SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-3
                          REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                          LEE ENTERPRISES, INCORPORATED
               (Exact Name of Registrant Specified in its Charter)

              Delaware                                      42-0823980
- -------------------------------                ---------------------------------
(State or Other Jurisdiction of                (IRS Employer Identification No.)
Incorporation or Organization)  

                     215 N. MAIN STREET, DAVENPORT, IA 52801
  (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of
                   registrant's principal executive offices)

                                  319-383-2100

                                 Larry L. Bloom
                          Vice President and Treasurer
                          Lee Enterprises, Incorporated
                               215 N. Main Street
                               Davenport, IA 52801

 (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
                             of agent for service)

                                 (319) 383-2100

Please send copies of all communications to:

                              C. Dana Waterman III
                                 Lane & Waterman
                            600 Norwest Bank Building
                          220 N. Main Street, Ste. 600
                            Davenport, IA 58201-1987
                                 (319) 324-3426

Approximate  date of commencement  of proposed sale to the public:  From time to
time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

If any of the  securities  being  registered  on the Form are to be offered on a
delayed or continuous  basis  pursuant to Rule 415 under the  Securities  Act of
1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest
reinvestment plans, check the following box.  [ x ]


The registrant hereby amends this  registration  statement on such date or dates
as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant  shall file
a further amendment which specifically  states that this registration  statement
shall  thereafter  become  effective  in  accordance  with  section  8(a) of the
Securities  Act of  1933  or  until  the  registration  statement  shall  become
effective on such date as the Commission,  acting pursuant to said section 8(a),
may determine.

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

                                Proposed
Title of                        Maximum
Securities      Amount         Aggregate      Proposed Maximum        Amount of
to be           to be          Offering           Offering          Registration
Registered    Registered   Price Per Share1        Price                Fee
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Common Stock  3,293,286        $23.75            $78,215,542         $23,701.67
($2.00 par
value)

The registration  statement is 26 pages in length. The Exhibit Index is found on
page 8 of the registration statement.

              As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
                               On April 25, 1997

- --------
1    Estimated  solely for the purpose of calculating the  registration  fee, in
     accordance  with Rule 457 on the basis of the average of the high ($24) and
     the low ($23 1/2) prices paid for a share of Lee Enterprises,  Incorporated
     Common  Stock on April 18, 1997 as reported on the New York Stock  Exchange
     Composite Transactions Tape.




Subject to Completion 
April _____, 1997

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Information   contained  herein  is  subject  to  completion  or  amendment.   A
registration  statement  relating  to these  securities  has been filed with the
Securities  and Exchange  Commission.  These  securities may not be sold nor may
offers to buy be accepted prior to the date the registration  statement  becomes
effective.  This  prospectus  shall  not  constitute  an  offer  to  sell or the
solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these  securities
in any State in which such offer,  solicitation  or sale would be unlawful prior
to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such State.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PROSPECTUS

                          LEE ENTERPRISES, INCORPORATED

                               3,293,286 SHARES OF
                                  COMMON STOCK
                                 $2.00 PAR VALUE

This  Prospectus  pertains to an offering  from time to time of up to  3,293,286
shares of common  stock,  $2.00 par value  (the  "Shares")  of Lee  Enterprises,
Incorporated (the "Company") held by stockholders  (the "Selling  Stockholders")
who directly or  beneficially  received the Shares on March 31, 1995 in exchange
for 50.25% of the outstanding shares of Journal-Star  Printing Co., a subsidiary
which prior to the  acquisition  was 49.75% owned by the  Company.  See "SELLING
STOCKHOLDERS".  The Company will not receive any  proceeds  from the sale of the
Shares  covered  by this  Prospectus.  The  Company  has  agreed to pay  certain
registration  expenses in  connection  with this offering  (excluding  brokerage
commissions) estimated at approximately $41,201.67.

The distribution of the Shares by the Selling  Stockholders may be effected from
time to time,  in one or more  transactions  on the New York Stock  Exchange  or
otherwise,   in  special   offerings,   exchange   distributions   or  secondary
distributions pursuant to and in accordance with the rules of the New York Stock
Exchange,  in the  over-the-counter  market,  in negotiated  transactions,  or a
combination of such methods of sale, at market prices  prevailing at the time of
sale,  at prices  related  to such  prevailing  market  prices or at  negotiated
prices. The Selling  Stockholders may effect such transactions by selling Shares
to or through  broker-dealers,  and such broker-dealers may receive compensation
in the form of underwriting  discounts,  concessions or commissions from Selling
Stockholders  and/or  purchasers  of the Shares  from whom they may act as agent
(which  compensation  may be in excess of customary  commissions).  See "SELLING
STOCKHOLDERS" and "PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION".

