FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, March 16, 2004

Media General Reports February Revenues

RICHMOND, Va. – Media General, Inc. (NYSE: MEG) today reported revenues for the four weeks ended February 29, 2004, of $64.8 million, an increase of 3.2 percent from revenues of $62.8 million for the four weeks ended March 2, 2003. Publishing revenues increased 2.9 percent, Broadcast revenues increased 2.9 percent, and Interactive Media revenues were up 42.4 percent.

“Our February results reflected a healthy increase in Publishing Division revenues, driven mostly by stronger classified advertising,” said J. Stewart Bryan III, chairman and chief executive officer. “We were pleased to see help wanted advertising continue its solid year-over-year improvement. Higher Broadcast Division revenues resulted from higher political spending as well as overall growth in the automotive category,” Bryan said.

Newspaper advertising revenues increased by $1 million, or 3 percent. If print and online publishing revenues were reported on a combined basis, as some peer companies report, total publishing revenues and newspaper advertising revenues would have been up 3.3 percent and 3.5 percent, respectively, from last year.

Classified revenue increased by $790,000, or 6 percent. Results for the Richmond Times-Dispatch, up 9.4 percent, were the strongest of the company’s three metropolitan newspapers and reflected robust employment and automotive advertising. The Tampa Tribune was 2.9 percent above last year, and the Winston-Salem Journal was 4.1 percent below. Overall community newspaper classified growth of 10.1 percent from last year reflected gains in nearly all markets. Employment linage at the three metropolitan newspapers increased 22.5 percent over last year, partially offset by automotive linage that was 3.1 percent below last year. Employment linage at The Tampa Tribune and the Richmond Times-Dispatch increased nearly 25 percent, and the Winston-Salem Journal was up 13 percent.

While retail revenue declined $60,000, or 0.6 percent, from last year, the category showed a strong sequential improvement from the previous month. The Tampa Tribune was up 4.9 percent over last year, due to increases in the entertainment, home improvement and healthcare categories, while department store advertising continued to show softness. The Tampa increase was offset by declines in Richmond and Winston-Salem. Preprint revenue increased $100,000, or 1.6 percent. On a combined basis, retail ROP and retail preprints increased from last year by $140,000, or 0.9 percent.

National revenue was slightly below the prior year, due primarily to softness in the Tampa market that was almost entirely offset by gains in Richmond, Winston-Salem and community markets. Telecommunications advertising continues to shape the overall revenue performance in the national category. Circulation revenue increased $250,000, or 3.6 percent.

Broadcast gross time sales increased $1.2 million, or 6.1 percent. Local time sales increased $570,000, or 4.4 percent, driven by increases in the automotive, fast food, furniture and telecommunications categories. National time sales increased $165,000, or 2.3 percent, reflecting higher spending in the automotive, telecommunications and service categories. Political revenues of $635,000 compared with only $140,000 last year, and reflected presidential primary spending in Georgia, North and South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia, a congressional race in Kentucky and issue advertising in Florida.

In the Interactive Media Division, a 42.4 percent growth in revenues was primarily due to increases in online classified advertising. National advertising also contributed to the year-over-year growth.

Outlook
Media General's expectations for the first quarter of 2004 are in line with analyst estimates of 31 cents per share as reflected in First Call's current mean.

Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to various risks and uncertainties and should be understood in the context of the company’s publicly available reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Media General’s future performance could differ materially from its current expectations.

About Media General
Media General is an independent communications company situated primarily in the Southeast with interests in newspapers, television stations and interactive media. 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 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.

Investor Contact:
Lou Anne Nabhan
(804) 649-6103

Media Contact:
Ray Kozakewicz
(804) 649-6748

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