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For immediate release
9/16/05

Executive Appointments Announced by Gannett Newspaper Division

McLEAN, VA – Two executive appointments were announced today by Sue Clark-Johnson, president-designate of the Newspaper Division of Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI).

    Robert J. Dickey will become the senior group president of the Pacific Newspaper Group, which oversees Gannett publications in the Western part of the U.S., including Arizona, California, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas and Utah. He also will be chairman of Phoenix Newspapers. Dickey was vice president of the Pacific Group and president and publisher of The Desert Sun in Palm Springs, CA.

    John M. Zidich will become president and publisher of The Arizona Republic in Phoenix. Zidich was president and chief operating officer of The Arizona Republic.

They succeed Clark-Johnson, who held both titles until being named division president earlier this month. Her appointment is effective Oct. 1.

“Bob brings a wealth of experience and an in-depth knowledge of the Pacific Group to the table,” Clark-Johnson said. “I am pleased he has agreed to move to Phoenix and take on this new challenge.”

Dickey joined Gannett at the Reno (NV) Gazette Journal in 1989 where he served as retail advertising manager and advertising director. He became president and publisher of The Desert Sun in 1993 and added the title vice president of the Pacific Group in 1997. He began his newspaper career at The Daily Tidings in Ashland, OR in 1981.

“John is also a Pacific Group veteran and has a terrific understanding of the Phoenix area. He has been an invaluable member of the team who is more than ready to step into the publisher role,” Clark-Johnson said.

“Both these appointments make for a logical and smooth transition,” Clark-Johnson said. “I couldn’t be happier for what this means for the community and my Arizona Republic colleagues.”

Zidich began his career in 1977 as a circulation district manager at The Record, a Gannett newspaper in Stockton, CA. He moved to The Gazette Journal in Reno as retail advertising manager in 1987 and became president and publisher in 2000. He became executive vice president of The Arizona Republic in 2001 and president and COO in 2004.

Gannett Co., Inc. is a leading international news and information company that publishes 99 daily newspapers in the USA, including USA TODAY, the nation’s largest-selling daily newspaper. The company also owns more than 900 non-daily publications in the USA and USA WEEKEND, a weekly newspaper magazine. Gannett subsidiary Newsquest is the United Kingdom’s second largest regional newspaper company. Newsquest publishes more than 300 titles, including 17 daily newspapers, and a network of prize-winning Web sites. Gannett also operates 21 television stations in the United States and is an Internet leader with sites sponsored by its TV stations and newspapers including USATODAY.com, one of the most popular news sites on the Web.

Media inquiries:
Tara Connell
Vice President of Corporate Communications
(703) 854-6049
tjconnel@gannett.com