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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.15

                         LIBERTY GROUP PUBLISHING, INC.
                             1999 STOCK OPTION PLAN


ARTICLE 1 - PURPOSE AND TERM OF PLAN

         1.1 Purpose. The purposes of the Plan are to aid Liberty Group
Publishing, Inc. ("Liberty") and its Subsidiaries (Liberty and its Subsidiaries
collectively being referred to herein as the "Company") in attracting and
retaining Key Employees through a competitive compensation package, to stimulate
the efforts of such Key Employees, to strengthen their desire to remain with the
Company, to aid the Company in attracting superior individuals to serve as
Nonemployee Directors and to provide appropriate compensation to such
Nonemployee Directors for their service. Toward these objectives, the Board may
grant Options to Key Employees and Nonemployee Directors on the terms and
subject to the conditions set forth in the Plan.

         1.2 Term. The Plan shall become effective as of February 1, 1999,
subject to its approval by the stockholders of Liberty. No Options shall be
exercisable or payable before approval of the Plan has been obtained from
Liberty's stockholders. Options shall not be granted pursuant to the Plan after
December 31, 2008.

ARTICLE 2 - DEFINED TERMS

         Certain capitalized terms used herein shall have the meaning given such
terms in Section 8.12.

ARTICLE 3 - ELIGIBILITY

         Only Key Employees and Nonemployee Directors are eligible to receive
Options under the Plan. For purposes of the Plan, the Board shall select, from
time to time, Participants from those Key Employees and Nonemployee Directors,
respectively, who, in the opinion of the Board, can further the Plan's purposes.
Once a Participant is so selected, the Board shall establish in the related
Agreements the terms, conditions, restrictions, and limitations, if any,
applicable to the Options in addition to those set forth in this Plan and the
administrative rules and regulations issued by the Board.

ARTICLE 4 - PLAN ADMINISTRATION

         4.1 Responsibility. The Board shall have total and exclusive
responsibility to control, operate, manage, and administer the Plan in
accordance with its terms.


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         4.2 Authority of the Board. The Board shall have all the authority that
may be necessary or helpful to enable it to discharge its responsibilities with
respect to the Plan. Without limiting the generality of the preceding sentence,
the Board shall have the exclusive right:

         (a)      to select those persons to whom Options may be granted from
                  time to time;

         (b)      to determine whether and to what extent Options are to be
                  granted hereunder;

         (c)      to determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be
                  covered by each Option granted hereunder;

         (d)      to determine the terms and conditions of any Option granted
                  hereunder (including, but not limited to, the option price,
                  the option period, any exercise restriction or limitation, any
                  exercise acceleration or forfeiture waiver or any performance
                  criteria regarding an Option and the shares of Common Stock
                  relating thereto);

         (e)      to adjust the terms and conditions, at any time or from time
                  to time, of any Option, subject to the limitations of Section
                  8.3;

         (f)      to determine to what extent and under what circumstances
                  Common Stock and other amounts payable with respect to an
                  Option shall be deferred;

         (g)      to determine under what circumstances an Option may be settled
                  in cash or Common Stock;

         (h)      to provide for the forms of Agreement to be utilized in
                  connection with this Plan;

         (i)      to determine whether a Participant has a Disability or a
                  Retirement;

         (j)      to determine what securities law requirements are applicable
                  to this Plan, the grant or exercise of Options, and the
                  issuance of shares of Common Stock and to require of a
                  Participant that appropriate action be taken with respect to
                  such requirements;

         (k)      to cancel, with the consent of the Participant or as otherwise
                  provided in this Plan or an Agreement, outstanding Options;

         (l)      to interpret and make a final determination with respect to
                  the remaining number of shares of Common Stock available under
                  this Plan;

         (m)      to require as a condition of the exercise of an Option or the
                  issuance or transfer of a certificate of Common Stock, the
                  withholding from a Participant of the






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                  amount of any federal, state or local taxes as may be
                  necessary in order for the Company or any other employer to
                  obtain a deduction or as may be otherwise required by law;

         (n)      to determine whether and with what effect an individual has
                  incurred a termination of employment;

         (o)      to determine whether the Company or any other person has a
                  right or obligation to purchase Common Stock from a
                  Participant and, if so, the terms and conditions on which such
                  Common Stock is to be purchased;

         (p)      to determine the restrictions or limitations on the transfer
                  of Common Stock;

         (q)      to determine whether an Option is to be adjusted, modified or
                  purchased, or is to become fully exercisable, under this Plan
                  or the terms of an Agreement;

         (r)      to determine the permissible methods of Option exercise and
                  payment, including cashless exercise arrangements;

         (s)      to the extent permitted under the Plan, grant waivers of Plan
                  terms, conditions, restrictions, and limitations;

         (t)      accelerate the vesting or exercise of an Option when such
                  action or actions would be in the best interest of the
                  Company;

         (u)      take any and all other action it deems necessary or advisable
                  for the proper operation or administration of the Plan;

         (v)      to adopt, amend and rescind such rules and regulations as, in
                  its opinion, may be advisable in the administration of this
                  Plan; and

         (w)      to appoint and compensate agents, counsel, auditors or other
                  specialists to aid it in the discharge of its duties.

