1 EXHIBIT 2.6 AMENDMENT, dated January 14, 1998 to the ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT dated November 21, 1997, by and among Liberty Group Publishing, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Green Equity Investors II, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, Liberty...

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                                                                     EXHIBIT 2.6



                             AMENDMENT, dated January 14, 1998 to the ASSET
                      PURCHASE AGREEMENT dated November 21, 1997, by and among
                      Liberty Group Publishing, Inc., a Delaware corporation,
                      Green Equity Investors II, L.P., a Delaware limited
                      partnership, Liberty Group Operating, Inc., a Delaware
                      corporation, American Publishing Company of Illinois, a
                      Delaware corporation, Xxxxxxxxx International Inc., a
                      Delaware corporation, APAC-90 Inc., a Delaware
                      corporation, American Publishing (1991) Inc., a Delaware
                      corporation and APAC-95 Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
                      "Asset Purchase Agreement (Like Kind)").



               WHEREAS, the parties to the Asset Purchase Agreement (Like Kind)
desire to correct a mutual mistake made in Schedule 1 of the Asset Purchase
Agreement (Like Kind).

               NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

               The undersigned, being all the parties to the Asset Purchase
Agreement (Like Kind), hereby amend the Asset Purchase Agreement (Like Kind) by
replacing in its entirety Schedule 1 and substituting the attached Amended
Schedule 1.

               IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Amendment
as of the date first above written.


                                       LIBERTY GROUP PUBLISHING, INC.,

                                        by  /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
                                           ------------------------------------
                                           Name:  Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
                                           Title: Secretary


                                       GREEN EQUITY INVESTORS II, L.P.,

                                        by  /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Annick
                                           ------------------------------------
                                           Name:  Xxxxxxx X. Annick


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                                                                               2



                                           Title: Vice President



                                       LIBERTY GROUP OPERATING, INC.,

                                        by  /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
                                           ------------------------------------
                                           Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
                                           Title: Secretary


                                       AMERICAN PUBLISHING COMPANY OF
                                       ILLINOIS,

                                        by  /s/ X. X. Xxxxxxxx
                                           ------------------------------------
                                           Name:  X. X. Xxxxxxxx
                                           Title: Vice President


                                       XXXXXXXXX INTERNATIONAL INC.,

                                        by  /s/ X. X. Xxxxxxxx
                                           ------------------------------------
                                           Name:  X. X. Xxxxxxxx
                                           Title: Executive Vice
                                                  President and
                                                  Chief Financial
                                                  Officer


                                       APAC-90 INC.,

                                        by  /s/ X. X. Xxxxxxxx
                                           ------------------------------------
                                           Name:  X. X. Xxxxxxxx
                                           Title: Vice President


                                       AMERICAN PUBLISHING (1991) INC.,

                                        by  /s/ X. X. Xxxxxxxx
                                           ------------------------------------
                                           Name:  X. X. Xxxxxxxx

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                                           Title: Vice President
                                                                               3


                                       APAC-95 INC.,

                                        by  /s/ X. X. Xxxxxxxx
                                           ------------------------------------
                                           Name:  X. X. Xxxxxxxx
                                           Title: Vice President