-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 ChInTaivOhSe8gwdEUACWwPjJaAVTGLytUo4PMtNPe1BUI7s3Vol5terJULmd3Qm
 JPs7CckF6ZbvvkHs7lfACA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-03-025697.txt : 20031003
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-03-025697.hdr.sgml : 20031003
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031003143920
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-03-025697
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031001
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031003

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DARISH KENNETH V
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001222484

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10991
		FILM NUMBER:		03927548

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7341 SUMMIT RIDGE
		CITY:			BRIGHTON
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			48116
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2482934876

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			VALASSIS COMMUNICATIONS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000883293
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-ADVERTISING [7310]
		IRS NUMBER:				382760940
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		19975 VICTOR PARKWAY
		CITY:			LIVONIA
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			48152
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3135913000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		19975 VICTOR PARKWAY
		CITY:			LIVONIA
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			48152
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd19901.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-10-01</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000883293</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VALASSIS COMMUNICATIONS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>VCI</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001222484</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DARISH KENNETH V</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>7341 SUMMIT RIDGE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BRIGHTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>48116</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Director Stock Options (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>26.90</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-10-01</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>5000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>26.90</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2004-10-01</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-10-01</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underly
ingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>5000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>5000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><ownerSignature><signatureName>Steven M. Mitzel, by Power of Attorney</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-10-03</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>



</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----