater St. Louis metropolitan area, and a variety of specialty publications, and operates its related websites. St. Louis newspaper operations also include the Suburban Journals of Greater St. Louis, a group of weekly newspapers and niche publications that focus on separate communities within the metropolitan area.

Pulitzer and its subsidiaries and affiliates currently publish 12 daily newspapers and operate the related websites, as well as publish approximately 75 weekly newspapers, shoppers and niche publications that serve markets in the Midwest, Southwest and West. In 2006, the Company sold the assets of The Daily News in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, the smallest of these newspapers. In 2008, the Company sold the assets of The Daily Chronicle in DeKalb, Illinois.

TNI Partners

As a result of the acquisition of Pulitzer, the Company owns a 50% interest in TNI, the Tucson, Arizona, newspaper partnership. TNI, acting as agent for the Company’s subsidiary, Star Publishing Company (“Star Publishing”), and the owner of the remaining 50%, Citizen Publishing Company (“Citizen”), a subsidiary of Gannett Co., Inc., (“Gannett”) is responsible for printing, delivery, advertising and circulation of the Arizona Daily Star and, until May 2009, the Tucson Citizen, as well as their related online operations and specialty publications. In May 2009, Citizen discontinued print publication of the Tucson Citizen.

TNI collects all receipts and income and pays substantially all operating expenses incident to the partnership’s operations and publication of the newspapers and other media. Each newspaper was solely responsible for its own news and editorial content. Under the amended and restated operating agreement between Star Publishing and Citizen (the “Agency Agreement”), the Arizona Daily Star remains the separate property of Star Publishing. Results of TNI are accounted for using the equity method. Income or loss of TNI (before income taxes) is allocated equally to Star Publishing and Citizen.

Until May 2009, upon discontinuation of print publication of the Tucson Citizen, TNI was subject to the provisions of the Newspaper Preservation Act of 1970 which permits joint operating agreements between newspapers under certain circumstances without violation of the Federal antitrust laws. Agency agreements generally allow newspapers operating in the same market to share certain printing and other facilities and to pool certain revenue and expenses in order to decrease aggregate expenses and thereby allow the continuing operation of multiple newspapers in the same market.

The TNI agency agreement (“Agreement”), which remains in effect, has governed the operation since 1940. Both the Company and Citizen incur certain administrative costs and capital expenditures that are reported by their individual companies. The Agreement expires in 2015, but contains an option, which may be exercised by either party, to renew the agreement for successive periods of 25 years each. Star and Citizen also have a reciprocal right of first refusal to acquire the 50% interest in TNI owned by Citizen and Star, respectively, under certain circumstances.

MADISON NEWSPAPERS

The Company owns 50% of the capital stock of Madison Newspapers, Inc. (“MNI”) and 17% of the nonvoting common stock of The Capital Times Company (“TCT”). TCT owns the remaining 50% of the capital stock of MNI. MNI publishes daily and Sunday newspapers, and other publications in Madison, Wisconsin, and other Wisconsin locations, and operates their related online sites. MNI conducts business under the trade name Capital Newspapers. The Company has a contract to furnish the editorial and news content for the Wisconsin State Journal, which is published by MNI, and periodically provides other services to MNI. Results of MNI are accounted for using the equity method. Net income or loss of MNI (after income taxes) is allocated equally to the Company and TCT. In 2006, MNI sold the assets of its Shawano, Wisconsin, daily newspaper. In 2008, one of MNI’s daily newspapers in Madison, The Capital Times, decreased print publication from six days per week to one day.

2

Table of Contents

ADVERTISING

Approximately 73% of the Company’s 2009 revenue was derived from advertising. The Company’s strategies are to increase its share of local advertising through increased sales activities in its existing markets and, over time, to increase its print and online audiences through internal expansion into existing and contiguous markets and enhancement of online offerings. The Company’s advertising results consistently outperform national averages, as compiled by the Newspaper Association of America (“NAA”).

Several of the Company’s businesses operate in geographic groups of publications, or “clusters” which provide operational efficiencies and extend sales penetration. Operational efficiencies are obtained through consolidation of sales forces, back office operations such as finance or human resources, management or production of the publications. Sales penetration can improve if the sales effort is successful in cross-selling advertising into multiple publications and online. A table under the caption “Daily Newspapers and Markets” in Item 1 identifies those groups of the Company’s newspapers operating in clusters.

The Company’s newspapers and classified and specialty publications compete with newspapers having national or regional circulation, magazines, radio, network, cable and satellite television, other advertising media such as outdoor, mobile, and movie theater promotions, other classified and specialty publications, direct mail, yellow pages directories, as well as other information content providers such as online sites. Competition for advertising is based on audience size and composition, circulation levels, readership demographics, distribution and display mechanisms, price and advertiser results. In addition, several of the Company’s daily and Sunday newspapers compete with other local daily or weekly newspapers. The Company estimates that it captures a substantial share of the total advertising dollars spent in each of its markets.

The number of competitors in any given market varies. However, all of the forms of competition noted above exist to some degree in the Company’s markets, including those listed in the table under the caption “Daily Newspapers and Markets” in Item 1.

