Trading Statement

Trinity Mirror PLC
12 December 2002
                                                    Thursday, 12th December 2002

                               TRINITY MIRROR PLC
                            PRE CLOSE 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 29th December
2002. This statement is being issued ahead of the Company's preliminary results
on 27th February 2003.

Group

Significant progress has been made during the past five months in the
implementation of our strategies for the key businesses and in delivering the
targeted cost savings and revenue enhancements for the financial year ending
29th December 2002.

Advertising revenues across the group were down 2.5% year-on-year in the third
quarter but are 0.3% up in the first two months of the fourth quarter.  We
continue to experience something of a north/south divide in advertising
performance.

The clear strategic approach to our main businesses - together with vigorous
cost control, further reduction in digital media investment, lower interest
rates and our strong cash flows - has  limited the impact that the difficult
advertising and economic conditions might otherwise have had on our underlying
performance, which remains in line with our expectations.

Regional newspapers

The 'from Biggest to Best' strategy for our regional newspaper division
continues at considerable pace and is delivering revenue and cost based
performance improvements.

There have been encouraging signs of advertising growth for our regional
newspapers over the past two months. Furthermore, a small improvement over
October and November is expected in December.

October saw overall advertising growth year on year of 1.2%* with recruitment up
by 2.6%. Revenues also grew marginally by 0.6% in November with recruitment up
by 1.4%. This compares to a year on year fall of 2.4% in the third quarter and
2.5% in the first half. Our businesses in the North, South Wales, Ireland and
Scotland continue to do well and act as a balance to the tougher West Midlands
and Southern markets.  Although trading conditions in London and the South East
remain difficult, there are signs of improvement in this area.

Circulation revenues are down 1.5% in the period July to November with volume
decreases partially offset by cover price increases.

National newspapers

Our integrated marketing strategy for the two Mirror titles to sharpen the brand
and over time to increase frequency of purchase continues to make progress.

The latest ABC circulation figures for the Daily Mirror show a headline growth
in November of 1.9% year on year  and 2.5% compared to October. Excluding
sampling, the November year on year growth is 3.4%, primarily as a result of the
Paul Burrell exclusive series of interviews, illustrating the importance of the
strong Mirror brand. The Daily Mirror circulation (excluding sampling) declined
2.3% year on year in the period July to November compared to a decline of 1.9%
in the first six months. However the second half comparison is adversely
impacted by the strong performance in 2001 following the events of September 11.

Our three national newspaper titles saw advertising grow in the third quarter
year-on-year by 0.5%, despite a challenging Sunday market. October advertising
revenues declined by 1.7% but this has been followed by growth of 5.7% in
November. The performance continues to be driven by strong retail advertising
with third quarter growth in this sector of 38.3% and in excess of 20% growth
during October and November. December is expected to deliver overall advertising
performance ahead of November.

The Scottish Nationals advertising performance reflects the benefits of the
advertising improvement strategy with revenues falling year on year by only 0.1%
in the third quarter and October and November delivering growth of 4.6% and 4.1%
respectively. This improving trend is expected to continue into December. During
the period July to November the Daily Record's and the Sunday Mail's circulation
in Scotland declined year on year by 7.4% and 3.9% respectively compared to
declines of 4.5% and 3.5% respectively for the first half.

*    all advertising and circulation results for the Regional newspaper titles
are shown on a like for like basis excluding the results of Post Publications
Limited and Ethnic Media Group Limited which were disposed of in June 2002 and
advertising revenues further exclude the results of the Metro titles



Enquiries:

Trinity Mirror plc                                           020 7293 3000
Philip Graf, Chief Executive
Nick Fullagar, Director of Corporate Communications

Finsbury                                                     020 7251 3801
Rupert Younger
James Leviton


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