Cyberattack Paralyzes Lee Enterprises Newspapers Nationwide

Lee Enterprises, a prominent media company headquartered in Davenport, Iowa, suffered a major cyberattack this week, disrupting operations across its 77 daily newspapers and over 350 weekly and specialty publications in 26 states. The attack, described as a "cybersecurity event," impacted numerous systems and networks, causing delays in newspaper production and access to digital platforms. Publications like the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (MO), Tulsa World (OK), Lynchburg News & Advance (VA), Richmond Times-Dispatch (VA), and The Missoulian (MT) reported significant disruptions, with some unable to publish printed editions or provide full digital services. While some papers, like the Arizona Daily Star in Tucson, managed to continue limited publication, the cyberattack forced many to scale back their operations.

Lee Enterprises President and CEO Kevin Mowbray confirmed the breach and stated that law enforcement has been notified, with an investigation underway to determine if any sensitive data was compromised. In the meantime, newspaper staff across the affected outlets have worked tirelessly, manually handling tasks typically automated by compromised systems. Many newspapers are temporarily reducing their formats or facing delays in subscription services and e-editions. The company is focused on identifying the source of the attack and implementing measures to prevent future incidents. This event highlights the growing vulnerability of media organizations to cyber threats and underscores the importance of cybersecurity in safeguarding the flow of public information.

Source

Some of the Newspapers impacted:

Alabama

• Dothan Eagle
• Opelika-Auburn News

Arizona

• Arizona Daily Star (Tucson)

Idaho

• Times-News (Twin Falls)

Illinois

• The Pantagraph (Bloomington)
• Herald & Review (Decatur)
• The Dispatch / The Rock Island Argus (Quad Cities)

Indiana

• The Times of Northwest Indiana (Munster)

Iowa

• The Daily Nonpareil (Council Bluffs)
• Quad-City Times (Davenport)
• Globe Gazette (Mason City)
• Sioux City Journal
• The Courier (Waterloo-Cedar Falls)

Missouri

• St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Montana

• Billings Gazette
• The Montana Standard (Butte)
• Independent Record (Helena)
• Missoulian (Missoula)

Nebraska

• Beatrice Daily Sun
• Columbus Telegram
• Fremont Tribune
• Lincoln Journal Star
• Omaha World-Herald

New York

• The Buffalo News
• The Post-Star (Glens Falls)

North Carolina

• News & Record (Greensboro)
• Hickory Daily Record
• Winston-Salem Journal

North Dakota

• The Bismarck Tribune

Oklahoma

• Tulsa World

Oregon

• Albany Democrat-Herald
• Corvallis Gazette-Times

South Carolina

• The Morning News (Florence)
• The Times and Democrat (Orangeburg)

Texas

• The Eagle (Bryan-College Station)
• Waco Tribune-Herald

Virginia

• Bristol Herald Courier
• The Daily Progress (Charlottesville)
• Richmond Times-Dispatch
• The Roanoke Times

Wisconsin

• La Crosse Tribune
• Wisconsin State Journal (Madison)
• Racine Journal Times