The Company's  Common Stock,  $2.00 par value (the "Common  Stock") is traded on
the New York Stock  Exchange  under the symbol LEE.  On  November  9, 1995,  the
Company's Board of Directors declared a two-for-one stock split on the Company's
Common Stock and Class B Common Stock  effected in the form of a stock  dividend
to holders of record on November 20, 1995. All Common Stock data has been stated
herein to reflect the split. On April 23, 1997, the closing price for the Common
Stock on the New York Stock Exchange was $24 5/8.

NO PERSON IS AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR MAKE ANY  REPRESENTATION  NOT
CONTAINED  IN THIS  PROSPECTUS  AND,  IF  GIVEN  OR MADE,  SUCH  INFORMATION  OR
REPRESENTATION  SHOULD  NOT BE RELIED  UPON AS  HAVING  BEEN  AUTHORIZED  BY THE
COMPANY. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL, OR A SOLICITATION
OF AN OFFER TO PURCHASE,  THE  COMPANY'S  COMMON STOCK OR THE SHARES  OFFERED BY
THIS  PROSPECTUS IN ANY  JURISDICTION OR FROM ANY PERSON TO WHOM OR FROM WHOM IT
IS UNLAWFUL  TO MAKE SUCH OFFER OR  SOLICITATION.  NEITHER THE  DELIVERY OF THIS
PROSPECTUS NOR ANY  DISTRIBUTION OF SECURITIES MADE HEREUNDER  SHALL,  UNDER ANY
CIRCUMSTANCES,  CREATE  ANY  IMPLICATION  THAT  THERE  HAS BEEN A CHANGE  IN THE
AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY SINCE THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS.

THESE  SECURITIES  HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR  DISAPPROVED  BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE  COMMISSION OR ANY STATE  SECURITIES  COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND  EXCHANGE  COMMISSION  OR ANY STATE  SECURITIES  COMMISSION  PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

                        Prospectus dated April __, 1997



                              AVAILABLE INFORMATION

Lee Enterprises,  Incorporated, a Delaware corporation, with principal executive
offices at 215 N. Main  Street,  Davenport,  IA 52801,  telephone  number  (319)
383-2100,  is  subject  to the  informational  requirements  of  the  Securities
Exchange  Act of 1934,  as  amended  (the  "Exchange  Act"),  and in  accordance
therewith  files  reports,  proxy  statements  and  other  information  with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). Reports, proxy statements
and other  information  filed by the Company can be inspected  and copied at the
public reference facilities maintained by the Commission at Judiciary Plaza, 450
Fifth Street,  N.W.,  Washington,  D.C.  20549,  and at the  following  regional
offices of the Commission:  Seven World Trade Center,  13th Floor,  New York, NY
10048;  and Citicorp Center,  500 West Madison Street,  Ste. 1400,  Chicago,  IL
60661.  Copies of such material can also be obtained  from the Public  Reference
Section of the Commission at Seven World Trade Center,  13th Floor, New York, NY
10048, at prescribed rates. The Company's Common Stock is listed on the New York
Stock Exchange  ("NYSE").  Such reports,  proxy statements and other information
can also be inspected at the offices of the NYSE, 20 Broad Street,  New York, NY
10005.  The  Commission  maintains a Web site that contains  reports,  proxy and
information  statements  and  other  information  regarding  issuers  that  file
electronically. The address of such site is http://www.sec.gov.

The Company has filed with the Commission,  450 Fifth Street, N.W.,  Washington,
D.C. 20549, a Registration  Statement on Form S-3 and exhibits thereto under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities  Act"),  with respect to the
securities offered hereby (the "Registration  Statement").  This Prospectus does
not contain all the  information set forth in the  Registration  Statement which
the  Company  has filed with the  Commission,  certain  items of which have been
omitted  and  are  contained  in  schedules  and  exhibits  to the  Registration
Statement as permitted by the rules and regulations of the Commission. Reference
is hereby  made to such  omitted  portions  for  further  information  about the
Company and the securities offered hereby.

