>>> JOHNSTON PRESS 2006 RESULTS PRESENTATION

>>> JOHNSTON PRESS 2006 RESULTS PRESENTATION

Financial Highlights Turnover up 16% Digital Revenues up 36% Operating Profit before non-recurring items up 4% Like-for-like operating margin 33.2% vs 34.8% in 2005 Like-for-like cost reductions 14m Acquisitions in 2005 and 2006 earnings accretive Dividend per share up 11% 2

Operational Highlights Rapid growth of digital activities Strong focus on revenue growth More than 150 new product launches Growing audience reach print plus online Continued improvements in efficiency and productivity Major press projects delivering ahead of expectations Conditional acquisition of Archant s Scottish weeklies 3

Corporate Governance Board Retirement of Harry Johnston Retirement of Lord Gordon of Strathblane CBE Appointment of Ian Russell CBE Fully Compliant 2003 Combined Code and Revised Turnbull 2006 Combined Code 2006 from 1 January 2007 4

Achieving Growth Geographic Expansion Archant Scotland Ireland and UK industry consolidator Market layering community newsletters lifestyle magazines free newspaper launches Johnston Press a growing community media company Advertising Portals Jobs, Property & Motors Today Local Pages (online directory) Operating Efficiency printing investment IT systems backroom regionalisation Local Websites news and information trusted brands audio visual content 5

>>> STUART PATERSON CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

A difficult jobs market UK Unemployment Rate and UK Job Vacancies September 2004 - December 2006 Public Sector v Private Sector Employment (% y/y) 5.6 5.5 5.4 5.3 5.2 5.1 5.0 4.9 4.8 4.7 4.6 Sep-04 Nov-04 Jan-05 Mar-05 May-05 Jul-05 Sep-05 Nov-05 Jan-06 Mar-06 May-06 Jul-06 Sep-06 Nov-06 660 650 640 630 620 610 600 590 580 570 560 4 3 2 1 0 2001-1 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 UK Unemployment Rate (%) - seasonally adjusted (Left axis) UK Job Vacancies (000s) - seasonally adjusted (Right axis) Private Sector Employment (%) Public Sector Employment (%) Yorkshire Post 1989-1993 vs 2004-2007 Employment Revenues % on Prev Year 40.0 30.0 20.0 Increased unemployment 10.0 0.0-10.0-20.0-30.0-40.0-50.0-60.0-70.0 Jan-04 Apr-04 YP 1989+ YP 2004+ Jul-04 Oct-04 Jan-05 Apr-05 Jul-05 Oct-05 Jan-06 Apr-06 Jul-06 Oct-06 Jan-07 Apr-07 Jul-07 Oct-07 Reduced vacancies Shrinking public sector Trends from 2004 tracking 1989 onwards Source: National Statistics & Yorkshire Post Newspapers 7

Declining vehicle sales UK Annual New Car Registrations 1997-2006 12.0% 10.0% 8.0% 6.0% 4.0% 2.0% 0.0% -2.0% -4.0% -6.0% 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 Year-on-year declines in new vehicle sales since 2003 Poor dealership profitability driving consolidation UK Annual new car registrations And weakening consumer confidence Consumer Confidence May 04 - Dec 06 115 110 105 Continued decline in consumer confidence 100 95 Increased interest rates 90 Increased bankruptcies 85 80 May-04 Source: Jul-04 Sep-04 Nov-04 Jan-05 Mar-05 May-05 Jul-05 Sep-05 Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, Nationwide Consumer Confidence Index Nov-05 Jan-06 Mar-06 May-06 Jul-06 Sep-06 Nov-06 Increased home re-possessions 8

Profit & Loss Account - EBITDA 52 weeks to 31 December 2006 2006 2005 Change m m % TURNOVER 602.2 520.2 16 EBITDA 207.6 200.2 4 Depreciation (20.8) (19.9) Operating profit before non-recurring items 186.8 180.3 4 Non-recurring items (15.1) (2.6) EBIT 171.7 177.7 (3) Net interest (40.1) (26.3) Profit before taxation 131.6 151.4 (13) Taxation (35.9) (43.6) Profit after taxation 95.7 107.8 (11) Earnings per share Underlying 36.66 38.72 (5) Basic 33.24 37.67 (12) 9

