EXHIBIT 5.1

                               Dykema Gossett PLLC
                             400 Renaissance Center
                             Detroit, Michigan 48243

                                 August 5, 2003


Saga Communications, Inc.
73 Kercheval Avenue
Grosse Pointe Farms, MI  48236


Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We have served as counsel to Saga Communications, Inc. (the "Company")
in connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement (Form S-8) to
be filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, representing the issuance in the manner
described in the Registration Statement of up to 1,500,000 shares of the
Company's Class A Common Stock and 500,000 shares of the Company's Class B
Common Stock, and 500,000 shares of the Company's Class A Common Stock issuable
upon conversion of the Class B Common Stock pursuant to the Company's 2003
Employee Stock Option Plan.

         We have examined and relied upon the originals, or copies certified or
otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such corporate records, documents,
certificates and other instruments as in our judgment are necessary or
appropriate to enable us to render the opinion expressed below.

         Based upon such examination and our participation in the preparation of
the Registration Statement, it is our opinion that the Class A Common Stock and
the Class B Common Stock, when issued in the manner described in the
Registration Statement, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

         We consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the
Registration Statement and further consent to the use of our name wherever
appearing in the Registration Statement, including any Prospectus constituting a
part thereof and any amendments thereto.

                                Very truly yours,

                                DYKEMA GOSSETT PLLC

                                /s/ DYKEMA GOSSETT PLLC