The following broadly define major categories of advertising revenue, in descending order of importance:

Retail advertising is revenue earned from sales of display advertising space in the publication, or for preprinted advertising inserted in the publication, to local accounts or regional and national businesses with local retail operations.

Classified advertising, which includes employment, automotive, real estate for sale or rent, legal and other categories, is revenue earned from sales of advertising space in the classified section of the publication or from publications consisting primarily of such advertising. Classified publications are periodic advertising publications available in racks or delivered free, by carriers or third-class mail, to all, or selected, households in a particular geographic area. Classified publications offer advertisers a cost-effective local advertising vehicle and are particularly effective in larger markets with higher media fragmentation.

Online advertising consists of display, banner, behavioral targeting, search, rich media, directories, classified or other advertising on websites associated and integrated with the Company’s print publications or on third party affiliated websites, such as Yahoo! Inc. (“Yahoo!”).

National advertising is revenue earned from display advertising space, or for preprinted advertising inserted in the publication, to national accounts, if there is no local retailer representing the account in the market.

Niche publications are specialty publications, such as lifestyle, business, health or home improvement publications that contain significant amounts of advertising.

The Company’s many geographic markets have differences in their advertising rate structures, some of which are highly complex. A single operation often has scores of rate alternatives.

3

Table of Contents

The advertising environment is influenced by the state of the overall economy, including unemployment rates, inflation, energy prices and consumer interest rates. The Company’s enterprises are primarily located in midsize and smaller markets. Historically these markets have been more stable than major metropolitan markets during downturns in advertising spending but may not experience increases in such spending as significant as those in major metropolitan markets in periods of economic improvement.

ONLINE ADVERTISING AND SERVICES

The Company’s online activities include websites supporting each of its daily newspapers and certain of its other publications. Internet activities of the newspapers, except for TNI and MNI, are reported and managed as a part of the Company’s publishing operations.

In 2007, the Company, in conjunction with several other major publishing organizations (“Consortium”), entered into a strategic alliance with Yahoo!, in which the Consortium offers its classified employment advertising customer base the opportunity to also post job listings and other employment products on Yahoo!’s HotJobs national platform. In addition, the Consortium and Yahoo! have worked together to provide new behavioral targeting, search, content and local applications across the newspapers’ online sites, further enhancing the value of these sites as a destination for online users. The Consortium currently includes more than 30 companies and approximately 800 local newspapers across the United States.

The Company also owns 82.5% of an Internet service company, INN Partners, L.C. (doing business as TownNews.com), which provides online infrastructure and online publishing services for more than 1,500 daily and weekly newspapers and shoppers, including those of the Company.

Until 2008, online businesses of the Company experienced rapid growth. Online advertising represented 6.8% of total advertising revenue in 2009. Online page views increased 7.9% between September 2008 and September 2009.

4

Table of Contents

AUDIENCES

Based on independent research, the Company estimates that, in an average week, its newspapers and online sites reach approximately 68% of adults in its larger markets. In the St. Louis market, Scarborough Research estimates the St. Louis Post Dispatch and STLToday.com reach almost 65% of adults, ranking first for combined reach in the 30 most populated U.S. markets. The Company’s extensive array of suburban newspapers and other publications further increases reach in St. Louis and other markets. Readership by young adults is significant in the Company’s larger markets, and is also growing, as summarized in the table below. The Company is reaching an increasingly larger share of the market through stable newspaper readership and rapid online audience growth, as illustrated in the table below, as well as through additional specialty and niche publications.

Audience reach is summarized as follows:

After advertising, print circulation is the Company’s largest source of revenue. The Company generally does not charge for online access to its content. According to Editor and Publisher International Yearbook data as reported by the NAA, nationwide daily newspaper circulation unit sales have decreased 23% cumulatively through 2008 since their peak in 1984 and Sunday circulation unit sales have decreased 23% since their peak in 1990. The number of daily newspapers declined 17% from 1984 to 2008 and the number of Sunday newspapers increased 5% from 1990 to 2008. For the six months ended September 2009, the Company’s daily circulation, which includes TNI and MNI, as measured by the Audit Bureau of Circulations (“ABC”) declined 6.4%, and Sunday circulation declined 5.8%, outperforming the industry as a whole, which experienced declines of 10.6% daily and 7.4% Sunday. Since September 2001, the Company’s daily and Sunday circulation have declined cumulatively by 14.0% and 5.1%, respectively. These changes represent average annual declines of 1.8% and 0.6%, respectively. Such results are, in substantially all reporting periods, better than industry averages.

Growth in print and online audiences can, over time, also positively impact advertising revenue. The Company’s strategies to improve audiences include continuous improvement of content and promotional efforts. Content can include focus on local news, features, scope of coverage, headline accuracy, presentation, writing style, tone, type style and reduction of factual errors. Promotional efforts include advertising, contests and other initiatives to increase awareness of the products. Customer service can also influence print circulation.

