CHICAGO, May 21, 1998 - Classified Ventures - a truly national online network to offer consumers in-depth classified auto, apartment and real estate advertising listings, resources and services through linked local and national Web sites - today extended its reach to 42 states with the addition of three new Classified Ventures partners: Central Newspapers Inc., Gannett Co. Inc. and The McClatchy Company.

"With the addition of these major groups and their presence in 19 states not previously covered by Classified Ventures, we are quickly building a truly national network capable of delivering to consumers and advertisers the Internet's most comprehensive national and local classified advertising listings and related information," said Tim Landon, Classified Ventures' chief executive officer.

The company's rapidly growing network - which now has the resources of 135 newspapers - will reach 42 states, including 35 of the nation's top 50 markets, Landon added. "We believe that the best way to win nationally, is to win locally. The strength of our newspapers' local brands gives us a tremendous advantage against competitors from outside the newspaper industry."

Through Classified Ventures, affiliate Web sites offering online local classified listings, advertising and information - including, for example, news about local schools and communities - are being linked to Classified Ventures' nationally branded Internet sites. These sites contribute network content, such as additional new-car reviews, as well as national advertising, decision-support tools and services, such as car payment calculators and financial service information

"This is a major step forward for our industry," said Gary L. Watson, president of the Newspaper Division of Gannett. "Our Classified Ventures participation will help us to strengthen our relationships with consumers and advertisers in our local newspaper markets, while developing a promising new channel for national and regional advertisers."

Gannett, the nation's largest newspaper publisher, has 87 daily newspapers and daily circulation of approximately 6.7 million. Among the additions to the Classified Ventures enterprise will be the largest newspapers in Hawaii, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi and Vermont.

"America's newspapers have a great future together," said Louis A. Weil III, president and chief executive officer of Central Newspapers. "Classified Ventures provides the vehicle we need to build on our strong local franchises. It builds on our industry's unequaled information resources and long-standing relationships with consumers and advertisers to enhance our value in the marketplace and create value for our shareholders."

Central Newspapers publishes seven dailies with a combined circulation of 825,000 and 1.5 million on Sunday. It brings to the Classified Ventures network the largest newspapers in Arizona (The Arizona Republic) and Indiana (The Indianapolis Star and News). The Arizona Republic, based in Phoenix, is the fastest growing major morning newspaper in the country.

"The creation of nationally branded sites will further enhance local newspapers' ability to compete in the digital environment by providing national promotion, leading-edge technology and, more importantly, a consistent advertising and consumer experience across multiple markets," added Gary Pruitt, president and chief executive officer, The McClatchy Company.

The McClatchy Company brings to Classified Ventures 11 daily newspapers, including the largest newspaper in Minnesota (Minneapolis Star-Tribune) and the second largest in North Carolina (The News & Observer in Raleigh). Additional major markets include Sacramento and Tacoma.

Combined, Classified Ventures' seven affiliates - Central Newspapers, Gannett, Knight Ridder, The McClatchy Company, The Times Mirror Company, Tribune Company and The Washington Post Company - operate 147 daily newspapers with a circulation of 17.4 million and Sunday circulation totaling 21.4 million. They also operate 49 television stations in 22 markets, including 15 of the top 25.

Central Newspapers Inc. is a media company that publishes daily, Sunday and weekly newspapers including The Arizona Republic; The Indianapolis Star, The Indianapolis News and the Muncie Star Press, as well as smaller community papers in Indiana; the Alexandria Daily Town Talk in Louisiana; and High Technology Careers Magazine. It also organizes job fairs for the high-tech and service industries. Central Newspapers Inc. is the tenth largest publicly traded U.S. newspaper company in terms of circulation.

Gannett Co. Inc., headquartered in Arlington, Va., is a nationwide news and information company that publishes 87 daily newspapers - including USA Today – and USA Weekend, a Sunday newspaper magazine. Gannett also operates 20 television stations and cable television systems in five states.

The McClatchy Company, headquartered in Sacramento, Calif., publishes 11 daily and 13 non-daily newspapers with a combined daily circulation of 1.4 million and Sunday circulation of 1.9 million. McClatchy's newspapers include the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, The Sacramento Bee, The News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.), The Fresno Bee (Calif.), The Modesto Bee (Calif.), The News Tribune (Tacoma, Wash.) and the Anchorage Daily News. In addition, McClatchy owns Nando.net, a nationally recognized pioneer in Web publishing.

Classified Ventures, based in Chicago, is a company funded by seven leading media companies - Central Newspapers Inc., Gannett Co. Inc., Knight Ridder, The McClatchy Company, The Times Mirror Company, Tribune Company and The Washington Post Company. The company currently operates the national Apartments.com web site (www.Apartments.com) and the national cars.com site (www.cars.com). Later this year, the company will adopt Knight Ridder's HomeHunter.com brand for Classified Ventures' real estate category.