Trading Statement

Trinity Mirror PLC
10 December 2001



                                                    Monday, 10th December 2001

                              TRINITY MIRROR PLC

                       PRE CLOSE PERIOD TRADING UPDATE



Trinity Mirror, the UK's largest newspaper publisher, is today issuing a
trading update in respect of the second half of the financial year ending 30th
December 2001. This statement is being issued ahead of the Company's
preliminary results announcement on 28th February 2002.

During the past five months, the Group has made good progress in implementing
its strategic plans and cost reduction measures outlined on 28th July. In
addition, the annual investment in digital media activities has been further
reduced to approximately £10 million per annum from the beginning of 2002. The
Group also anticipates a fall in newsprint prices in 2002 and negotiations
with suppliers are currently ongoing. These actions will help to mitigate the
effects of the uncertain economic outlook and unpredictable advertising
conditions, which are expected to continue into 2002.

Advertising

Throughout the year there has been significant volatility in the advertising
market. Since 11th September, advertising conditions have deteriorated,
particularly within the Company's national titles and those regional titles in
the South East of England.

Regional newspapers - advertising revenues within the Group's regional titles
grew by 2.0%* in the third quarter, with recruitment advertising growth of
8.5%. During this period, recruitment advertising in all areas other than the
South East remained very strong. The South East saw a decline in recruitment
advertising as employment conditions in the Thames Valley area reacted to the
downturn in the high tech and IT industries. Since September, all regional
businesses have seen a slowdown in the growth rate of national and local
display and recruitment advertising revenues, with the areas around Heathrow
and Gatwick and central London experiencing significant declines. Total
regional advertising revenues in October and November declined by 2.3% and
2.9% respectively. The early outlook for December (which, in normal trading
circumstances, is a difficult month to predict) indicates a continuation of
the deterioration.

National newspapers - within the three UK national titles advertising revenues
in August grew by 6.2% and for the first 11 days of September by over 2.0%.
For the five to seven days immediately after 11th September most advertising
within the national titles was removed, primarily at the request of
advertisers. This resulted in a decline for the third quarter of 1.3%. This
has continued into the fourth quarter, with declines of 10.1% and 20.7% in
October and November respectively. The current outlook for December is similar
to November. Whilst display advertising has been badly affected, classified
advertising within the national titles continues to achieve year-on-year
growth.

The Scottish national titles, following a reasonable performance in the third
quarter with a decline in advertising revenues of only 1.9% (compared to 5.9%
in the second quarter), have been similarly impacted since 11th September.
October and November have produced advertising revenue declines in these
businesses of 13.0% and 17.3% respectively and December is expected to deliver
a decline in line with October.

Circulation

In September and October all national titles saw an improvement in circulation
performance. The Mirror, has seen a 2.4% (year on year) circulation decline
during the six months to the end of November, compared to 3.1% in the same
period in 2000. The Daily Record's circulation during this period fell by
3.5%, compared to 5.3% in the 2000 comparable period.

* Advertising revenue growth rates for the Group and regional newspapers
division are stated on a pro forma basis i.e. excluding revenue from Belfast
Telegraph Newspapers (sold 30th July 2000) and including Southnews revenues
throughout 2000 (acquired 28th November 2000). These growth rates also exclude
advertising revenue from the three Metro titles, which is estimated to
increase by £2.1 m to £4.2m for the 26 weeks to 30th December 2001.


Enquiries:
Trinity Mirror plc                            020 7293 3000
Margaret Ewing
Nick Fullagar

Finsbury                                      020 7251 3801
James Leviton