The Company’s enterprises are also focused on increasing the number of subscribers who pay for their subscriptions via automated payment mechanisms, such as credit cards or bank account withdrawals. Customers using these payment methods have historically higher retention. Other initiatives vary from location to location and are determined principally by management at the local level in collaboration with senior management of the Company. Competition for print circulation is generally based on the content, journalistic quality and price of the publication.

Audience competition exists in all markets, even from unpaid products, but is most significant in markets with competing local daily newspapers. These markets tend to be near major metropolitan areas, where the size of the population may be sufficient to support more than one daily newspaper.

The Company’s circulation sales channels continue to evolve through an emphasis on targeted direct mail and email to acquire new subscribers and retain current subscribers.

5

Table of Contents

DAILY NEWSPAPERS AND MARKETS

The Company, TNI and MNI publish the following daily newspapers and maintain the following primary online sites:

6

Table of Contents

7

Table of Contents

COMMERCIAL PRINTING

The Company offers commercial printing services through the following entities:

Certain of the Company’s newspapers also directly provide commercial printing services. Commercial printing business is highly competitive and generally has lower operating margins than newspapers.

NEWSPRINT

The basic raw material of newspapers, and classified and specialty publications, is newsprint. The Company and its subsidiaries purchase newsprint from U.S. and Canadian producers. The Company believes it will continue to receive a supply of newsprint adequate for its needs and considers its relationships with newsprint producers to be good. Newsprint prices are volatile and fluctuate based upon factors that include foreign currency exchange rates and both foreign and domestic production capacity and consumption. Between September 2008 and September 2009, the FOEX 30-pound newsprint price index declined 37.7% overall, but rose early in 2009. Price fluctuations can have a significant effect on the results of operations. The Company has not entered into derivative contracts for newsprint. For the quantitative impacts of these fluctuations, see Item 7A, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk”, included herein.

8

Table of Contents

EXECUTIVE TEAM

The following table lists executive team members of the Company as of November 30, 2009:

Mary E. Junck was elected Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer in 2002. From 2001 to 2002 she served as President and Chief Executive Officer. From 2000 to 2001 she served as President and Chief Operating Officer. From 1999 to 2000 she served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.

Joyce L. Dehli was appointed Vice President – News in February 2006. From April 2005 to February 2006, she served as Director of Editorial Development. From October 2004 to April 2005 she served as Editorial Training Manager. From 2003 to October 2004 she served as Managing Editor of the Wisconsin State Journal.

Paul M. Farrell was appointed Vice President – Sales & Marketing in May 2007. From 2004 to May 2007 he served as Senior Vice President of The Providence Journal Co., a subsidiary of A.H. Belo Corp. From 1999 to 2004 he served as Advertising Director of The Boston Globe, a division of the New York Times Company.

Suzanna M. Frank was appointed Vice President – Audience in March 2008. From 2003 to March 2008 she served as Director of Research and Marketing. From 2001 to 2003 she served as Market Research Manager for the San Diego Union-Tribune.

9

Table of Contents

Karen J. Guest was appointed Vice President – Law and Chief Legal Officer in July 2006. From 2003 until July 2006, she served as General Counsel to PAJ, Inc.

Michael R. Gulledge was elected a Vice President – Publishing in May 2005 and named Publisher of the Billings Gazette in 2000. From 2002 to May 2005 he served as a Group Publisher.

Daniel K. Hayes was appointed Vice President – Corporate Communications in September 2005. From 1998 to September 2005 he served as Director of Communications.

Brian E. Kardell was appointed Vice President – Production and Chief Information Officer in 2003.

Vytenis P. Kuraitis was elected Vice President – Human Resources in 1997.

Kevin D. Mowbray was elected a Vice President – Publishing in November 2004 and named Publisher of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch in May 2006. From November 2004 to May 2006 he served as Publisher of The Times. From 2002 to November 2004 he served as Vice President – Sales & Marketing.

Gregory P. Schermer was elected Vice President – Interactive Media in 1997. He was elected to the Board of Directors of the Company in 1999. From 1989 to July 2006, he also served as Corporate Counsel of the Company.

Carl G. Schmidt was elected Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer in 2001.

Greg R. Veon was elected a Vice President – Publishing in 1999.

EMPLOYEES

At September 27, 2009, the Company had approximately 7,200 employees, including approximately 1,800 part-time employees, exclusive of MNI and TNI. Full-time equivalent employees at September 27, 2009, totaled approximately 6,400. The Company considers its relationships with its employees to be good.

Bargaining unit employees represent 574, or 67%, of the total employees of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch has contracts with bargaining unit employees with expiration dates through 2012. New contracts were reached with various units in the last several years: the Graphic Communications Conference/IBT Local 38N (81 press operators) was signed in 2006 and expires in 2012; the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, District No. 9 (9 machinists), was signed in 2008 and expires in 2011; the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, District No. 9 (6 electricians), was signed in 2008 and expires in 2011; the Communication Workers of America AFL-CIO Local 14620 (206 mailers), was signed in 2004 and expires in 2011; Miscellaneous Drivers, Helpers, and Healthcare and Public Employee Union 610 (11 dock employees), was signed in 1997 and expires in 2010, and the St. Louis Typographical Union No. 8/CWA 14616, (7 employees) was signed in 2009 and expires in 2012. Additionally, the union representing the paperhandlers, Graphic Communications International Union Local 16H, disclaimed interest in the unit (30 part time employees) in 2008. All St. Louis Post-Dispatch labor contracts contain no-strike clauses.