Publishing & Printing 52 weeks to 31 December 2006 like-for-like 2006 2005 Variance m m % Advertising Volume mscc 155.8 157.8 (1) Advertising Yield /scc 2.2 2.4 (7) Advertising Sales 345.1 376.9 (8) Newspaper Sales 70.5 69.7 1 Contract Printing 18.9 18.8 1 Internet 9.9 8.2 21 Other Sales 25.9 29.3 (12) Total Revenue 470.3 502.9 (6) Newsprint 39.4 40.1 2 Production Costs 59.7 65.2 8 Editorial 53.5 53.3 (0) Advertising & Marketing 51.6 53.6 4 Distribution 39.6 40.0 1 Administration 53.6 56.6 5 Depreciation 16.7 19.2 13 Total Costs 314.1 328.0 4 Operating Profit 156.2 174.9 (11) Operating Profit/Revenue 33.2% 34.8% 10

Cost Management Headcount reduced by 418 including Admin and Production by 303 7 old inefficient colour-limited presses closed Continued regionalisation of Pre-Press and Credit Control Paperless office environment Ink optimisation processes Newsprint reduced grammage, web width and waste 11

Printing Investment Benefits gains resulting from the new press at Dinnington,, South Yorkshire Staff FTE Costs Wakefield 28 764 Hartlepool 29 895 Sheffield 51 1,349 Scarborough 8 221 Halifax 20 407 136 3,636 Non NI Staff Costs Dinnington (55) (1,632) Net Saving 81 2,004 Other Benefits Contract Print (NI and TES) Full Colour Lower Waste Energy Efficiency Mailroom Opportunities Print Quality Reliability 12

Acquired Companies (2005 & 2006) Advertising Revenues 2006 2005 Movement m m % Scotland TSPL 40.9 45.6 (10.3) Score (Scotland) 3.9 3.9 (0.3) Northern Ireland 19.6 20.3 (3.2) Republic of Ireland 19.8 18.4 7.5 Total 84.2 88.2 (4.5) 13

Key Digital Stats (like-for for-like) 2006 2005 Change m m % Revenue leveraged 2.8 3.7 (22.5) Revenue unleveraged 7.1 4.5 55.4 9.9 8.2 20.6 Contribution 6.4 5.8 10.3 Page Impressions (monthly) 40.4m 26.4m 53.2 Unique Users 3.6m 2.2m 63.3 Number of Websites 317 288 10.1 14

Cash Flow 2006 2005 Inc m m % Operating profit 171.6 177.6 Depreciation net 26.6 19.0 Movement in working capital (11.4) 1.3 Movement in pension provision (1.7) (16.5) Other movements 2.0 0.7 Net cash flow from operating activities 187.1 182.1 2.7 Returns on investment and servicing of finance (42.2) (23.5) Taxation (37.5) (44.6) Capital expenditure and financial investment (58.0) (62.0) 49.4 52.0 Acquisitions and disposals (157.0) (298.4) Dividends (25.1) (21.8) Net cash flow before financing (132.7) (268.2) Financing 136.7 288.3 Increase in net cash 4.0 20.1 15

Net Debt/Interest Cover As at 31.12.06 31.12.05 31.12.04 Net assets ( m) 573.8 482.5 395.4 Net debt ( m) 746.4 617.3 328.1 Interest cover (times) 4.3 7.2 6.8 Net Debt/EBITDA 3.6 2.9 1.7 16

Capital Expenditure/Depreciation Year to 31 December Forecast 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 m m m m m Capital Expenditure (cash) 18.1 22.5 61.4 56.3 36.0 Depreciation 18.0 19.5 19.9 20.8 * 23.5 * Excluding 9m write down in non-recurring items 17

Acquisitions 2006 2006 2006 Turnover Operating Profit Margin m m % Acquired 2005 Northern Ireland (Score & Local Press) 34.0 9.2 27.1 Scotland (Score) 6.1 1.7 28.6 Republic of Ireland (Score & Leinster Leader) 31.3 8.9 28.5 71.4 19.8 27.7 Acquired 2006 The Scotsman Publications Ltd 60.5 10.8 17.9 131.9 30.6 23.2 Interest Cost on Purchase Price 25.6 Earnings Accretion 5.0 Plus Group Cross Charges allocated 0.8 5.8 18