                 INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

This  Prospectus  incorporates  documents by reference  which are not  presented
herein or delivered  herewith.  The Company will provide  without charge to each
person to whom this  Prospectus  is  delivered,  upon written or oral request of
such  person,  a  copy  of  any  document  incorporated  by  reference  in  this
Prospectus,  other than exhibits to any such document not specifically described
above.  Requests for such documents  should be directed to Sharon  Bertram,  Lee
Enterprises,  Incorporated,  400 Putnam Building, 215 N. Main Street, Davenport,
IA 52801-1924 (telephone number (319) 383-2100).

The  following  documents  filed  with the  Commission  (file  No.  1-6227)  are
incorporated by reference in, and made a part hereof,  this Prospectus:  (i) the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 1996; (ii)
the Company's  Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31,
1996; (iii) the Company's Current Reports on Form 8-K dated November 4, 1996 and
January 30, 1997; (iv) the Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on
or about  February 28, 1978,  containing a description  of the Company's  Common
Stock;  and (v) the  Company's  Registration  Statement  on Form 8-A filed on or
about February 10, 1986,  containing a description of the Company's Common Stock
and Class B Common Stock.

All  documents  filed by the Company  with the  Commission  pursuant to Sections
13(a),  13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this Prospectus
and prior to the termination of the offering of the Shares shall be deemed to be
incorporated  by reference in this  Prospectus  and to be a part hereof from the
date of filing of such reports and documents.  Any statement contained herein or
in a document  incorporated  or deemed to be  incorporated  by reference in this
Prospectus  shall be deemed to be modified or  superseded  for  purposes of this
Prospectus  to the  extent  that a  statement  contained  herein or in any other
subsequently  filed  document which also is or is deemed to be  incorporated  by
reference  herein modifies or supersedes  such statement.  Any such statement so
modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded,
to constitute a part of this Prospectus. 

                          LEE ENTERPRISES, INCORPORATED

Lee  Enterprises,  Incorporated  owns and  operates  nine  full-service  network
affiliated  television  stations and seven satellite  television  stations,  and
publishes 19 daily  newspapers  and 40 weekly and  specialty  publications.  The
Company's principal executive offices are located at 400 Putnam Building, 215 N.
Main Street, Davenport, IA 52801-1924 (telephone number (319) 383-2100).



                              SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

The following table  identifies the Selling  Stockholders  and indicates (i) the
nature of any position,  office or other material relationship that such Selling
Stockholder  has had within the past three years with the Company (or any of its
predecessors  or affiliates) and (ii) the number of Shares of Common Stock owned
by the Selling  Stockholder prior to the offering and the number of Shares to be
offered  for the  Selling  Stockholder's  account  and the  number of Shares and
percentage of outstanding  Shares to be owned by the Selling  Stockholder  after
completion of the offering. The information is current as of April 24, 1997.

                                                                        Shares
                                                                       and Per-
                                                                      centage of
                                           Shares        Shares          Class
                        Position with      Owned          Sold           Owned
                       or Relationship   Before the      in the        After the
Name(1)                to the Company     Offering      Offering       Offering
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Journal Limited
Partnership (2)               (2)        3,048,760     3,048,760         0 (0%)

Trust for the Benefit
of Fred Seacrest/
Mark T. Seacrest
Share (2)                     (2)          244,526       244,526         0 (0%)

James C. Seacrest
Revocable Trust (2)           (2)              (2)           (2)         0 (0%)

- ------------------------

(1)  Except as  otherwise  indicated in the  footnotes  to the above table,  the
     Company believes the Selling  Stockholders  have sole voting and investment
     powers with  respect to the Shares of Common  Stock  shown  above  opposite
     their respective names.

(2)  On March 31, 1995, the Company issued 3,293,286 shares of its Common Stock,
     $2.00 par  value,  to  Journal  Limited  Partnership,  a  Nebraska  limited
     partnership  ("JLP"),  in exchange for 50.25% of the outstanding  shares of
     Journal-Star  Printing  Co., an affiliate of the Company which prior to the
     acquisition was 49.75% owned by the Company (the "Exchange"). Subsequently,
     JLP distributed  244,526 of the Shares to one of its limited partners,  the
     Trust for the Benefit of Fred  Seacrest/Mark  T. Seacrest Share. The voting
     power and  investment  power with  respect to the Shares held in this Trust
     are exercised by the trustee of the Trust,  National Bank of Commerce Trust
     and Savings  Association,  Lincoln,  Nebraska.  After the effective date of
     this Registration  Statement,  JLP will distribute 31,311 Shares to another
     of its limited partners,  the James C. Seacrest Revocable Trust. The voting
     power and  investment  power with  respect to the Shares held in this Trust
     will be  exercised by the trustee of the Trust,  National  Bank of Commerce
     Trust and Savings Association, Lincoln, Nebraska.