The contract for the St. Louis Newspaper Guild, Local 36047 (“Guild”), representing 254 employees expired in June 2009 and is currently in negotiations. Terms of the expired Guild contract remain in effect until the negotiations are completed or declared to be at an impasse. If an impasse is declared, certain changes to terms of the expired contract requested by management in the negotiations can be implemented by the Company and, at that time, the no-strike condition of the expired contract would no longer be applicable.

Approximately 87 employees in six additional locations are represented by collective bargaining units. Contracts at two of these locations have expired and negotiations are ongoing.

In December 2008, employees of selected departments of The Pantagraph, in an election conducted by the National Labor Relations Board, overwhelmingly rejected an organization attempt by the Guild.

10

Table of Contents

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND PUBLIC INFORMATION

The Company has a long, substantial history of progressive corporate governance practices. The Board of Directors has a lead independent director, and has had one for many years. Currently, eight of ten members of the Board of Directors are independent, as are all members of the Board’s Audit, Executive Compensation and Nominating and Corporate Governance committees. The Audit Committee approves all services to be provided by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm and its affiliates.

At www.lee.net, one may access a wide variety of information, including news releases, Securities and Exchange Commission filings, financial statistics, annual reports, investor presentations, governance documents, newspaper profiles and online links. The Company makes available via its website all filings made by the Company under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, and related amendments, as soon as reasonably practicable after they are filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. All such filings are available free of charge. The content of any website referred to in this Form 10-K is not incorporated by reference into this Form 10-K unless expressly noted.

OTHER MATTERS

In the opinion of management, compliance with present statutory and regulatory requirements respecting environmental quality will not necessitate significant capital outlays, materially affect the earnings of the Company, or cause material changes in the Company’s business, whether present or intended. The United States Congress is currently considering significant, additional environmental legislation related to carbon emissions. The impact of such legislation, if and when enacted into law, cannot be determined at this time.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

Risk exists that the Company’s past results may not be indicative of future results. A discussion of certain of the most significant of these risks follows. See also, “Forward-Looking Statements”, included herein. In addition, a number of other factors (those identified elsewhere in this document and others, both known and unknown) may cause actual results to differ materially from expectations.

DEBT AND LIQUIDITY

The Company has a substantial amount of debt, as more fully discussed (and certain capitalized terms used below defined) in Item 7, “Liquidity and Capital Resources” and Note 7 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, included herein. In February 2009, the Company completed a comprehensive restructuring of its Credit Agreement and a refinancing of its Pulitzer Notes debt, substantially enhancing its liquidity and operating flexibility until April 2012. The Company disclosed in its 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K, in part, that the ability to extend or refinance the Pulitzer Notes as they become due and to delay the acceleration of debt maturities upon the expiration of existing waivers of default under both the Credit Agreement and the Pulitzer Notes, were factors that raised significant uncertainty about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The restructuring of the Credit Agreement and refinancing of the Pulitzer Notes resolved these issues.

The Company expects to utilize a portion of its capacity under its revolving credit facility to fund part of 2010 principal payments required under the Credit Agreement. At September 27, 2009, the Company had $275,450,000 outstanding under the revolving credit facility, and after consideration of the 2009 Amendments and letters of credit, has approximately $83,000,000 available for future use. Including cash and restricted cash, the Company’s liquidity at September 27, 2009 totals $99,900,000. This liquidity amount excludes any future cash flows. Mandatory principal payments on debt in 2010 total $89,800,000. The Company expects all 2010 interest payments and a substantial amount of principal payments due in 2010 will be satisfied by the Company’s continuing cash flows.

The Company’s ability to operate as a going concern is dependent on its ability to remain in compliance with debt covenants and to refinance or amend its debt agreements as they become due, or earlier if available liquidity is consumed. The Company is in compliance with its debt covenants at September 27, 2009.

11

Table of Contents

There are numerous potential consequences under the Credit Agreement, and Guaranty Agreement and Note Agreement related to the Pulitzer Notes, if an Event of Default occurs and is not remedied. Many of those consequences are beyond the control of the Company, Pulitzer, and PD LLC, respectively. The occurrence of one or more Events of Default would give rise to the right of the Lenders or the Noteholders, or both of them, to exercise their remedies under the Credit Agreement and the Note and Guaranty Agreements, respectively, including, without limitation, the right to accelerate all outstanding debt and take actions authorized in such circumstances under applicable collateral security documents.

The 2010 Redemption, as more fully discussed in Note 19 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, included herein, eliminated the potential requirement for a substantial cash outflow in April 2010. This event also substantially enhanced the Company’s liquidity.

As of November 30, 2009, the full amount of the outstanding balance under the Credit Agreement is subject to floating interest rates as all interest rate swaps and collars expired or were terminated. See Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation”, and Item 7A, “Interest Rates”, included herein, for additional information on the risks associated with the Company’s financing arrangements.