         The Board shall have the authority to adopt, alter and repeal such
administrative rules, guidelines and practices governing this Plan as it shall,
from time to time, deem advisable, to interpret the terms and provisions of this
Plan and any Option issued under this Plan (and any Agreement) and to otherwise
supervise the administration of this Plan. The Board's policies and procedures
may differ with respect to Options granted at difference times or to different
Participants.

         4.3 Discretionary Authority. The Board shall have full discretionary
authority in all matters related to the discharge of its responsibilities and
the exercise of its authority under the Plan, including without limitation its
construction of the terms of the Plan and its determination of eligibility for
participation and the grant of Options under the Plan. It is the





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intent of the Plan that the decisions of the Board and its action with respect
to the Plan shall be final, binding and conclusive upon all persons having or
claiming to have any right or interest in or under the Plan.

         4.4 Section 162(m) of the Code. With regard to all Covered Employees,
the Plan shall, for all purposes, be interpreted and construed in accordance
with Section 162(m) of the Code.

         4.5 Action by the Board. The Board may act only by (i) a majority of
its members or (ii) the unanimous consent of the Executive Committee of the
Board. Any determination of the Board may be made, without a meeting, by a
writing or writings signed by all of the members of the Board. In addition, the
Board may authorize any one or more of its members to execute and deliver
documents on behalf of the Board.

         4.6 Delegation of Authority. The Board may delegate some or all of its
authority under the Plan to any person or persons, including the President or
Chief Executive Officer of Liberty, provided that any such delegation be in
writing; provided, however, that only the Board may select and grant Options to
Participants who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act or are Covered
Employees.


                       ARTICLE 5 - SHARES SUBJECT TO PLAN

         5.1 Available Shares. The maximum number of shares of Common Stock that
shall be available for issuance pursuant to the grant of Options under the Plan
(including incentive stock options) during the term of the Plan shall be 2,474.
Such number shall be subject to adjustment as provided in Section 5.2.) Any
shares of Common Stock related to Options that terminate by expiration,
forfeiture, cancellation, or otherwise without the issuance of such shares shall
be available once again for grant under the Plan. The shares of Common Stock
available for issuance under the Plan may be authorized and unissued shares,
treasury shares, shares issued and outstanding or shares owned by a Subsidiary.

         5.2 Adjustment to Shares.

             5.2.1 In General. The provisions of this Subsection 5.2.1 are
         subject to the limitation contained in Subsection 5.2.2. If there is
         any change in the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock through
         the declaration of stock dividends, stock splits or the like at any
         time after February 1, 1999, the maximum number of shares available for
         Options, the shares subject to any Option and the exercise prices of
         Options may be adjusted. If there is any change in the number of
         outstanding shares of Common Stock through a merger, consolidation,
         separation (including a spin-off or other distribution of stock or
         property), reorganization (whether or not such reorganization comes
         within the meaning of such term in Section 368(a) of the Code) or
         partial or complete liquidation, the Board may make appropriate
         adjustments in the maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be
         issued under the Plan and




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         any adjustments and/or modifications to outstanding Options as it, in
         its sole discretion, deems appropriate. In event of any other change in
         the capital structure or in the Common Stock of Liberty, the Board
         shall also be authorized to make such appropriate adjustments in the
         maximum number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under
         the Plan and any adjustments and/or modifications to outstanding
         Options as it, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate.

             5.2.2 Covered Employees. In no event shall the Option of any
         Participant who is a Covered Employee be adjusted pursuant to this
         Subsection 5.2 to the extent it would cause such Option to fail to
         qualify as "performance-based compensation" under Section 162(m) of the
         Code or cause the Plan to fail to comply with (i) Section 422 of the
         Code or (ii) Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

             5.2.3 Board Authority to Make Adjustments. Any adjustments pursuant
         to this Subsection 5.2 shall be made by the Board, whose determination
         as to what adjustments, if any, will be made and the extent thereof
         will be final, binding and conclusive.


