RNS Number:7987I
Johnston Press PLC
17 March 2003

Johnston Press plc ("the Company")

DISCLOSURE OF INTEREST IN RELEVANT SHARE CAPITAL

The Company received notification on 14 March 2003 that Barclays PLC, through
its legal entities listed below, has a notifiable interest in 8,799,327 Ordinary
shares of 10p each of the Company, representing 3.11% of the total shares in
issue.


Legal Entity                                                    Holding

Barclays Bank Trust Company Ltd                                 58,500
Barclays Global Investors Japan Trust                           94,498
Barclays Nikko Global Investors Ltd                             16,531
Barclays Life Assurance Co Ltd                                 598,969
Barclays Global Investors Australia Ltd                         60,238
Barclays Global Investors Ltd                                5,472,177
Woolwich Pension Fund Trust Co Ltd                             149,078
Barclays Global Investors, N.A.                              2,349,336

Group Holding                                                8,779,327








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