ECONOMIC CONDITIONS

According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, the United States economy entered a recession in the three months ended December 2007 and it is widely believed that certain elements of the economy, such as housing, were in decline before that time. 2009 and 2008 revenue, operating results and cash flows were significantly impacted by the recession. United States gross domestic product increased in the three months ended September 2009, potentially signaling the end of the current recession. The duration and depth of an economic recession in markets in which the Company operates may further reduce its future advertising and circulation revenue, operating results and cash flows.

OPERATING REVENUE

A significant portion of the Company’s revenue is derived from advertising. The demand for advertising is sensitive to the overall level of economic activity, both nationally and locally.

Operating revenue in most categories decreased in 2009 and 2008 and may decrease in the future. Such decreases may not be offset by growth in advertising in other categories, such as online revenue which, until 2008, had been rising significantly. There can also be no assurance such online growth will resume. Historically, newspaper publishing has been viewed as a cost-effective method of delivering various forms of advertising. There can be no guarantee that this historical perception will guide future decisions on the part of advertisers. To the extent that advertisers shift advertising expenditures to other media outlets, including those on the Internet, the profitability of the Company’s business may continue to be impacted.

The rates the Company charges for advertising are, in part, related to the size of the audience of its publications and websites. There is significant competition for readers and viewers from other media. The Company’s business may be adversely affected to the extent individuals decide to obtain news, entertainment, classified listings and local shopping information from Internet-based or other media, to the exclusion of the Company’s outlets for such information.

Retail Advertising

Many advertisers, including major retail store chains, automobile manufacturers and dealers, banks and telecommunications companies, have experienced significant merger and acquisition activity over the last several years, and some have gone out of business, effectively reducing the number of brand names under which the merged entities operate. The Company’s retail revenue is also being impacted by the current economic environment. For example, a decline in the housing market negatively impacts retail advertising related to home improvement, furniture and home electronics.

Classified Advertising

Classified advertising is the category that has been most significantly impacted by the current economic environment. In 2008, as the recession accelerated, employment classified advertising, including both print and online, declined as unemployment increased. This trend continued in 2009.

12

Table of Contents

In 2009, 2008 and 2007, real estate classified advertising also suffered declines due primarily to cyclical issues, such as declining sale prices and an increase in unsold homes, affecting the residential real estate market nationally. In 2009 this decline accelerated due to the access to, and limitations on, residential mortgage funding.

Automotive classified advertising revenue declined in 2009, 2008 and 2007, due to industry-wide issues affecting certain domestic auto manufacturers and the overall decline in economic conditions leading to the current recession.

See Item 1, “Advertising”, included herein, for additional information on the risks associated with advertising revenue.

Circulation

Though the Company’s overall audience is growing, and its circulation unit results have outperformed the industry, circulation unit sales have nonetheless been declining fractionally for several years. The possibility exists that future circulation price increases may be delayed or reduced as a result of future declines in circulation unit sales, and that price decreases may be necessary to retain or grow circulation unit volume. The Company is reaching increasingly larger audiences through stable newspaper readership and rapid online audience growth. Nonetheless, declines in circulation unit sales could also adversely impact advertising revenue.

See Item 1, “Audiences”, included herein, for additional information on the risks associated with circulation revenue.

OPERATING EXPENSES

The Company reduced operating expenses, excluding depreciation, amortization, impairment charges and other unusual costs, by $150,033,000, or 18.3%, in 2009, by $26,995,000, or 3.2% in 2008 and expects to reduce such operating expenses by an additional 6-7% in 2010. Such expense reductions are not expected to significantly impact the Company’s ability to deliver advertising and content to its customers.

The results of future labor negotiations could affect the Company’s operating results. For additional information concerning the Company’s labor relations, see Item 1, “Employees”, included herein.

Newsprint comprises a significant amount of the Company’s operating costs. See Item 1, “Newsprint” and Item 7A, “Commodities” included herein, for additional information on the risks associated with changes in newsprint costs.

GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

The Company has significant amounts of goodwill and identified intangible assets. In 2009 and 2008, the Company recorded substantial impairment charges to reduce the value of certain of these assets. Should general economic, market or business conditions continue to decline, and have a negative impact on the Company’s stock price or cash flows, the Company may be required to record additional impairment charges in the future. See Item 7, “Critical Accounting Policies”, included herein, for additional information on the risks associated with such assets.

EQUITY CAPITAL

As of December 24, 2008, the Company’s Common Stock traded at an average 30-day closing market price of less than $1 per share. Under the NYSE listing standards, if the Company’s Common Stock fails to maintain an adequate per share price and total market capitalization, the Company’s Common Stock could be removed from the NYSE and traded in the over the counter market. In December 2008, the NYSE notified the Company that it did not meet the NYSE continued listing standard due to its failure to maintain an adequate share price. Subsequent to that date, the NYSE temporarily suspended the standard through July 2009, and extended Lee’s six-month cure period until December 2009. In

13

Table of Contents

September 2009, the NYSE notified Lee that its average share price had risen sufficiently to cure the share price deficiency. As of November 30, 2009, the Company’s Common Stock traded at an average 30-day closing market price of $3.64 per share and its equity market capitalization totaled approximately $162,000,000. All of these factors, along with volatile equity market conditions, could limit the Company’s ability to raise new equity capital in the future.