                        ARTICLE 6 - STOCK OPTION PROGRAM

         6.1 In General. Options may be granted to Key Employees and Nonemployee
Directors. These Options may be incentive stock options within the meaning of
Section 422 of the Code or non-qualified stock options (i.e., stock options that
are not incentive stock options), or a combination of both. All Options under
the Plan issued to Covered Employees shall qualify as "performance-based
compensation" under Section 162(m) of the Code.

         6.2 Terms and Conditions of Stock Options. An Option shall be
exercisable in whole or in such installments and at such times as may be
determined by the Board. The price at which Common Stock may be purchased upon
exercise of an Option shall not be less than 100% of the closing price at which
a share of Common Stock trades on the date of the grant's Effective Date, or the
next preceding trading day if such date was not a trading date, on the primary
securities exchange or quotation system on which the Common Stock is then
traded, or, if the Common Stock is not then traded on a securities exchange or
quotation system, the fair market value of such Common Stock as determined on an
annual basis by an independent expert hired for such purpose (the "Fair Market
Value"). Moreover, all Options shall expire not later than 10 years from the
date the Option is granted. Options shall not be repriced, i.e., there shall be
no grant of an Option(s) to a Participant in exchange for a Participant's
agreement to cancellation of a higher- priced Option(s) that was previously
granted to such Participant.

         6.3 Restrictions Relating to Incentive Stock Options. Options issued in
the form of incentive stock options shall, in addition to being subject to the
terms and conditions of Section 6.2, comply with Section 422 of the Code.
Accordingly, the aggregate fair market value (determined at the time the option
was granted) of the Common Stock with respect to which





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incentive stock options are exercisable for the first time by a Participant
during any calendar year (under this Plan or any other plan of the Company)
shall not exceed $100,000 (or such other limit as may be required by the Code).
The price at which Common Stock may be purchased upon exercise of an incentive
stock option shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a share of
Common Stock on the grant's Effective Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing in the
case of an incentive stock option granted to a Key Employee who at the time of
grant owns (as is defined in Section 424(d) of the Code) stock of the Company,
its parent or the Subsidiaries, possessing more than 10% of the total combined
voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries,
the price at which Common Stock may be purchased upon exercise of such incentive
stock option shall be not less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of a share of
Common Stock on the grant's Effective Date, and the Option shall expire not
later than 5 years from the date such Option is granted. In no event may the
price at which Common Stock may be purchased upon exercise of such incentive
stock option be less than the par value of the Common Stock subject to such
incentive stock option. From the maximum number of shares available for issuance
under the Plan under Section 5.1, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock
that shall be available for incentive stock options granted under the Plan shall
be 2,474 (such number shall be subject to adjustment as provided in Section
5.2).

         6.4 Additional Terms and Conditions. The Board may, by way of the
Agreement or otherwise, establish such other terms, conditions, restrictions,
and limitations, if any, of any Option, provided they are not inconsistent with
the Plan.

         6.5 Manner of Exercise. A participant may pay to the Company the option
price of an Option (i) in cash, (ii) shares of Common Stock, (iii) a combination
of the foregoing, or (iv) such other consideration as the Board may deem
appropriate. The Board shall establish appropriate methods for accepting Common
Stock, whether restricted or unrestricted, and may impose such conditions as it
deems appropriate on the use of such Common Stock to exercise an Option. The
Board may permit a Participant to satisfy any amounts required to be withheld
under the applicable Federal, state and local tax laws, in effect from time to
time, by electing to have the Company withhold a portion of the shares of Common
Stock to be delivered for the payment of such taxes.

         6.6 Nontransferability of Options. No Option granted pursuant to the
Plan shall be transferable otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and
distribution or pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order as defined by
the Code. During the lifetime of an optionee, the Option shall be exercisable
only by the optionee personally or by the optionee's legal representative.

         6.7 Vesting of Options.

             6.7.1 Each Option granted pursuant to this Plan shall be vested and
         exercisable as set forth in the relevant Agreement. No Option shall be
         exercisable prior to the time at which it becomes vested.


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                  6.7.2 Unless provided otherwise in an Agreement, the rules in
         this Subsection 6.7.2 shall apply. In the event the Participant's
         employment with the Company terminates because of the Participant's
         death, Disability or Retirement, the Option shall remain exercisable,
         in whole but not in part, to the extent vested and exercisable on the
         date the Participant's employment terminates, for the period ending one
         (1) year from the date of termination. In the event the Participant's
         employment with the Company terminates for any other reason, other than
         for Cause, the Option shall remain exercisable, in whole but not in
         part, to the extent vested and exercisable on the date the
         Participant's employment terminates, for the period ending thirty (30)
         days from the date of termination. In the event the Participant's
         employment is terminated by the Company for Cause, the Option shall
         terminate, expire and be forfeited on the date the Participant's
         employment terminates.

