-----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,
 RookadqTFzwIGJp5jDiHT9mBp2UBUBNf/RoBAsmyyatuvw8cSgflzWiIL93yjQXF
 70jyd9yPKDyYl3ClYAXOAw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-04-002450.txt : 20040113
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-04-002450.hdr.sgml : 20040113
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040113105916
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-04-002450
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031202
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040113

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HUSSELBEE BRIAN J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001275956

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10991
		FILM NUMBER:		04521923

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		507 SHORELINE ROAD
		CITY:			BARRINGTON
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60010

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>rrd28936.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 - DECEMBER 2, 2003 OPTIONS
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-02</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000883293</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VALASSIS COMMUNICATIONS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>VCI</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001275956</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HUSSELBEE BRIAN J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>155 PFINGSTEN ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DEERFIELD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60015</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>CEO - NCH Marketing Svcs, Inc.</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>28.58</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-12-02</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>50000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>28.58</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-12-02</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><under
lyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>50000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>50000</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">This option becomes exercisable in increments of 20% each anniversary of the grant for the first five years through December 2, 2008.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Represents number of derivative securities beneficially owned as of December 2, 2003.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Steven M. Mitzel, Power of Attorney</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-13</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>



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