SHAREHOLDERS'  AGREEMENT.  The Selling  Stockholders'  Shares  delivered  by the
Company in the Exchange  are subject to a  Shareholders'  Agreement  between the
Company and JLP dated  February 27,  1995,  as amended by an Addendum and Second
Addendum  to  the  Shareholders'  Agreement  (collectively,  the  "Shareholders'
Agreement"),  which provides for certain  restrictions on the transferability of
the Selling Stockholders' Shares unless such transfers are made in reliance upon
an exemption  under the Securities Act or pursuant to an effective  Registration
Statement filed under the Securities Act.

The  Shareholders'  Agreement also allows the Company,  by notice to the Selling
Stockholders,   to  suspend  any  Transfer  (as  defined  in  the  Shareholders'
Agreement) in order to permit updating of this Prospectus, with such updating or
amendment  to  occur as soon as  reasonably  practicable  after  the date of the
Company's  notice.  No Transfer may be effected until an amendment or supplement
to this Registration Statement becomes effective.



The Shareholders' Agreement further provides that the Company shall use its best
efforts to prepare,  file and have effective a registration  statement under the
Securities  Act  with  respect  to  the  Selling   Stockholders'   Shares.   The
Shareholders'  Agreement is incorporated by reference herein from Exhibit (c)(2)
to the  Company's  Current  Report on Form 8-K,  filed March 31,  1995,  and the
Addendum  to  the  Shareholders'  Agreement  and  the  Second  Addendum  to  the
Shareholders' Agreement are incorporated by reference herein as exhibits to this
Registration Statement.

At December 31, 1996,  3,048,760  Shares held by JLP  represented  8.89% and the
Trust for the Benefit of Fred  Seacrest/ Mark T. Seacrest Share and the James C.
Seacrest  Revocable Trust represented less than 1% of the Company's  outstanding
Common Stock,  respectively.  Aside from its  ownership of the Company's  Common
Stock,  JLP, the Trust for the Benefit of Fred  Seacrest/Mark  T. Seacrest Share
and the James C. Seacrest  Revocable  Trust have no other material  relationship
with the  Company  or any of its  affiliates,  any  director  or  officer of the
Company, or any associate of such director or officer.

                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

The  distribution  of the Selling  Stockholders'  Shares by them may be effected
from time to time,  in one or more  transactions  on the NYSE or  otherwise,  in
special offerings, exchange distributions or secondary distributions pursuant to
and in accordance with the rules of the NYSE, in the over-the counter market, in
negotiated  transactions,  or a  combination  of such methods of sale, at market
prices  prevailing  at the time of sale,  at prices  related to such  prevailing
market prices or at negotiated prices. The Selling  Stockholders may effect such
transactions  by  selling  Shares  to  or  through   broker-dealers,   and  such
broker-dealers may receive  compensation in the form of underwriting  discounts,
concessions or commissions from Selling Stockholders and/or purchasers of Shares
for whom they may act as agent (which compensation may be in excess of customary
commissions).  Selling Stockholders and broker-dealers that participate with the
Selling  Stockholders  in the  distribution  of the  Shares  may be deemed to be
"underwriters"  within the meaning of Section 2(11) of the  Securities  Act, and
any  commissions  received  by them and any profit on the resale of the  Selling
Stockholders' Shares may be deemed to be underwriting compensation.

                                  LEGAL OPINION

The legality of the Common Stock  offered  hereby has been passed upon by Lane &
Waterman,  600 Norwest Bank Building,  220 N. Main Street,  Ste. 600, Davenport,
Iowa.  C. D.  Waterman  III,  a partner in said firm,  is the  Secretary  of the
Company.  As of  March  1,  1997,  attorneys  in the  firm  of  Lane &  Waterman
beneficially  own 33,814 shares of the Company's  Common Stock and 30,286 shares
of the Company's Class B Common Stock.

                                     EXPERTS

The  consolidated  financial  statements  of the  Company  for the  years  ended
September 30, 1996, 1995 and 1994  incorporated by reference  herein,  have been
audited by McGladrey & Pullen, LLP, independent certified public accountants, to
the  extent  and for the  periods  indicated  in  their  report  and  have  been
incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of such firm as experts
in accounting and auditing.


