EXHIBIT 99.1


                    CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                      PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
                             AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
                 SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

     In connection with the accompanying Quarterly Report of Saga
Communications, Inc. (the "Company") on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31,
2003 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof
(the "Report"), I, Edward K. Christian, Chief Executive Officer of the Company,
certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. section 1350, as adopted pursuant to section 906
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to the best of my knowledge:

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material
respects, the financial condition and result of operations of the Company.


                                                         /S/ Edward K. Christian
                                                         Edward K. Christian
                                                         Chief Executive Officer