Journal Register Company Reports Period Twelve Advertising Revenues.

Business Editors

TRENTON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 29, 2004

Employment Advertising Revenues Up 3.9 Percent; Eighth Consecutive Period of Trend Improvement

Journal Register Company (NYSE: JRC) today reported that total advertising revenues for the four weeks ended December 28, 2003 were $22.6 million, a decrease of 0.5 percent as compared to $22.7 million for the four weeks ended December 29, 2002.

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

On a same-store basis, Journal Register Company's total advertising revenues for Period Twelve decreased 0.7 percent as compared to Period Twelve of 2002.

Retail advertising revenues, on a same-store basis, decreased 1.2 percent in Period Twelve as compared to the prior year period. Increases in retail advertising revenues in Period Twelve, on a same-store basis, were reported by the Company's Capital-Saratoga cluster, which was up a strong 6.2 percent, led by increases in major accounts, and the Company's Connecticut cluster, which was up 0.4 percent.

Classified advertising revenues, on a same-store basis, increased 0.8 percent in Period Twelve as compared to a very strong Period Twelve in 2002, which was up 7.6 percent. The Company's classified real estate advertising revenues continued very strong, up 11.6 percent on a same-store basis as compared to Period Twelve of last year, with each of the Company's clusters reporting increases. Classified real estate advertising revenues were particularly strong in the Company's Central New England cluster, up 21.7 percent; the Company's Mid-Hudson, New York cluster, up 20.2 percent; and the Connecticut cluster, up 18.8 percent. The Company's classified employment advertising revenues increased 3.9 percent in Period Twelve, on a same-store basis, as compared to the prior year period. This represents the best performance in year-over-year employment advertising revenues on a same-store basis since Period Twelve of 2000 and the Company's eighth consecutive period of sequential improvement in year-over-year classified employment advertising revenue trends. In addition, classified employment advertising was up each period in the fourth quarter, which resulted in the first positive quarter in the category in three years. The Company's Mid-Hudson, New York cluster led the way in employment advertising, up 25.0 percent. The Connecticut cluster also reported strong employment advertising revenues, up 4.9 percent. Total classified automotive advertising revenues on a same-store basis decreased 12.4 percent as compared to Period Twelve of 2002. Classified automotive advertising was impacted by a slow final week of the period, which was due primarily to adverse weather conditions in each of the Company's clusters, as well as tough comparisons in 2002, which was up 9.1 percent.

National advertising revenues, which represent approximately five percent of the Company's total advertising revenues, decreased 3.4 percent in Period Twelve, on a same-store basis, as compared to the prior year period.

Several Journal Register Company newspapers reported increases in total advertising revenues in Period Twelve.

In the Greater Philadelphia cluster, The Phoenix, in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, was up a very strong 28.0 percent, reporting strong retail, classified automotive and classified employment advertising revenues. The Delaware County Daily Times, in Primos, Pennsylvania, reported an increase of 4.1 percent, with increases in all categories of classified advertising revenues, particularly automotive, which was up 23.1 percent. The Company's weekly newspaper group based in Quarryville, Pennsylvania was up a strong 16.2 percent, led by retail and classified automotive advertising revenues. In addition, Montgomery Newspapers, the Company's weekly newspaper group based in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, was up 13.6 percent, with strength in retail and all categories of classified advertising revenues.

In the Company's Central New England cluster, the Taunton Daily Gazette, in Taunton, Massachusetts, was up 6.3 percent, with strength in retail and classified real estate advertising revenues. Kent County Daily Times in West Warwick, Rhode Island, also performed well, up 8.3 percent, with strong retail advertising revenues. Southern Rhode Island Newspapers, the Company's weekly group based in Wakefield, Rhode Island, was up 5.4 percent, with strength in retail and classified real estate advertising revenues.

In New York, in the Company's Capital-Saratoga cluster, The Saratogian, in Saratoga Springs, was up 6.4 percent, with particular strength in retail and classified real estate advertising revenues. In the Mid-Hudson cluster, the Taconic Press, the Company's weekly newspaper group based in Millbrook, was up 9.4 percent, with strong retail and classified real estate advertising revenues.

In the Company's Connecticut cluster, Shore Line Newspapers, the Company's weekly newspaper group based in Guilford, was up a strong 8.8 percent, with strength in retail, classified employment and classified real estate advertising revenues. Imprint Newspapers, the Company's weekly group based in Bristol, Connecticut, was up 8.6 percent, also driven by strength in retail, classified employment and classified real estate advertising revenues.

The New Haven Register reported an increase in total advertising revenues for Period Twelve of 1.3 percent as compared to the prior year period. Retail advertising revenues at the New Haven Register were up 2.9 percent in Period Twelve as compared to Period Twelve of 2002, primarily as a result of strong major account performance. Overall classified advertising revenues at the New Haven Register were down 2.4 percent in Period Twelve as compared to the prior year period. Classified real estate advertising revenues at the New Haven Register continued strong and increased 17.5 percent, while classified employment advertising revenues in New Haven were also strong, up 4.2 percent. Classified automotive advertising revenues at the New Haven Register were down 22.5 percent in Period Twelve as compared to the prior year period, impacted by adverse weather and tough comparisons due primarily to a large automotive advertising schedule that ran in 2002. National advertising revenues at the New Haven Register increased 1.4 percent in Period Twelve as compared to the prior year period.

Journal Register Company is a leading U.S. newspaper publishing company that owns 23 daily newspapers, including the New Haven Register, Connecticut's second largest daily and Sunday newspaper, and 237 non-daily publications. Journal Register Company currently operates 152 individual Web sites, which are affiliated with the Company's daily newspapers and non-daily publications, and can be accessed at www.journalregister.com. All of the Company's operations are strategically clustered in six geographic areas: Greater Philadelphia, 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, Inc., 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, dispositions, the ability of the Company to achieve cost reductions and integrate acquisitions, competitive pressures, general or regional economic conditions and advertising trends, the unavailability or a material increase in the price of newsprint and material 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.

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


              Four Week Period Ended      Fifty-Two Week Period Ended
           ----------------------------- -----------------------------

                                       %                             %
           12/28/03  12/29/02  Inc/(Dec) 12/28/03  12/29/02  Inc/(Dec)
           --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------

Local       $14,154   $14,294    (1.0) % $164,882  $164,012      0.5 %
Classified    7,317     7,257     0.83 %  119,591   117,757      1.6 %
National      1,142     1,182     (3.4)%   14,513    15,287     (5.1)%
           --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Total
 advertising
 revenues   $22,613   $22,733    (0.5) % $298,986  $297,056      0.6 %
           ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= =========

Note: The revenues of the Company's acquisitions are included from the

date of acquisition in all periods presented above.