Released: 09/30/2008

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Sept. 30, 2008 -- The McClatchy Company (NYSE: MNI) today named Bruce G. Ray as president and publisher of The Tribune in San Luis Obispo, Calif.

Ray has held executive roles at several companies over the past 13 years with experience in sales, online and finance. Since 2007, he has been the chief financial officer at The Tribune and has also been involved in special projects to grow online audience and revenues. He replaces Chip Visci, who is retiring. The change is effective Oct. 13.

"I want to thank Chip for his stewardship of The Tribune and wish him all the best in the next chapter of his life," said Gary Pruitt, McClatchy’s chairman and chief executive officer. "We're very happy to find Chip’s successor within McClatchy and within The Tribune. Bruce Ray is a natural leader whose broad business experience will serve the newspaper well going forward."

Ray, 38, joined The Tribune from Trimble Navigation Limited in Colorado, a maker of GPS, survey equipment and other engineering and construction products. He spent five years with the company in a variety of finance roles, including director of finance for Trimble’s survey division and senior sales manager for the survey division. Ray also has held finance positions with Excite@Home, Mars Inc., Intel Corp., and Nissan Motor Corp.

“Bruce is an excellent fit to guide The Tribune,” said Frank Whittaker, McClatchy vice president, operations, who oversees McClatchy’s California newspapers. “He has great respect for The Tribune’s public service mission, and he brings valuable outside experience from several successful companies.”

Ray was born in Texas and raised in Clarksville, Tenn. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Austin Peay State University in Clarksville and an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis. His wife, Amy, was born and raised in San Luis Obispo. The couple have two children, Romy, 2, and Dean, 1 month.

Ray said he was excited about his new leadership role.

“We have a great team at The Tribune,” he said. “Our folks have really stepped it up during one of the most challenging times in our industry.”

Visci, 54, retires after more than 30 years in the newspaper industry. He began his journalism career in 1975 as a reporter and copy editor for the Naples Daily News in Florida. He worked most of his career for Knight Ridder and Knight Ridder-owned newspapers.

He spent 18 years in the Detroit Free Press newsroom, rising to managing editor. In 1996, he moved to Knight Ridder’s corporate offices as assistant to the CEO, where he wrote speeches, prepared presentations for the Knight Ridder Board of Directors, employees, analysts and investors. In 2002, he became a vice president for operations at Knight Ridder, overseeing 16 of the company’s newspapers.

In 2004, Visci was named publisher of the San Jose Mercury News. He finished the year as publisher of The Tribune, where he has served since. During his tenure as publisher, The Tribune won an array of journalism awards, launched several news and advertising products and dramatically upgraded its website, SanLuisObsipo.com. Visci also was active in the community, holding leadership posts on several civic and community groups.

"It's time for a change," Visci said of his decision to retire. "While I still thrill to the sound of our presses running every night, I know The Tribune will benefit from fresh eyes and new ideas for the internet era."

Visci said he and his wife, Marty Claus, plan to remain in San Luis Obispo County and stay active in the county’s civic life.

About McClatchy

The McClatchy Company is the third largest newspaper company in the United States, with 30 daily newspapers, approximately 50 non-dailies, and direct marketing and direct mail operations. McClatchy also operates leading local websites in each of its markets which extend its audience reach. The websites offer users comprehensive news and information, advertising, e-commerce and other services. Together with its newspapers and direct marketing products, these interactive operations make McClatchy the leading local media company in each of its premium high growth markets. McClatchy-owned newspapers include The Miami Herald, The Sacramento Bee, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, The Kansas City Star, The Charlotte Observer, and The (Raleigh) News & Observer.

McClatchy also owns a portfolio of premium digital assets, including 14.4% of CareerBuilder, the nation's largest online job site, and 25.6% of Classified Ventures, a newspaper industry partnership that offers two of the nation's premier classified websites: the auto website, cars.com, and the rental site, apartments.com. McClatchy is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol MNI.

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