Lee Enterprises (NYSE: LEE), the publisher of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and numerous smaller papers, saw revenue decline 6.2 percent in the latest quarter to $279.9 million, from $298.5 million in the year-ago period. Advertising revenue fell by 6.5 percent to $217 million, with classifieds slipping by 13.5 percent. Net income fell by 17.2 percent, to $22.1 million ($.48/share), from $26.6 million in the year-ago period ($.58/share). The company said the quarterly decline was exacerbated by an extra publishing day in 2006 and the St. Louis Cardinals’ appearance in the 2006 World Series. Online ad revenue grew 24 percent to $13.5 million, which was 6.2 percent of total ad revenue. Altogether, its websites claim 12 million weekly unique visitors.

SEE ALSO: Earnings: Lee Enterprises Q3 Profits Rise 83 Percent; Online Ad Revs Gain 60 Percent

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