Business Editors

TRENTON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 19, 2003--Journal Register Company (NYSE:JRC) today reported that total advertising revenues for the five weeks ended August 3, 2003 were $25.9 million, an increase of 0.6 percent as compared to $25.8 million for the five weeks ended August 4, 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 Seven increased slightly (0.03 percent) as compared to Period Seven of 2002.

Retail advertising revenues, on a same-store basis, decreased 1.5 percent in Period Seven as compared to the prior year period. Increases in retail advertising revenues in Period Seven, on a same-store basis, were reported by three of the Company's six clusters, led by the New York Capital cluster, up 5.6 percent. The Company's Greater Philadelphia and Mid-Hudson, New York clusters also reported retail advertising revenue increases of 2.2 percent and 1.4 percent, respectively.

Classified advertising revenues increased 2.7 percent in Period Seven as compared to the prior year period on a same-store basis. The Company's classified real estate advertising revenues continued very strong, up 18.0 percent on a same-store basis as compared to Period Seven 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 38.5 percent; Connecticut cluster, up 22.2 percent; Mid-Hudson, New York cluster, up 21.0 percent; and the Greater Philadelphia cluster, up 17.6 percent. Total classified automotive advertising revenues increased 2.4 percent as compared to Period Seven of 2002 and was the best classified automotive advertising revenue performance, year-over-year, thus far in 2003. Classified automotive advertising revenues were led by the Company's Greater Philadelphia cluster, up 11.9 percent; Central New England cluster, up 7.6 percent; and the Connecticut cluster, up 5.8 percent, as compared to the prior year period. Classified employment advertising revenues for the Company in Period Seven were down 11.1 percent on a same-store basis, reflecting continued softness in the employment market.

National advertising revenues for Period Seven decreased 6.9 percent on a same-store basis, as compared to Period Seven of 2002.

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

In the Greater Philadelphia cluster, The Phoenix, in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, reported an 8.8 percent increase in advertising revenues, with strong gains in retail advertising and classified employment advertising revenues. The Company's weekly newspaper groups based in Quarryville, Pennsylvania and Medford, New Jersey, were up 25.8 percent and 9.9 percent, respectively, with strength in retail and classified automotive advertising revenues. In addition, the Company's weekly newspapers on the Main Line, Main Line Life and Acme Newspapers based in Ardmore, and Suburban Publications based in Wayne, reported a combined increase of 10.4 percent in total advertising revenues for Period Seven, with strength in retail, classified automotive and classified real estate advertising revenues. The InterCounty Newspaper Group, based in Newtown, Pennsylvania, was up 8.2 percent, with increases in retail and classified real estate and classified employment advertising revenues.

In the Company's Connecticut cluster, the New Haven Register reported an increase in total advertising revenues for Period Seven of 0.7 percent as compared to the prior year period. Retail advertising revenues at the New Haven Register, were down 4.8 percent in Period Seven as compared to the prior year period. The New Haven Register reported strong overall classified advertising revenues, up 8.3 percent in Period Seven as compared to the prior year period, led by classified real estate advertising revenues, which were up a very strong 24.4 percent in Period Seven as compared to Period Seven of 2002. The New Haven Register's classified automotive advertising revenues were up 14.9 percent in Period Seven as compared to the prior year period, reflecting overall strength in the category at the New Haven Register as well as the launch in May of a new Friday automotive feature section. Classified employment advertising revenues at the New Haven Register were down 9.5 percent as compared to Period Seven of 2002. Also in Connecticut, three of the Company's weekly newspaper groups reported increases in total advertising revenues. Imprint Newspapers, based in Bristol, was up 16.1 percent, with strength in retail and classified real estate advertising revenues. The Litchfield County Times group, based in New Milford, reported an increase of 10.9 percent, with strong retail advertising revenues, and Minuteman Newspapers, based in Westport, was up 2.1 percent also with strong retail results.

In the Company's New York clusters, The Record, in Troy, was up 5.5 percent, reporting increases in retail and classified employment advertising revenues. The Daily Freeman, in Kingston, reported an increase of 3.6 percent in total advertising revenues, with strength in retail, national and classified real estate advertising revenues.

In the Company's Central New England cluster, The Times, in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, was up 7.4 percent with strong results in retail, national, classified real estate and classified automotive advertising revenues.

Journal Register Company websites generated 11.1 million page views in Period Seven, an increase of 18.6 percent 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 235 non-daily publications. Journal Register Company currently operates 150 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.

Financial Summary follows. -0-

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


               Five Week Period Ended    Thirty-one Week Period Ended
             --------------------------- -----------------------------

                                   %                             %
              8/3/03   8/4/02  Inc/(Dec)   8/3/03    8/4/02  Inc/(Dec)
             -------- -------- --------- --------- --------- ---------

Local        $13,101  $13,186     (0.6)%  $94,061   $92,845      1.3 %
Classified    11,574   11,239      3.0 %   70,695    70,951     (0.4)%
National       1,258    1,351     (6.9)%    8,659     8,608      0.6 %
             -------- -------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Total
 advertising
 revenues    $25,933  $25,776      0.6 % $173,415  $172,404      0.6 %
             ======== ======== ========= ========= ========= =========

-------------------------------
Note: The revenues of the Company's acquisitions are included from the
date of acquisition in all periods presented above.

    CONTACT: Journal Register Company, Trenton
             Jean B. Clifton
             Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
             Tel: