EXHIBIT (a)(1)(M)
Contacts:

Media:      Brad Burns                            Investors:      Scott Hamilton
            1.800.644.NEWS                                        1.877.624.9266

                   IN LIEU OF 2002 ANNUAL STOCK OPTION GRANT,
                              WORLDCOM GROUP ADOPTS
                     EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION EXCHANGE PROGRAM

CLINTON, Miss. - January 17, 2002 - WorldCom group (NASDAQ: WCOM), the leading
global business data and Internet communications provider, today announced that
in lieu of its 2002 annual employee stock option grant, it is adopting a stock
option exchange program for eligible employees. All WorldCom group employees
will also forego merit salary increases in 2002 and experience some increase in
benefits cost. This exchange program eliminates employee options that would have
been granted in 2002 while enhancing employee retention and boosting incentives
to grow overall shareholder value. The number of shares to be exchanged is
approximately equal to the number of shares normally granted. WorldCom's Board
of Directors and executive officers are not eligible to participate in the stock
option exchange program.

STOCK OPTION EXCHANGE PROGRAM

Under the exchange program, eligible employees will have the opportunity to
submit for cancellation outstanding stock options that were granted by WorldCom
on January 4, 1999, January 18, 2000 and April 24, 2000. In exchange, they will
receive new options for an equal number of shares expected to be granted on or
about August 15, 2002, with an exercise price equal to the closing price for
WorldCom group stock on that date. The new options will vest one-third each
year, beginning January 1, 2003.

Approximately 30,000 WorldCom group employees are eligible to participate in the
stock option exchange program. Eligible employees will have until February 14,
2002, to decide whether to participate in the exchange program. WorldCom group
employees will not receive an annual stock option grant or merit salary increase
in 2002. The exchange program will not require a charge to WorldCom earnings,
nor will it have any impact on the total number of shares under outstanding
stock options.

ADDITIONAL COST SAVINGS INITIATIVES

In addition to the many cost-control initiatives ongoing throughout WorldCom,
the elimination of merit salary increases in 2002 and other benefit cost
reductions will further reduce the Company's operational expenses.

WorldCom is filing a Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (SEC) that provides additional information concerning
the stock



option exchange program. The description of the stock option exchange program in
this release is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to
the terms and conditions of the program, which are more fully described in the
Offer to Exchange and Election to Participate, each of which is being filed with
the SEC as an exhibit to the Schedule TO and will be provided to eligible
employees.

ABOUT WORLDCOM GROUP

WorldCom group (NASDAQ: WCOM) is a preeminent global communications provider for
the digital generation, operating in more than 65 countries with annualized
revenues of more than $20 billion. WorldCom provides the innovative technologies
and services that are the foundation for business in the 21st century. For more
information go to http://www.worldcom.com.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This release contains statements that are forward looking in nature and,
accordingly, are subject to risks and uncertainties. These forward looking
statements include statements regarding the impact of the exchange program and
other actions on employee retention, incentives to grow, shareholder value and
expense reductions. Factors that could cause our actual results to differ from
our current expectations include our ability to successfully implement the
exchange program and other measures with an attendant increase in employee
retention and incentives to grow shareholder value, and expense reductions.

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