Ownership Submission
FORM 3
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
OMB APPROVAL
OMB Number: 3235-0104
Expires: January 31, 2005
Estimated average burden hours per response... 0.5

(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
  Williams John A
2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
01/12/2006
3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
GANNETT CO INC /DE/ [GCI]
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
GANNETT CO., INC., 7950 JONES BRANCH DRIVE
4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
Pres - Gannett Digital
5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
(Street)

MCLEAN, VA 22107
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 4)
2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned
(Instr. 4)
3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)
4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Common Stock 1,004
D
 
Common Stock 2,579.06
I
By 401(k)

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. SEC 1473 (7-02)
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number.

Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)
2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)
4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)
6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Phantom Stock   (1)   (1) Common Stock 1,389.829 $ (2) D  
Restricted Stock Units 12/09/2009 12/09/2009 Common Stock 1,000 $ (3) D  
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)   (4) 12/09/2007 Common Stock 5,600 $ 59.5 D  
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)   (5) 12/08/2008 Common Stock 8,260 $ 65 D  
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)   (6) 12/07/2009 Common Stock 9,000 $ 74.5 D  
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)   (7) 07/24/2010 Common Stock 4,700 $ 56.25 D  
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)   (8) 12/05/2010 Common Stock 7,500 $ 54.31 D  
Employee Stock Option (right to buy) 12/04/2001 12/04/2011 Common Stock 1,700 $ 69.35 D  
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)   (9) 12/02/2011 Common Stock 14,000 $ 69.35 D  
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)   (10) 12/03/2012 Common Stock 13,000 $ 70.21 D  
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)   (11) 12/03/2012 Common Stock 3,500 $ 77.28 D  
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)   (12) 12/12/2013 Common Stock 14,000 $ 87.33 D  
Employee Stock Option (right to buy) 10/28/2005 12/10/2012 Common Stock 14,500 $ 80.9 D  
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)   (13) 12/09/2013 Common Stock 30,500 $ 60.29 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
Williams John A
GANNETT CO., INC.
7950 JONES BRANCH DRIVE
MCLEAN, VA 22107
      Pres - Gannett Digital  

Signatures

/s/ Todd A. Mayman, Attorney-in-Fact 01/23/2006
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) These shares of phantom stock are payable in cash or stock, at the election of the reporting person, on various dates selected by the reporting person or as otherwise provided in the Issuer's Deferred Compensation Plan.
(2) Each share of phantom stock is the economic equivalent of one share of common stock.
(3) Each restricted stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of the underlying common stock.
(4) The option vested in four equal annual installments beginning on December 9, 1998.
(5) The option vested in four equal annual installments beginning on December 8, 1999.
(6) The option vested in four equal annual installments beginning on December 7, 2000.
(7) The option vested in four equal annual installments beginning on July 24, 2001.
(8) The option vested in four equal annual installments beginning on December 5, 2001.
(9) The option vested in four equal annual installments beginning on December 4, 2002.
(10) The option vested as to 9,750 shares in three equal annual installments beginning on December 3, 2003, and will vest as to the remaining 3,250 shares on December 3, 2006.
(11) The option vested as to 2,625 shares in three equal annual installments beginning on December 3, 2003, and will vest as to the remaining 875 shares on December 3, 2006.
(12) The option vested as to 3,500 shares on December 12, 2004, and vested as to the remaining 10,500 shares on December 23, 2004.
(13) The option will vest in four equal annual installments beginning on December 9, 2006.

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, See Instruction 6 for procedure.

Potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB number.