-----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,
 Ur5Pntpgk1JdeIMoxAZdIeXA3q+ggjIJIr+cRN9wQrYnwLa2BEwwBLtrivWj53FE
 5V+jxMR5+o17CMDhxBUEPg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-04-019282.txt : 20040405
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-04-019282.hdr.sgml : 20040405
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040405145311
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-04-019282
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040401
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040405

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

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:		04717004

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7341 SUMMIT RIDGE
		CITY:			BRIGHTON
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			48116
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2482934876
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd38663.xml
<DESCRIPTION>04/01/04 - DARISH OPTIONS
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-04-01</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>30.76</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-04-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>30.76</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-04-01</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-04-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents number of derivative securities beneficially owned as of April 1, 2004.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Steven M. Mitzel, by Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-04-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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