FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, May 18, 2001

Reid Ashe To Become President and Chief Operating Officer of Media General; Marshall Morton Named Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer

RICHMOND, Va. — Media General (AMEX: MEG.A) today announced that Reid Ashe will become president and chief operating officer, effective July 1, 2001. The company also announced that Marshall N. Morton will become vice chairman and continue as chief financial officer. J. Stewart Bryan III will continue as chairman and chief executive officer. Ashe currently serves as president and publisher of The Tampa Tribune, and Morton is senior vice president and chief financial officer.

In making the announcement at today's Annual Meeting of Shareholders, Bryan said the three senior leaders would operate as the Office of the Chief Executive. Media General's three operating divisions, Publishing, Broadcast and Interactive Media, will report to Ashe. "The Office of the Chief Executive will work closely and in concert with our strong and capable division presidents on all issues facing our company," Bryan said.

"Among the most important parts of a chief executive's job is the development of succession planning throughout the corporation," said Bryan. "Media General is blessed to have strong leaders at the corporate, divisional and operational levels. I am particularly pleased to fill the position of president and chief operating officer from inside the company.

"In addition to his stewardship of our largest newspaper, Reid has led our launch into convergence. This experience has enabled him to develop a strong understanding of our broadcasting and online businesses, as well as of the power of joining multimedia platforms to strengthen journalism and increase revenues. Combined with his excellent leadership capabilities, Reid is the ideal executive to help lead Media General as we grow and build long-term value for our shareholders, customers and employees," said Bryan.

"I am delighted to have the opportunity to join Media General's senior management team and work with all of our businesses at a most exciting time in the company's history," said Ashe. "Media General is well-positioned for future growth, and I look forward to helping ensure that the company realizes its full potential through convergence and other initiatives."

Bryan said, "It is also very rewarding to have the benefit of Marshall's strong leadership. He has reinvigorated the financial department, instituted strong but realistic financial systems, and provided currency and discipline for Media General to refocus and grow."

"As the result of a number of actions taken over the past five years to re-shape and re-focus the company, Media General has built a strong foundation on which to continue its growth strategy," said Morton. "I look forward to being a part of the leadership team that will guide our future growth."

Ashe joined Media General in 1996 as president and associate publisher of The Tampa Tribune and became publisher at the beginning of 1997. Prior to that he had been president and publisher of The Wichita (Kansas) Eagle since 1986.

A native of Charlotte, N.C., Ashe received a degree in electrical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is also a graduate of the Harvard Business School Program for Management Development.

After serving as a reporter for the Washington (N.C.) Daily News, he joined The Jackson (Tenn.) Sun in 1973, where he rose from reporter to editor and publisher in 1978. He joined Knight-Ridder, Inc., in 1984 as a general executive at its Miami headquarters and was assigned to lead an early on-line computer service targeting home users. He then moved to Knight-Ridder's Wichita Eagle as senior vice president and general manager.

Ashe currently serves on the boards of the Tampa YMCA, Tampa Bay Partnership and Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce. He is chairman of the board of United Way of Hillsborough County. He previously served as president of the Wichita and Jackson YMCAs, as well as a board member of the National Council of YMCAs.

He is married to Lisa Frye Ashe, and they have two sons.

Morton joined Media General in 1989, having served previously in a number of financial capacities with West Point Pepperell, including those as corporate vice president and controller. A native of Charlottesville, Va., he has BA and MBA degrees from the University of Virginia.

Morton serves on the Virginia Commonwealth University Foundation Board of Directors, the VCU School of Business Advisory Board, on Sun Trust Bank's Richmond Metropolitan Board, on the Board of Governors at St. Catherine's School and on the American Heart Association's Richmond Metro Board. He is immediate past president of the Robert E. Lee Council of Boy Scouts of America and past president of the Richmond Metropolitan Business Foundation.

He and his wife, Caroline, have one daughter and one son.