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

None.

ITEM 2.  PROPERTIES

The Company’s executive offices are located in leased facilities at 201 North Harrison Street, Suite 600, Davenport, Iowa. The lease expires in 2019.

All of the Company’s principal printing facilities except Madison, Wisconsin (which is owned by MNI), Tucson (which is jointly owned by Star Publishing and Citizen), St. Louis (as described below) and leased land for the Helena, Montana and Lihue, Hawaii plants, are owned. All facilities are well maintained, in good condition, suitable for existing office and publishing operations, as applicable, and adequately equipped. With the exception of St. Louis, none of the Company’s facilities is individually significant to its business.

Information related to St. Louis facilities at September 27, 2009 is as follows:

Several of the Company’s daily newspapers, as well as many of the Company’s and MNI’s nearly 300 other publications, are printed at other Company facilities, or such printing is outsourced, to enhance operating efficiency. The Company is continuing to evaluate additional insourcing and outsourcing opportunities in order to more effectively manage its operating and capital costs.

The Company’s newspapers and other publications have formal or informal backup arrangements for printing in the event of a disruption in production capability.

ITEM 3.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

The Company is involved in a variety of legal actions that arise in the normal course of business. Insurance coverage mitigates potential loss for certain of these matters. While the Company is unable to predict the ultimate outcome of these legal actions, it is the opinion of management that the disposition of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements, taken as a whole.

In 2008, a group of newspaper carriers filed suit against the Company in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California, claiming to be employees and not independent contractors of the Company. The plaintiffs seek relief related to violation of various employment-based statutes, and request punitive damages and attorneys’ fees. The suit is in the discovery stage and an initial decision by the judge regarding class certification is expected in 2010. At this time the Company is unable to predict whether the ultimate economic outcome, if any, could have a material effect on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements, taken as a whole. The Company denies the allegations of employee status, consistent with past practices of the Company and the industry, and intends to vigorously contest the action, which is not covered by insurance.

ITEM 4.  SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

No matters were submitted to a vote of security holders during the 13 weeks ended September 27, 2009.

14

Table of Contents

PART II

ITEM 5.  MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT’S COMMON STOCK,

RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Common Stock of the Company is listed on the NYSE. Class B Common Stock is not traded on an exchange but is readily convertible to Common Stock. Class B Common Stock was issued to stockholders of record of the Company in 1986 pursuant to a 100% stock dividend and is converted at sale, or at the option of the holder, into Common Stock. The table below includes the high and low prices of Common Stock for each calendar quarter during the past three years, the closing price at the end of each quarter and dividends per common share.

Common Stock and Class B Common Stock have identical rights with respect to cash dividends and upon liquidation. For a more complete description of the relative rights of Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, including conversion provisions of Class B Common Stock, see Note 12 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, included herein.

At September 27, 2009, the Company had 6,999 holders of Common Stock and 1,226 holders of Class B Common Stock.

In 2008, 1,722,280 shares were acquired and returned to authorized shares at an average price of $10.98.

The 2009 Amendments to the Company’s Credit Agreement require the Company to suspend stockholder dividends and share repurchases through April 2012. See Note 7 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, included herein.

15

Table of Contents

Performance Presentation

The following graph compares the quarterly percentage change in the cumulative total return of the Company, the Standard & Poor’s (S&P) 500 Stock Index, and a Peer Group Index, in each case for the five years ended September 30, 2009 (with September 30, 2004 as the measurement point). Total return is measured by dividing (a) the sum of (i) the cumulative amount of dividends declared for the measurement period, assuming dividend reinvestment and (ii) the difference between the issuer’s share price at the end and the beginning of the measurement period, by (b) the share price at the beginning of the measurement period.

The value of $100 invested on September 30, 2004 in stock of the Company, the Peer Group and in the S&P 500 Stock Index, including reinvestment of dividends, is summarized in the table below.

The S&P 500 Stock Index includes 500 U.S. companies in the industrial, transportation, utilities and financial sectors and is weighted by market capitalization. The Peer Group Index is comprised of nine U.S. publicly traded companies with significant newspaper publishing operations (excluding the Company) and is weighted by market capitalization. The Peer Group Index includes A.H. Belo Corp., Gannett, Journal Communications, Inc., The McClatchy Company, Media General, Inc., The New York Times Company, The E.W. Scripps Company, Sun-Times Media Group, Inc., and The Washington Post Company. Journal Register Company, which was previously included in the Peer Group Index, is no longer publicly traded.

