FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, May 6, 2003

Media General Newspapers Lead in Several States in Circulation Growth, Tampa Tribune Nation's Fastest-Growing Large Newspaper

Richmond, Va. – Media General newspapers were the leaders in daily and Sunday circulation growth in Florida, North Carolina and Virginia during the October 2002 to March 2003 period, compared to the same period for 2001-2002. The company's largest newspaper, The Tampa Tribune, was a national leader among large-circulation dailies, according to a report released on May 5 by the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC).

Net paid Sunday circulation of The Tampa Tribune rose by 5.1 percent, faster than any other newspaper in the country with circulation over 225,000. The Tribune's daily circulation rose by 5.9 percent, making it the second fastest-growing large-circulation daily. Circulation grew by over 13,000 daily and 15,000 Sunday.

"The results in Tampa show the positive impact of a comprehensive circulation growth plan, which we implemented in the second half of 2002," said H. Graham Woodlief, Jr., president of the company's Publishing Division.

Also in Florida, Media General's Jackson County Floridan, in Marianna, showed the strongest circulation gains among newspapers in the state regardless of size, at 17.2 percent daily and 8.5 percent Sunday.

In North Carolina, results for the Hickory Daily Record will be published next week in an update of the ABC report. October to March growth rates of 10.9 percent daily and 9.3 percent Sunday put the Daily Record in the lead in the state.

Media General's Manassas (Va.) Journal-Messenger, which serves the Washington, D.C. suburbs in Northern Virginia, captured the top ranking for daily circulation growth at 35.1 percent. On Sundays, the newspaper joins the Potomac News in a combined edition, which, at 11.9 percent, is Virginia's fastest growing Sunday newspaper.

"We are delighted with our overall results," said Woodlief. "The increases occurred after we launched a readership initiative in which our newspapers fine-tuned their focus on community needs, backed by in-depth market research. The timing suggests that our papers' efforts to provide more local news, better layout and design, and deeper community connections are driving readership," he said.

The ABC report also shows that circulation growth was achieved by a majority of the company's 17 papers that reported results to the ABC. Twelve reported daily gains, and 10 reported Sunday gains. (See attached table.)

"The best news is that substantial growth is occurring in both large and small markets," said Woodlief. "The Tribune's home market, Tampa Bay, is the nation's 13th largest metropolitan area. Hickory, N.C. is a town of approximately 38,000," he said.

The Audit Bureau of Circulations is a non-profit industry organization that provides media buyers, publishers and financial institutions with verified circulation data for paid publications. The ABC is widely considered the authoritative source of circulation data.

About Media General
Media General (NYSE:MEG) 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.

Table follows:
Media General Newspaper Circulation

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