<ARTICLE>               5
<LEGEND>
THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM MEDIA
GENERAL, INC.'S CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS AND CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED
STATEMENTS OF  OPERATIONS  AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

<MULTIPLIER>                        1,000

                                 
<PERIOD-TYPE>                       6-mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                   DEC-26-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                        JUN-27-1999
<CASH>                                              6,079
<SECURITIES>                                        0
<RECEIVABLES>                                       111,207
<ALLOWANCES>                                        7,602
<INVENTORY>                                         20,328
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                    156,832
<PP&E>                                              1,129,035
<DEPRECIATION>                                      637,869
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                      1,876,374
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                               118,562
<BONDS>                                             909,941
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                               0
<PREFERRED>                                         0
<COMMON>                                            132,923
<OTHER-SE>                                          353,676
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                        1,876,374
<SALES>                                             339,875
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                    339,875
<CGS>                                               144,993
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                       144,993
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                    46,546
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                  29,403
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                     38,335
<INCOME-TAX>                                        15,742
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                 22,593
<DISCONTINUED>                                      5,169
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     0
<CHANGES>                                           0
<NET-INCOME>                                        27,762
<EPS-BASIC>                                         1.04
<EPS-DILUTED>                                       1.03