FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2003

Media General Reports December Revenues

RICHMOND, Va. — Media General, Inc. (NYSE: MEG) today reported December 2002 revenues of $65.7 million, 7.9 percent higher than last December's revenues of $60.9 million. Publishing revenues increased 5.1 percent from December 2001, the largest monthly increase of the year. Broadcast revenues increased 12.8 percent, and Interactive Media revenues grew 40.1 percent.

In the Publishing Division, advertising revenue exceeded 2001 levels by 5.7 percent and showed gains in all advertising categories. Retail revenue increased by $610,000, or 5 percent, driven by strong department store advertising at the Richmond Times-Dispatch and strong financial, furniture, movie, home improvement and department store linage at The Tampa Tribune. Preprint revenue was 11.1 percent above December 2001.

Classified revenue was above the prior year for the fourth month in a row, increasing $380,000, or 3.7 percent. Results were mixed across markets, with strong automotive and real estate advertising balanced against losses in employment advertising. The Tampa Tribune more than offset its 6.1 percent help-wanted decline with an 18.8 percent increase in automotive linage. The Richmond Times-Dispatch's 26.1 percent improvement in automotive linage was not enough to offset a 27.8 percent drop in employment linage. At the Winston-Salem Journal, employment linage was 18.8 percent ahead of the prior year, driven by strength in medical help-wanted advertising, while automotive linage increased by 12.8 percent.

National revenue increased by 2.1 percent. Strong national advertising sales in the Richmond market, primarily in telecommunications, more than offset Tampa's weakness in the telecommunications, automotive and grocery categories.

A 4.0 percent increase in circulation revenue reflected unusually low circulation revenue in December 2001.

Gross time sales in the Broadcast Division increased $2.7 million, or 14.4 percent, from the prior year. Local advertising increased 11.3 percent, reflecting strong advertising sales in the automotive, department store, grocery and specialty store categories. National time sales rose 18.3 percent, with particular strength in the automotive, specialty store, corporate and department store categories. The U.S. Senate and Congressional run-off elections in Louisiana contributed heavily to $255,000 in political time sales.

Interactive Media revenues continued to show strong growth through classified advertising upsell arrangements in conjunction with Media General newspapers and the introduction of new online 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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