FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, Dec. 20, 2002

Media General Newspaper Circulation Broke Million Mark in November

Richmond, Va. – Media General Publishing Division announced today that total net paid Sunday circulation exceeded one million during November 2002. This two-percent change from prior-year circulation pushed Sunday sales to 1,008,000, the highest levels ever reported by the division. Daily circulation reached a record level of nearly 870,000 during the month.

"These exceptional figures are an endorsement of our newspapers' drive to increase readership through more relevant news, better layout and design and closer community partnerships," said H. Graham Woodlief, Jr., president of the Publishing Division.

According to internal research, circulation growth was shared among 15 of the company's 25 daily newspapers in Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, Alabama and South Carolina.

Among the metropolitan papers, The Tampa Tribune showed the strongest growth with 4.5 percent daily and 5.1 percent Sunday increases from November 2001. The Tampa Bay area is Media General's largest market.

Newspapers in smaller markets showed strong circulation gains as well. Media General papers in Northern Virginia and the Hickory, N.C. area showed average increases of more than 10 percent. The Jackson County Floridan in Marianna, Fla. led the division with 23.5 percent daily and 11.6 percent Sunday increases.

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.