Lee Enterprises, a major US media company, suffered a significant cybersecurity event last week, disrupting operations across its network of newspapers. The attack impacted printing, websites, and online access for numerous publications.
The company confirmed the cyberattack in a Sunday email statement, announcing that daily operations were severely affected and that law enforcement had been notified.
Lee Enterprises owns over 70 daily newspapers, including prominent titles like The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and almost 350 weekly and specialty publications spanning 25 states. The nature of the attack and the perpetrators remain undisclosed.
“We are now focused on determining what information — if any — may have been affected by the situation,” the company stated, adding that investigations of this nature are complex and can take weeks or even longer to resolve.
Multiple Lee Enterprises newspapers reported on the cyberattack’s impact, noting that problems began Monday morning. The Daily Progress (Charlottesville, VA) and The La Crosse Tribune (La Crosse, WI) reported being unable to print since Monday. The Press of Atlantic City (NJ) also faced printing delays, working to reprint and deliver back issues.
While online articles remained accessible for most, some subscribers experienced difficulties accessing their accounts. Many Lee Enterprises websites displayed a banner message indicating temporary service disruptions, affecting subscription access and e-editions.
The Omaha World-Herald, while maintaining daily publication, reported modifications to its editions, including smaller print sizes and missing features. The Buffalo News experienced delivery delays on Tuesday and published smaller editions throughout the week, altering the placement of comics and puzzles.
“We’re sorry for the disruption this issue has caused for Buffalo News readers, and I assure you the print changes are temporary,” said Margaret Kenny Giancola, editor in chief of The Buffalo News.
“We have worked around the clock to ensure The News continues to deliver the strong local coverage readers expect from us, and we’re grateful for their patience this week.”
The News and Advance of Lynchburg, VA, also acknowledged the disruption, with Executive Editor Carrie Sidener thanking readers for their patience. The attack caused production issues and disabled their phone system.
“Despite these roadblocks, our staff continues to produce exceptional journalism,” Ms. Sidener affirmed.
The full extent of the Lee Cyberattack and its long-term consequences remain to be seen. The investigation into the Lee Cyberattack is ongoing.
