|
 Bill Johnston will become publisher
of Wisconsin State Journal
MADISON, Wis. (April 18, 2006) — William K. Johnston,
who began his newspaper career with Lee Enterprises, Incorporated
(NYSE: LEE), 33 years ago in Madison, is returning as publisher
of the Wisconsin State Journal.
Johnston, currently publisher of the Lincoln
Journal Star and regional executive for Lee publishing operations
in Nebraska, will begin his new duties May 22.
He will succeed James W. Hopson, who announced in March that
he plans to retire at the end of the year. Until retirement,
Hopson will continue to serve as a Lee vice president for publishing,
overseeing other Lee newspapers in Wisconsin and Minnesota and
handling special projects.
Mary Junck, Lee chairman and chief executive officer, described
Johnston as one of the company's most accomplished leaders.
"Bill is a builder," she said. "On top of his
own terrific track record as an advertising manager, general
manager, publisher and regional executive throughout his long
career in Lee, Bill has had an influential hand in the professional
growth of eight of our current publishers, three of our top editors
and many more key managers. He's continually improved our products
and services, and he's also earned respect and admiration in
the communities he's served."
As publisher of the Wisconsin State Journal, Johnston
also will become a principal officer of Capital Newspapers of
Madison Newspapers, Inc., which is jointly owned by Lee and The
Capital Times Co.
"I'm extremely excited about this opportunity to return
to my home state as publisher of a newspaper as terrific as the
Wisconsin State Journal," he said. "We love Lincoln
and will miss all the people here, but we're looking forward
to rejoining our friends in Madison and meeting new ones. As
now-former Husker fans, we're also looking forward to seeing
the Badgers again."
Johnston, who grew up in Janesville, Wisconsin, joined Lee
in Madison in 1973. He worked in a variety of advertising positions
at the Globe-Gazette in Mason City, Iowa; the Corvallis
Gazette-Times in Oregon and the Quad-City Times in
Davenport, Iowa. He served as general manager of the Quad-City
Times as well as publisher of the Globe-Gazette and
the Herald & Review in Decatur, Ill., before moving
to Lincoln as publisher in 1996. As regional executive for Nebraska
operations, he also oversees daily newspapers in Beatrice, Fremont
and Columbus, Neb., and more than a dozen weekly newspapers,
shoppers and specialty publications.
In 2000, the Lincoln Journal Star received the company's
highest award, Enterprise of the Year.
In Lincoln, Johnston is involved with many community organizations.
He is past president of the Lincoln Public School Foundation
and chair of the leadership group for Community Learning Centers.
He is past campaign chair and former president of United Way
of Lancaster County. He is on the board of directors of the Lincoln
Chamber of Commerce and the Lincoln Partners for Economic Development.
He has a bachelor's degree in economics and a master's degree
in social work from the University of Wisconsin.
He and his wife, Shannon, have two daughters, Alison and Megan,
in college.
Greg R. Veon, Lee vice president for publishing, said Kathleen
Rutledge, editor of the Lincoln Journal Star, will serve
as interim publisher in Lincoln until a successor to Johnston
is appointed. She joined the newspaper in 1977 and worked as
a political reporter, opinion page editor, city editor and managing
editor before becoming editor in 2001. She earned an English
degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1970 and later
did graduate work in journalism. She served two years on the
nominating jury for the Pulitzer Prize in beat reporting. She
is married to Ted Kooser, U.S. poet laureate.
Lee is a premier publisher of newspapers in midsize markets,
with 52 dailies and a joint interest in six others through Madison
Newspapers, Inc., along with a rapidly growing online business
and more than 300 weekly newspapers and specialty publications
in 23 states. Lee's newspapers have circulation of 1.7 million
daily and 1.9 million Sunday, reaching more than four million
readers daily. Lee's newspaper online sites reach more than two
million users, and Lee's weekly publications have distribution
of more than 4.5 million households. In addition to Madison and
Lincoln, Lee's newspapers include such diverse markets as Napa,
Calif.; Bloomington, Ill.; Billings, Mont.; Escondido, Calif.;
and St. Louis, Mo.
Lee is based in Davenport, Iowa, and its stock is traded on
the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol LEE. For more information
about Lee Enterprises, please visit www.lee.net.
Photo
|