16

Table of Contents

ITEM 6.  SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

Selected financial data is as follows:

17

Table of Contents

ITEM 7.  MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF

FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATION

The following discussion includes comments and analysis relating to the Company’s results of operations and financial condition as of, and for each of the three years ended, September 2009. This discussion should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and related Notes thereto, included herein.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

No non-GAAP financial measure should be considered as a substitute for any related financial measure under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). However, the Company believes the use of non-GAAP financial measures provides meaningful supplemental information with which to evaluate its financial performance, or assist in forecasting and analyzing future periods. The Company also believes such non-GAAP financial measures are alternative indicators of performance used by investors, lenders, rating agencies and financial analysts to estimate the value of a publishing business or its ability to meet debt service requirements.

Operating Cash Flow and Operating Cash Flow Margin

Operating cash flow, which is defined as operating income before depreciation, amortization, impairment of goodwill and other assets and equity in earnings of associated companies, and operating cash flow margin (operating cash flow divided by operating revenue) represent non-GAAP financial measures that are used in the analysis below. The Company believes these measures provide meaningful supplemental information because of their focus on results from operations excluding such non-cash factors.

Reconciliations of operating cash flow and operating cash flow margin to operating income (loss) and operating income (loss) margin, the most directly comparable measures under GAAP, are included in the table below:

18

Table of Contents

Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Earnings Per Common Share

Adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per common share, which are defined as income (loss) available to common stockholders and earnings (loss) per common share adjusted to exclude unusual matters and those of a substantially non-recurring nature, are non-GAAP financial measures that are used in the analysis below. The Company believes these measures provide meaningful supplemental information by identifying matters that are not indicative of core business operating results or are of a substantially non-recurring nature.

Reconciliations of adjusted net income and adjusted earnings (loss) per common share to income (loss) available to common stockholders and earnings (loss) per common share, respectively, the most directly comparable measures under GAAP, are set forth below under the caption “Overall Results”.

SAME PROPERTY COMPARISONS

Certain information below, as noted, is presented on a same property basis, which is exclusive of acquisitions and divestitures consummated in the current or prior year. The Company believes such comparisons provide meaningful supplemental information for an understanding of changes in its revenue and operating expenses. Same property comparisons exclude TNI and MNI. The Company owns 50% of TNI and also owns 50% of the capital stock of MNI, both of which are reported using the equity method of accounting. Same property comparisons also exclude corporate office costs.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The Company’s discussion and analysis of its financial condition and results of operations are based upon the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements requires the Company to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an on-going basis, the Company evaluates its estimates. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. Additional information follows with regard to certain of the most critical of the Company’s accounting policies.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

In assessing the recoverability of its goodwill and other nonamortized intangible assets, the Company makes a determination of the fair value of its business. Fair value is determined using a combination of an income approach, which estimates fair value based upon future revenue, expenses and cash flows discounted to their present value, and a market approach, which estimates fair value using market multiples of various financial measures compared to a set of comparable public companies in the publishing industry. An impairment charge will generally be recognized when the carrying amount of the net assets of the business exceeds its estimated fair value.

The required valuation methodology and underlying financial information that are used to determine fair value require significant judgments to be made by management. These judgments include, but are not limited to, long term projections of future financial performance and the selection of appropriate discount rates used to determine the present value of future cash flows. Changes in such estimates or the application of alternative assumptions could produce significantly different results.

The Company analyzes its goodwill and other nonamortized intangible assets for impairment on an annual basis, or more frequently if impairment indicators are present. See Note 6 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, included herein, for a more detailed explanation of the Company’s intangible assets. Such indicators of impairment include, but are not limited to, changes in business climate and operating or cash flow losses related to such assets.

Due primarily to the continuing, and (at the time) increasing difference between its stock price and the per share carrying value of its net assets, the Company analyzed the carrying value of its net assets as of

19

Table of Contents

December 28, 2008 and again as of March 29, 2009. Deterioration in the Company’s revenue and the overall recessionary operating environment for the Company and other publishing companies were also factors in the timing of the analyses.

As a result, in 2009 the Company recorded pretax, non-cash charges to reduce the carrying value of goodwill by $193,471,000. The Company also recorded pretax, non-cash charges of $14,055,000 and $33,848,000 to reduce the carrying value of nonamortized and amortizable intangible assets, respectively. $19,951,000 of additional pretax charges were recorded as a reduction in the carrying value of the Company’s investment in TNI. The Company also recorded additional, pretax non-cash charges of $4,579,000 to reduce the carrying value of property and equipment. The Company recorded $64,319,000 of income tax benefit related to these charges.

For similar reasons, in 2008 the Company recorded pretax, non-cash charges to reduce the carrying value of goodwill by $908,977,000. The Company also recorded pretax, non-cash charges of $13,027,000 and $143,785,000 to reduce the carrying value of nonamortized and amortizable intangible assets, respectively. $104,478,000 of additional pretax charges were recorded as a reduction in the carrying value of the Company’s investment in TNI. The Company also recorded additional, pretax non-cash charges of $5,019,000 to reduce the carrying value of property and equipment. The Company recorded $281,564,000 of income tax benefit related to these charges.

The Company reviews its amortizable intangible assets for impairment when indicators of impairment are present. The Company assesses recoverability of these assets by comparing the estimated undiscounted cash flows associated with the asset or asset group with their carrying amount. The impairment amount, if any, is calculated based on the excess of the carrying amount over the fair value of those assets.

