Real Cities and Media General Agree to Partner

Posted on November 17, 2001

Knight Ridder Digital, founder of the Real Cities network of city and regional websites, and Media General announced that Media General's TBO.com (home of The Tampa Tribune and WFLA-TV), JournalNow.com (home of the Winston-Salem Journal) and TimesDispatch.com (home of the Richmond Times-Dispatch) are joining the Real Cities Network. With the addition of Media General, the Real Cities Network reaches 58 cities.

``We're proud to partner with Media General to meet the growing demand for localized news and information,'' said Dan Finnigan, president of Knight Ridder Digital. ``In light of the events of September 11, 2001, more than ever the Real Cities Network is the online destination for Americans looking to stay current and stay involved with their communities. Today's announcement with Media General demonstrates Real Cities' commitment to aggressively expanding the network and delivering news and information anytime, anywhere.''

``Regional sales and efficiencies are key strategies for our Interactive Division,'' said Kirk Read, general manager of Tampa Bay Online. ``The Real Cities relationship offers opportunities for Media General to leverage its Southeast presence with key markets represented by the Real Cities Network to provide compelling reach for new and current advertisers.''

Real Cities consists of a partnership network that brings together several U.S. media and Internet companies including properties of Belo Interactive, E.W. Scripps Co, Knight Ridder Digital, Gannett Co., Inc., The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, The Milwaukee Journal, and North Jersey Media Group, Inc. The network provides local content from these media coutles including news, sports, event happenings and community events. Among Real Cities' member websites are BayArea.com, Cincinow.com, DFW.com, Indy.com, KansasCity.com, Kentucky.com, Miami.com, Philly.com, Post-Gazette.com, AZCentral.com, Charlotte.com, NWsource.com, TwinCities.com, JerseySouth.com and NorthJersey.com.