Journal Register Company Reports Period Eleven Advertising Revenues; Advertising Revenues Increase 44.0 Percent; 2.2 Percent on a Same-Store Basis.

TRENTON, N.J. -- Journal Register Company (NYSE:JRC) today reported that total advertising revenues for the four weeks ended November 28, 2004 were $36.5 million, an increase of 44.0 percent as compared to $25.4 million for the four weeks ended November 30, 2003.

Total advertising revenues for Period Eleven of 2004 include the results of the Company's acquisitions, including 21st Century Newspapers.

Total advertising revenues for the Company during Period Eleven of 2004 reflect increases in all advertising categories, including retail advertising revenues, up 43.3 percent; national advertising revenues, up 68.4 percent; and classified advertising revenues, up 42.1 percent.

For comparison purposes, where noted, the Company's advertising revenues are presented on a same-store basis, which excludes the advertising revenues of the Company's 2003 and 2004 acquisitions from the periods presented.

On a same-store basis, Journal Register Company's advertising revenues for Period Eleven increased 2.2 percent as compared to Period Eleven of 2003. For the year-to-date period ended November 28, 2004, same-store advertising revenues increased 3.8 percent from the prior year period.

Total advertising revenues for the recently-acquired 21st Century Newspapers group, based in Pontiac, Michigan, were up 1.3 percent in Period Eleven, as compared to the prior year period. These results were led by strong growth at The Macomb Daily, in Mt. Clemens, which was up 5.0 percent.

On a same-store basis, retail advertising revenues for the Company increased 0.1 percent in Period Eleven as compared to the prior year period, with five of the Company's clusters reporting increases in the category. Growth in retail advertising revenues was led by the Capital-Saratoga, New York cluster, which reported a 6.0 percent increase, driven by strength in the healthcare and telecommunications categories. The Central New England and Mid-Hudson, New York clusters also reported retail advertising revenue growth, each up 5.4 percent, with strength in the financial and telecommunications categories.

Classified advertising revenues for Period Eleven, on a same-store basis, increased 2.6 percent as compared to Period Eleven of 2003, led by continued growth in classified real estate and classified employment advertising revenues. Classified real estate advertising revenues were up 13.8 percent in Period Eleven, with all of the Company's clusters reporting increases in the category, led by the Central New England cluster, up 33.8 percent. Classified employment advertising revenues were up 10.2 percent in Period Eleven, with four of the Company's clusters reporting increases in this category. Classified employment advertising revenues were particularly strong in the Central New England cluster, up 19.6 percent, the Greater Cleveland cluster, up 16.8 percent, and the Connecticut cluster, up 16.0 percent. Classified automotive advertising revenues, on a same-store basis, decreased 8.3 percent as compared to Period Eleven of 2003.

National advertising revenues continued very strong, up 26.0 percent in Period Eleven, on a same-store basis, as compared to the prior year period. The growth was driven by the Company's Greater Cleveland cluster, up 68.9 percent, and the Connecticut cluster, up 37.1 percent, each as compared to the prior year period. National advertising revenue growth in these clusters continues to be led by the telecommunications and national automotive categories.

Several of the Company's operations reported strong advertising revenues in Period Eleven, as noted below.

In the Connecticut cluster, the New Haven Register reported an increase in total advertising revenues for Period Eleven of 6.0 percent as compared to the prior year period. Classified advertising revenues at the New Haven Register were up 3.2 percent in Period Eleven as compared to Period Eleven of 2003. Classified employment advertising revenues were up 13.0 percent and classified real estate advertising revenues were up 12.1 percent, each as compared to Period Eleven of 2003. Classified automotive advertising revenues at the New Haven Register decreased 22.6 percent in Period Eleven as compared to the prior year period, impacted by continued softness and tough comparisons to 2003. National advertising revenues at the New Haven Register were up 41.6 percent for the period, driven by growth in the telecommunications and national automotive categories.

Also in Connecticut, The Register Citizen, in Torrington, reported a 12.8 percent increase in total advertising revenues, led by growth in retail, classified real estate and classified automotive advertising revenues. The Herald and Sunday Herald Press, in New Britain, were up 5.9 percent in total advertising revenues, led by growth in all categories of classified advertising revenues.

In the Greater Philadelphia cluster, the Company's weekly group, Chesapeake Publishing, based in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, reported an increase in total advertising revenues of 11.7 percent, with strength in retail, classified real estate and classified employment advertising revenues. InterCounty Newspaper Group, based in Newtown, Pennsylvania, reported an increase of 4.2 percent, with growth in retail and classified employment advertising revenues.

In the Company's Central New England cluster, The Herald News, in Fall River, Massachusetts, reported an increase of 11.0 percent, with strong growth in retail, classified real estate and classified employment advertising revenues. Southern Rhode Island Newspapers, the Company's weekly group based in Wakefield, Rhode Island, was up 7.8 percent, with increases in retail and all categories of classified advertising revenues.

In the Company's Capital-Saratoga, New York cluster, The Saratogian in Saratoga Springs, was up 10.5 percent, led by growth in retail and classified real estate advertising revenues, and The Oneida Daily Dispatch, in Oneida, was up 6.6 percent, with growth in retail, classified real estate and classified automotive advertising revenues.

In the Company's Mid-Hudson, New York cluster, Roe Jan Independent Publishing, the Company's weekly group based in Hillsdale, reported an increase of 18.9 percent in total advertising revenues, with growth in retail, classified real estate and classified employment advertising revenues.

Journal Register Company Web sites generated 14.0 million page views in Period Eleven, an increase of 56.6 percent as compared to the prior year period.

Journal Register Company is a leading U.S. newspaper publishing company. Journal Register Company owns 27 daily newspapers, including the New Haven Register, Connecticut's second largest daily and Sunday newspaper, and 337 non-daily publications. Journal Register Company currently operates 194 individual Web sites that are affiliated with the Company's daily newspapers and non-daily publications. These Web sites can be accessed at www.journalregister.com. All of the Company's operations are strategically clustered in seven geographic areas: Greater Philadelphia; Michigan; Connecticut; Greater Cleveland; Central New England; and the Capital-Saratoga and Mid-Hudson regions of New York. The Company has an investment in PowerOne Media, LLC, a leading provider of online solutions for newspapers, hosting the largest online newspaper network in the U.S.

This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially. These include, but are not limited to, the success of the Company's acquisition strategy, including the acquisition of 21st Century Newspapers, dispositions, the ability of the Company to achieve cost reductions and integrate acquisitions, including the acquisition of 21st Century Newspapers, competitive pressures, general or regional economic conditions and advertising trends, the unavailability or a material increase in the price of newsprint and increases in interest rates. These and additional risk factors are outlined in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Financial Summary follows.

JOURNAL REGISTER COMPANY
               PERIOD ELEVEN ADVERTISING REVENUE REPORT
                  (Dollars in thousands, unaudited)


              Four Week Period Ended     Forty-Eight Week Period Ended
           ----------------------------- -----------------------------

           11/28/04  11/30/03   %Increase 11/28/04  11/30/03 %Increase
           --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------

Local       $21,582   $15,060      43.3%  179,256  $150,728      18.9%
Classified   13,015     9,156      42.1%  132,608   112,274      18.1%
National      1,938     1,151      68.4%   17,241    13,371      28.9%
           --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Total       $36,535   $25,367      44.0% $329,105  $276,373      19.1%

Note: The revenues of the Company's acquisitions are included from the
date of acquisition in each period presented above.