Newspaper & Mailroom

Journal Communications Reports August Revenue for Its Publishing and Broadcast Groups

Tuesday 30. September 2008 - ournal Communications, Inc. (NYSE:JRN) announced today that for the eighth period ended August 24, 2008, total revenues for its Publishing and Broadcast groups of $36.52 million decreased 1.2% compared to $36.96 million reported for the eighth period ended August 26, 2007. For the eighth period 2008, advertising revenues of $30.97 million decreased 2.6% compared to $31.80 million for the 2007 eighth period. Both periods contained 28 days.

Note that unless otherwise indicated, all comparisons are to the eighth period ended August 26, 2007.

At the Publishing segment, revenues at the daily newspaper and the community newspapers and shoppers totaled $18.91 million, down 7.1% compared to $20.35 million. Advertising revenue was $13.37 million, down 12.0% compared to $15.19 million. Circulation revenue of $4.13 million was up 1.3%. Other revenue of $1.41 million was up 30.2%.

At the daily newspaper, total advertising revenue was $10.78 million, down 13.8% compared to $12.51 million. Specifically, retail advertising revenue was down 4.0%, classified advertising revenue was down 27.2%, national advertising revenue of $0.63 million decreased 21.3% and direct marketing revenue of $0.18 million was up 4.7%. Within classified advertising, the help wanted, real estate/rentals, auto verticals and the other classified verticals were down 28.0%, 35.9%, 26.0% and 9.3%, respectively. Circulation revenue at the daily newspaper was $4.04 million. Other revenue at the daily newspaper of $1.10 million was up 50.0% compared to $0.73 million primarily due to new commercial printing customers in 2008. Total interactive advertising revenue at the daily newspaper, which is reflected in the various revenue categories, increased 5.7% to $1.21 million compared to $1.15 million.

At the Company’s community newspapers and shoppers operations, total advertising revenue was $2.58 million, down 3.4% compared to $2.67 million. This largely reflects declines in retail advertising revenue (down 3.0%) and classified advertising revenue (down 10.0%), primarily due to the challenging economy. Other advertising revenue was $42,000. Circulation revenue at the community newspapers and shoppers of $86,000 increased 10.3%. Other revenue at the community newspapers and shoppers of $0.31 million decreased 11.4%.

At the Broadcasting segment, total revenue at the Company’s radio and television stations of $17.61 million increased 6.0% compared to $16.61 million. At the television group, revenue increased 13.1% to $10.62 million compared to $9.39 million, primarily due to Summer Olympics advertising revenue on our NBC stations and a $0.75 million increase in political and issue advertising, partially offset by softness in the Ft. Myers and Las Vegas markets. At the radio group, revenue of $6.99 million was down 3.2% compared to $7.22 million. Revenue increases in Milwaukee, Omaha and Springfield were more than offset by decreases in all other markets.