                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

ITEM 14.  OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION

The following is an estimate,  subject to future contingencies,  of the expenses
to be incurred by the Company in connection with  distribution of the securities
being registered:

Registration Fee                                              $23,701.67
Legal Fees and Expenses                                       $20,000.00
Accounting Fees and Expenses                                  $ 1,500.00

                           Total                              $41,201.67



ITEM 15.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

Section 145 of the Delaware General  Corporation Law authorizes  indemnification
of directors and officers of a Delaware corporation under certain  circumstances
against expenses,  judgments and the like in connection with an action,  suit or
proceeding. Article Fifth of the Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation
and  Article  III,  Section  7  of  the  Company's  By-Laws  provide  for  broad
indemnification of the Company's directors and officers.

ITEM 16.  EXHIBITS

3.1       Restated  Certificate of  Incorporation,  as amended  (incorporated by
          reference to Exhibit 1 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form
          8-A dated  February 28, 1986;  incorporated  by reference to parts III
          and IV of the Company's  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
          September 30, 1986; and  incorporated by reference to parts III and IV
          of the  Company's  Annual  Report  on Form  10-K  for the  year  ended
          September 30, 1989; and  incorporated by reference to parts III and IV
          of the  Company's  Annual  Report  on Form  10-K  for the  year  ended
          September 30, 1990).

3.2       By-Laws as amended.

4.1       Specimens of securities being registered (incorporated by reference to
          Exhibit 7 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on
          or about February 27, 1978).

4.2       The Company's Note Purchase  Agreement,  dated as of December 1, 1990,
          by and among the  Company and the  Purchasers  named in Schedule II to
          the  Agreement  (incorporated  by  reference  to Exhibit  4(iv) to the
          Company's  Registration Statement on Form S-8, filed on or about March
          30, 1992).

5.        Opinion of Lane & Waterman.

10.1      Plan  and  Agreement  of   Reorganization   (including   Shareholders'
          Agreement   and  other   exhibits)  by  and  among  Lee   Enterprises,
          Incorporated,  Journal Limited Partnership,  J-S Acquisition Corp. and
          Journal-Star  Printing Co. dated  February 27, 1995  (incorporated  by
          reference to Exhibit  (c)(1) to the Company's  current  report on Form
          8-K dated March 31, 1995).

10.2      Shareholders'  Agreement by and between Lee Enterprises,  Incorporated
          and Journal Limited Partnership  (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
          (c)(2) to the  Company's  current  report on Form 8-K dated  March 31,
          1995);  Addendum to  Shareholders'  Agreement;  and Second Addendum to
          Shareholders' Agreement dated April 18, 1997.

23.       (i)   Consent of McGladrey & Pullen, LLP.

          (ii)  Consent of Lane & Waterman (included as part of Exhibit 5 
                herewith).

24.       Power of Attorney.


ITEM 17.  UNDERTAKINGS

(a)       The undersigned Company hereby undertakes:

          (1)  To file,  during  any  period in which  offers or sales are being
               made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

               (i)    To include any prospectus  required by section 10(a)(3) of
                      the Securities Act.

               (ii)   To reflect in the  prospectus  any facts or events arising
                      after the effective date of the registration statement (or
                      the most recent  posteffective  amendment  thereof) which,
                      individually or in the aggregate,  represent a fundamental
                      change in the  information  set forth in the  registration
                      statement.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or
                      decrease  in volume of  securities  offered  (if the total
                      dollar value of  securities  offered would not exceed that
                      which was  registered)  and any deviation  from the low or
                      high end of the estimated  maximum  offering  range may be
                      reflected  in  the  form  of  prospectus  filed  with  the
                      Commission  pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the  aggregate,
                      the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20%
                      change in the maximum  aggregate  offering price set forth
                      in the  "Calculation  of  Registration  Fee"  table in the
                      effective registration statement.



               (iii)  To include any  material  information  with respect to the
                      plan  of  distribution  not  previously  disclosed  in the
                      registration  statement  or any  material  change  to such
                      information in the registration statement.

          (2)  That,  for the purpose of  determining  any  liability  under the
               Securities Act, each such posteffective amendment shall be deemed
               to be a new  registration  statement  relating to the  securities
               offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time
               shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

          (3)  To remove from registration by means of a posteffective amendment
               any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
               termination of the offering.

