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                                                                   Exhibit 99(a)
                                CERTIFICATION OF
                             CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                          PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION
                          1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
                  SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002


         I, Richard M. Hochhauser, President and Chief Executive Officer of
Harte-Hanks, Inc. (the "Company") hereby certify that the accompanying report on
Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2002 and filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof pursuant to Section 13 or
Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Report") by the
Company fully complies with the requirements of those sections.

         I further certify that, based on my knowledge, the information
contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial
condition and results of operations of the Company.



        November 13, 2002               /s/  Richard M. Hochhauser
        -----------------           ---------------------------------------
              Date                            Richard M. Hochhauser
                                      President and Chief Executive Officer


         Note: This certification accompanies the Report pursuant to Section 906
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and shall not, except to the extent required
by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, be deemed filed by the Company for purposes
of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.