The Company also periodically evaluates its determination of the useful lives of amortizable intangible assets. Any resulting changes in the useful lives of such intangible assets will not impact the cash flows of the Company. However, a decrease in the useful lives of such intangible assets would increase future amortization expense and decrease future reported operating results and earnings per common share.

Based on substantial impairment charges recorded in both 2009 and 2008, and the most recent testing performed, at September 27, 2009, the Company does not believe its reporting unit is at risk of failing future goodwill impairment testing. However, future decreases in the Company’s market value, or significant differences in revenue, expenses or cash flows from estimates used to determine market value, could affect this determination.

Pension, Postretirement and Postemployment Benefit Plans

The Company evaluates its liability for pension, postretirement and postemployment benefit plans based upon computations made by consulting actuaries, incorporating estimates and actuarial assumptions of future plan service costs, future interest costs on projected benefit obligations, rates of compensation increases, employee turnover rates, anticipated mortality rates, expected investment returns on plan assets, asset allocation assumptions of plan assets, and other factors. If the Company used different estimates and assumptions regarding these plans, the funded status of the plans could vary significantly, resulting in recognition of different amounts of expense over future periods.

Increases in market interest rates, which may impact plan assumptions, generally result in lower service costs for current employees, higher interest expense and lower liabilities. Actual returns on plan assets that are lower than the plan assumptions will generally result in decreases in a plan’s funded status and may necessitate additional contributions.

Income Taxes

Deferred income taxes are provided using the liability method, whereby deferred income tax assets are recognized for deductible temporary differences and loss carryforwards and deferred income tax liabilities are recognized for taxable temporary differences. Temporary differences are the difference between the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and their tax basis. Deferred income tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred income tax assets will not be realized. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are

20

Table of Contents

adjusted for the effects of changes in tax laws and rates on the date of enactment. Recent changes in accounting for uncertain tax positions can result in additional variability in the Company’s effective income tax rate.

The Company files income tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) and various state tax jurisdictions. From time to time, the Company is subject to routine audits by those agencies, and those audits may result in proposed adjustments. The Company has considered the alternative interpretations that may be assumed by the various taxing agencies, believes its positions taken regarding its filings are valid, and that adequate tax liabilities have been recorded to resolve such matters. However, the actual outcome cannot be determined with certainty and the difference could be material, either positively or negatively, to the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) in the periods in which such matters are ultimately determined. The Company does not believe the final resolution of such matters will be material to its consolidated financial position or cash flows.

Revenue Recognition

Advertising revenue is recorded when advertisements are placed in the publication or on the related online site. Circulation revenue is recorded as newspapers are distributed over the subscription term. Other revenue is recognized when the related product or service has been delivered. Unearned revenue arises in the ordinary course of business from advance subscription payments for publications or advance payments for advertising.

Uninsured Risks

The Company is self-insured for health care, workers compensation and certain long-term disability costs of its employees, subject to stop loss insurance, which limits exposure to large claims. The Company accrues its estimated health care costs in the period in which such costs are incurred, including an estimate of incurred but not reported claims. Other risks are insured and carry deductible losses of varying amounts.

The Company’s accrued reserves for health care and workers compensation claims are based upon estimates of the remaining liability for retained losses made by consulting actuaries. The amount of workers compensation reserve has been determined based upon historical patterns of incurred and paid loss development factors from the insurance industry.

An increasing frequency of large claims, deterioration in overall claim experience or changes in federal or state laws affecting the Company’s liability for such claims could increase the volatility of expenses for such self-insured risks.

IMPACT OF RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

In 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement 168, The FASB Accounting Standards Codification and the Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“ASC”), which became the source of accounting principles to be applied in the preparation of financial statements for nongovernmental agencies. ASC is effective for the Company as of September 27, 2009. ASC did not have any impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements since it was not intended to change existing GAAP, except as related to references for authoritative literature.

In 2008, the FASB issued ASC Topic 805, Business Combinations, and ASC Topic 810, Consolidations. FASB ASC Topic 805 establishes requirements for how an acquirer in a business combination recognizes and measures the assets acquired, liabilities assumed, and any noncontrolling interests. For the Company, the provisions of FASB ASC Topic 805 are effective for business combinations occurring in 2010. FASB ASC Topic 810 will change the accounting and reporting for minority interests, which will be recharacterized as noncontrolling interests and classified as a component of stockholders’ equity. FASB ASC Topic 810 is effective for the Company in 2010. The effect of FASB ASC Topic 805 is dependent on future transactions. The effect of FASB ASC Topic 810 will not materially affect the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

In 2008, the FASB issued ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging. FASB ASC Topic 815 requires disclosure regarding the objectives and strategies for using derivative instruments and the credit-risk-related features. ASC Topic 815 also requires disclosure of the fair value amounts and the gains and losses on derivative instruments in tabular form. ASC Topic 815 is effective for the Company in 2010.

21

Table of Contents

CONTINUING OPERATIONS

2009 vs. 2008

Operating results, as reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements, are summarized below: