• by Ray Schultz , February 10, 2025

Lee Enterprises has determined that a cybersecurity attack caused its systems outage last week.  

The company’s investigation has found that “the situation was the result of a cybersecurity event. We are now focused on determining what information — if any — may have been affected by the situation.” 

Lee adds: “We are working to complete this investigation as quickly and thoroughly as possible, but these types of investigations are complex and time-consuming, with many taking several weeks or longer to complete. We have notified law enforcement of the situation.”

In addition, the firm says its newsrooms “will cover this story as they would any other relevant news.”

Lee acknowledged last Wednesday that it was experiencing “companywide technology issues that have impacted our ability to prepare and publish some of our newspapers and online e-editions.”  

Publications typically carried this message: “Lee Enterprises is experiencing companywide technology issues that have impacted our ability to prepare and publish Tuesday's print newspaper and online e-edition.”  

Lee states that it “cannot speculate on details that remain under investigation, and we will not be able to share information that could compromise our investigation or any investigation by law enforcement.” 

The company publishes over 70 newspapers nationwide.