FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, July 16, 2002

Media General Reports June Revenues

RICHMOND, Va. — Media General, Inc. (NYSE: MEG) today reported June 2002 revenues of $65 million, up 5.7 percent from $61 million in June 2001. Although Publishing revenues declined 4.1 percent from last June, Broadcast revenues increased 26.2 percent, and Interactive Media revenues were up 24.8 percent.

In the Publishing Division, advertising revenues declined 4.2 percent from shortfalls in virtually all categories. Retail revenue was 9.8 percent below last year, due to soft advertising schedules from several larger customers. Results were down overall for each of the metropolitan newspapers and for the community newspaper groups.

Classified revenue decreased 1.3 percent from last year. The classified category continues to show weakness in employment advertising. Help-wanted linage decreased 19.6 percent at The Tampa Tribune, 14.5 percent at the Richmond Times-Dispatch, and 14.4 percent at the Winston-Salem Journal. Strong automotive, real estate and private party advertising in several markets partially offset the employment weakness.

National revenue was below last year by 10.8 percent. Most of the decline was at The Tampa Tribune, primarily reflecting weakness in the automotive category. Preprint revenue was slightly below last year. Circulation revenue was down 3.5 percent, excluding the change to independent carriers in Tampa.

In the Broadcast Division, gross time sales increased 26.8 percent compared to last June. The growth in time sales came primarily from strong advertising in the local, national and political categories. The automotive sector, the division's largest, finished the month 33 percent ahead of last June.

Local time sales increased 11.8 percent, with gains in the automotive, services, transportation, specialty stores and furniture sectors. National time sales rose 28.2 percent, with strength in the automotive, corporate, telecommunications and entertainment sectors.

Political revenues climbed to $1.8 million, spurred by advertising for gubernatorial primaries and run-off races in the Spartanburg, Mobile and Florence markets. The company's Augusta, Birmingham and Johnson City markets also benefited from state congressional and local campaign spending.

Interactive Media revenue continues to grow through classified up-selling arrangements with Media General newspapers and from the introduction of new products.

About Media General
Media General is an independent communications company situated primarily in the Southeast with interests in newspapers, television stations, interactive media and diversified information services. The company's publishing assets include The Tampa Tribune, the Richmond Times-Dispatch, the Winston-Salem Journal and 22 other daily newspapers in Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, Alabama and South Carolina, as well as nearly 100 other periodicals and a 20 percent interest in The Denver Post. Media General's 26 network-affiliated television stations reach more than 30 percent of the television households in the Southeast, and nearly 8 percent of those in the United States. The company's extensive interactive media offerings include more than 50 online enterprises. Media General also has a 33 percent interest in SP Newsprint Co., which operates newsprint mills in Dublin, Ga., and Newberg, Ore.

Charts follow:
Revenue Report
Ad Linage Summaries

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