(b)       The  undersigned  Company  hereby  undertakes  that,  for  purposes of
          determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the
          Company's  annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of
          the Exchange Act (and,  where  applicable,  each filing of an employee
          benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange
          Act) that is incorporated by reference in the  registration  statement
          shall be deemed to be a new  registration  statement  relating  to the
          securities  offered  therein,  and the offering of such  securities at
          that  time  shall be  deemed  to be the  initial  bona  fide  offering
          thereof.

(c)       Insofar  as   indemnification   for  liabilities   arising  under  the
          Securities   Act  may  be  permitted  to  directors,   officers,   and
          controlling   persons  of  the  Company   pursuant  to  the  foregoing
          provisions,  or  otherwise,  the Company has been  advised that in the
          opinion of the  Commission  such  indemnification  is  against  public
          policy  as  expressed  in  the  Securities  Act  and  is,   therefore,
          unenforceable.  In the event that a claim for indemnification  against
          such  liabilities  (other  than the payment by the Company of expenses
          incurred or paid by a director,  officer, or controlling person of the
          Company in the successful  defense of any action,  suit or proceeding)
          is  asserted  by such  director,  officer,  or  controlling  person in
          connection  with the securities  being  registered,  the Company will,
          unless in the opinion of its  counsel  the matter has been  settled by
          controlling precedent,  submit to a court of appropriate  jurisdiction
          the question  whether  such  indemnification  by it is against  public
          policy as expressed in the  Securities Act and will be governed by the
          final adjudication of such issue.


                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities Act, the Company  certifies that
it has reasonable  grounds to believe that it meets all of the  requirements for
filing on Form S-3, and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed
on its behalf by the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly  authorized,  in the City of
Davenport, State of Iowa, on the 25th day of April, 1997.

Date:  April 25, 1997                   LEE ENTERPRISES, INCORPORATED


/s/ Richard D. Gottlieb                 /s/ Larry L. Bloom
- -------------------------------         ----------------------------------------
Richard D. Gottlieb, President,         Larry L. Bloom, Vice-President
Chief Executive Officer, and            of Finance, Treasurer and
Director                                Chief Financial Officer


                                        /s/ G. C. Wahlig
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        G. C. Wahlig,
                                        Principal Accounting Officer





                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

                                                                                Sequentially
Exhibit                                                                           Numbered
Number                                 Exhibit                                      Page
- -------                                -------                                  ------------
                                                                           

3.1            Restated  Certificate  of  Incorporation,  as amended
               (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  1  to  the
               Company's  Registration  Statement  on Form 8-A dated
               February 28, 1986; incorporated by reference to parts
               III and IV of the  Company's  Annual  Report  on Form
               10-K  for  the  year  ended   September   30,   1986;
               incorporated  by reference to parts III and IV of the
               Company's  Annual  Report  on Form  10-K for the year
               ended   September  30,  1989;  and   incorporated  by
               reference to parts III and IV of the Company's Annual
               Report on Form 10-K for the year ended  September 30,
               1990).

3.2            By-Laws as amended.

4.1            Specimens of securities being registered (incorporated by
               reference to Exhibit 7 to the Company's Registration
               Statement on Form 8-A filed on or about February 27,
               1978).

4.2            The Company's  Note Purchase  Agreement,  dated as of
               December  1, 1990,  by and among the  Company and the
               Purchasers  named  in  Schedule  II to the  Agreement
               (incorporated  by reference  to Exhibit  4(iv) to the
               Company's  registration  statement on Form S-8, filed
               on or about March 30, 1992).

5.             Opinion of Lane & Waterman.

10.1           Plan and Agreement of Reorganization (including
               Shareholders' Agreement and other exhibits) by and among Lee
               Enterprises, Incorporated, Journal Limited Partnership, J-S
               Acquisition Corp. and Journal-Star Printing Co. dated
               February 27, 1995 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
               (c)(1) to the Company's current report on Form 8-K dated
               March 31, 1995).

10.2           Shareholders' Agreement by and between Lee
               Enterprises, Incorporated and Journal Limited
               Partnership  (incorporated  by  reference  to Exhibit
               (c)(2) to the  Company's  current  report on Form 8-K
               dated  March 31,  1995);  Addendum  to  Shareholders'
               Agreement;   and  Second  Addendum  to  Shareholders'
               Agreement dated April 18, 1997.

23.    (i)     Consent of McGladrey & Pullen, LLP.

      (ii)     Consent of Lane & Waterman (included as part of Exhibit 5
               filed herewith).

24.            Power of Attorney.