>>> TIM BOWDLER CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

The Power of Print Helps me feel part of the community 5 essential beliefs about regional newspapers Honest and believable More accurate & reliable than other media 71% of adults acted on local press advertising (including high income groups) Source: TGI 2006, Newspaper Society Wanted Ads Research, TNS 2005 Helps me get the best out of where I live Only 17% ad avoidance (compared to TV 47%) 76% say Internet has too much advertising Rely on it for news that can't get elsewhere Read by 83.7% of all British adults 20

Printed Product Launches New launches 2005-2007 2005 2006 2007 85 Total new publication launches 183 80 154 70 60 128 45 50 25 14 3 5 4 6 5 6 7 Community Newspapers Free Newspapers Lifestyle Magazines Group Wide Platforms Niche Publications 2005 2006 2007 21

Gross Audience (unduplicated) Daily Circulations W eekly Paid Circulations Monthly Unique Users 6 5 Millions of Copies Sold/Users 4 3 2 1 0 2003 2004 2005 2006 22

Market Layering- Scotsman Publications Net Reach in the Lothians 82% Title Total Readers/Users 000 Incremental Reach 000 Cumulative Market Penetration 67% 58% 46% 28% 15% scotsman.com Herald & Post - West Lothian Herald & Post - Edinburgh Evening News Scotland on Sunday The Scotsman * Weekly unique users derived from pro-rating monthly figure underestimates true number Source: JICREG, scotsman.com online survey 144* 103 67 60 194 80 195 121 124 90 99 99 23

New Website Template Search Easy links National News Features Blogs Local news Your Say Your Photos Video Navigation User content User feedback Local news National News Video Navigation User feedback Your Say Blogs Search Easy links Features Your Photos User content 24

The Future Shape of a Community Media Company Mobile Platforms Lifestyle Magazines & Niche Publications Customer Relations Management Audio Visual Channels Local Interactive Websites & Advertising Portals Local Newspapers Community Newsletters Brand Extension Exhibitions & Awards 25

Expanded Revenue Potential by combining print and digital platforms Mobile Job Alerts Banners Skyscrapers Newspaper Jobs section Jobstoday web site CV Match Jobs of the week Stand alone print Jobstoday agency services 26

Operational Efficiency/ IT & Common Systems Production Centres (2000) Main Regional Hubs (2006) 2007 Investment Edinburgh Sunderland Limerick Carn Naas IoM Preston Northampton Leeds Sheffield Peterborough Portsmouth 27

Operational Efficiency/IT Systems South Midlands Division Pre-Press Press Production Operations 2001-2006 2006 2001 Number of Pages 10,000 30,000 50,000 70,000 90,000 110,000 130,000 150,000 170,000 190,000 Number of FTE Staff 0.00 20.00 40.00 60.00 80.00 100.00 120.00 Hours per Page 0.00 0.10 0.20 0.30 0.40 0.50 0.60 0.70 0.80 0.90 1.00 1.10 1.20 1.30 28

Newspaper Printing 2000 Onwards Print Plants (2000) Existing Plants Falkirk Edinburgh Sunderland Carn IoM Leeds Dinnington Limerick Kilkenny Northampton Peterborough Portsmouth 29

Key Determinants of Future Performance 1. Maximising advertising revenues through the cycle and despite the challenge of migration 2. Growing new revenue streams in both digital and print formats 3. Providing consumers with a media mix which grows audience reach 4. Improving operating efficiency through the application of modern systems and equipment 5. Securing further value enhancing acquisition opportunities 30

Current Advertising Trends 2007 2006 Change m m % UK Business Employment 19.0 20.0 (4.8) Property 13.6 13.1 3.5 Motors 7.6 8.3 (7.8) Other Classified 12.4 12.5 (1.1) Display 19.9 21.3 (6.9) Total Print 72.5 75.2 (3.7) Digital 2.4 1.9 26.0 Total 74.9 77.1 (2.9) Republic of Ireland 4.5 4.0 12.9 31

Outlook Summary Continued acceleration of digital development and growth Print advertising slow to recover More market layering and community interactivity Growing audience reach Continued focus on efficiency and productivity Full year from Dinnington, first contribution from Portsmouth Ongoing benefits from recent acquisitions Capex returning to normal levels Progress continues despite subdued markets 32

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