Table of Contents

EXHIBIT10.1

FIRST AMENDMENT

THIS FIRST AMENDMENTTO THE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this‘‘Amendment’’) is made as ofMay  3,  2006 by and among Journal Register Company (the‘‘Company’’) and RobertM.Jelenic.

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS,the parties to this Amendment (the‘‘Parties’’) are the partiesto an Employment Agreement dated March  5,  2003 (the‘‘Employment Agreement’’),and desire to amend the Agreement as set forth herein.

NOW,THEREFORE, the Parties agree as follows:

1.     Positionand Duties. The reference to ‘‘Chairman, President,and Chief Executive Officer’’ in Section 3(a)(1) of theEmployment Agreement is replaced by a reference to‘‘Chairman and Chief ExecutiveOfficer.’’

2.    Clarifying Change.The reference to ‘‘the Effective Date’’ inthe final paragraph of Section 4(c) of the Employment Agreement isreplaced by a reference to ‘‘a Change ofControl.’’

3.     Section 409A Delay.The following language is added to the Employment Agreement as a newSection 5(e): ‘‘Notwithstanding the foregoing provisionsof this Section 5, to the extent required in order to comply withSection 409A of the Code (as defined in Section 7), amounts andbenefits to be paid or provided under this Section 5 shall be paid(with interest on any delayed payment at the applicable federal rateprovided for in Section 7872(f)(2)(A) of the Code) or provided to theExecutive on the first business day after the date that is six monthsfollowing the Date ofTermination.’’

4.    Section 409A SavingsClause. The following language is added to the EmploymentAgreement as a new Section 11(g): ‘‘If any compensationor benefits provided by this Agreement may result in the application ofSection 409A of the Code, the Company shall, in consultation with theExecutive, modify the Agreement in the least restrictive mannernecessary in order to exclude such compensation from the definition of‘‘deferred compensation’’ within themeaning of such Section 409A or in order to otherwise comply with theprovisions of Section 409A, other applicable provisions of the Codeand/or any rules, regulations or other regulatory guidance issued undersuch statutory provisions and without any diminution in the value ofthe payments to theExecutive.’’

5.    Miscellaneous. ThisAmendment may be executed by facsimile and in one or more counterparts,all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement. Except asexpressly amended hereby, the terms and conditions of the EmploymentAgreement shall remain in full force and effect. This Amendment shallbe governed by and construed in accordance with, the laws of the Stateof Delaware without regard to conflict or choice of law provisions thatwould compel the application of the substantive laws of anotherjurisdiction.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, and intending to be legallybound hereby, the Parties have executed the foregoing Amendment this3rd day of May, 2006.

|  | JOURNAL REGISTERCOMPANY |
|--|-------------------------|

|  | By: /s/ Joseph A.Lawrence    Name: Joseph A. LawrenceTitle: Chairman,Compensation Committee |
|--|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

|  | /s/ Robert M.JelenicRobert M.Jelenic |
|--|--------------------------------------|

----