RNS Number:1271J
Johnston Press PLC
24 March 2003


Johnston Press plc (the "Company")

DIRECTORS' SHAREHOLDING

The Company was notified on 21 March 2003 that the Johnston Press plc Employee
Share Trust purchased 63,765 Ordinary shares of 10p each in the Company at 350p
per share on 21 March 2003. The interests of each of the executive directors in
the Ordinary shares of the Company therefore increased by 63,765 shares each,
solely by virtue of their status as potential beneficiaries of the Trust. The
total number of shares in which each executive director is now interested is as
follows:

Director                                     Number of shares purchased

Mr T J Bowdler                               433,631
Mr S R Paterson                              235,617


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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