             6.7.3 The right to exercise any Option granted pursuant to this
         Plan shall be cumulative during the term thereof. Not less than 10
         shares of Common Stock may be purchased upon the exercise of any part
         of the Option at any one time unless the number of shares of Common
         Stock purchased is the total number at the time purchased under the
         Option. No Option may be exercised for any fraction of a share of
         Common Stock.

         6.8 Maximum Option Payable. Notwithstanding any provision contained in
the Plan to the contrary, following an initial public offering the maximum
number of shares for which Options may be granted under the Plan to any one
Participant for a calendar year is 494 (such number shall be subject to
adjustment as provided in Section 5.2).

         6.9 Noncompetition. As to all Options granted hereunder unless the
Agreement specifically provides otherwise, a Participant shall forfeit all
unexercised Options if, (i) in the opinion of the Board, the Participant,
without the prior written consent of the Company, engages directly or indirectly
in any manner or capacity as principal, agent, partner, officer, director,
stockholder, employee, or otherwise, in any business or activity competitive
with the business conducted by the Company; (ii) at any time divulges to any
person or any entity other than the Company any trade secrets, methods,
processes or the proprietary or confidential information of the Company; or
(iii) the Participant performs any act or engages in any activity that the Board
determines is contrary to the best interests of the Company. For purposes of
this Section 6.9, a Participant shall not be deemed a stockholder if the
Participant's record and beneficial ownership amount to not more than 1% of the
outstanding capital stock of any company subject to the periodic and other
reporting requirements of the Exchange Act.

         6.10 Evidence of Ownership of Common Stock. Upon exercise of an Option,
ownership of Common Stock shall be evidenced by uncertificated shares as
provided by Section 158 of the General Corporation Law of the state of Delaware
or certificated shares, as the Board may determine. The Company shall take all
appropriate steps to properly register shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to
the Plan in the name of such Participant. Any






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evidence of ownership of shares shall bear an appropriate notification or other
legend referring to the terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to such
Common Stock, if any.

                          ARTICLE 7 - CHANGE IN CONTROL

         In the event of a Change In Control, the Board, or the board of
directors of any corporation assuming the obligations of Liberty, may, in its
sole discretion, take any one or more of the following actions, as to
outstanding Options: (a) provide that such Options shall be assumed, or
equivalent options shall be substituted, by the acquiring or succeeding
corporation or entity (or an affiliate thereof), provided, however, that any
such options substituted for incentive stock options shall meet the requirements
of Section 424(a) of the Code, (b) upon written notice to the Participants,
provide that (i) all exercisable but unexercised Options will terminate
immediately prior to the consummation of such Change In Control unless exercised
by the Participant within a specified period following the date of such notice
and prior to the consummation of such Change In Control and (ii) all
unexercisable Options will terminate upon consummation of such Change In
Control, (c) in the event of a merger or consolidation under the terms of which
holders of the Common Stock of the Company will receive upon consummation
thereof a payment for each share surrendered in the merger or consolidation (the
"Merger Price"), make or provide for a payment to the Participants equal to the
difference between (i) the Merger Price times the number of shares of Common
Stock subject to such outstanding Options (to the extent then exercisable at
prices not in excess of the Merger Price) and (ii) the aggregate exercise price
of all such outstanding Options, in exchange for the termination of such
Options, (d) provide that all or any outstanding Options shall become
exercisable in full immediately prior to such Change In Control and shall cease
to be exercisable at any time after such Change In Control, or (e) take any
other action with respect to outstanding Options that is not prohibited by (i)
any other term or condition of this Plan, (ii) such terms and provisions of the
Exchange Act (and the rules promulgated thereunder) that bear upon this Plan or
the Options authorized or granted under it and (iii) in the case of incentive
stock options, such terms and provisions of the Code (and the rules promulgated
thereunder) that apply to such incentive stock options.

                            ARTICLE 8 - MISCELLANEOUS

         8.1 Nonassignability. No Options rights shall be subject in any manner
to alienation, anticipation, sale, transfer (except by will or the laws of
descent and distribution), assignment, pledge, or encumbrance.

         8.2 Withholding Taxes. The Company shall be entitled to deduct from any
payment under the Plan, regardless of the form of such payment, the amount of
all applicable income and employment taxes required by law to be withheld with
respect to such payment or may require the Participant to pay to it such tax
prior to and as a condition of the making of such payment. In accordance with
any applicable administrative guidelines it establishes, the Board may allow a
Participant to pay the amount of taxes required by law to be withheld with
respect






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to an Option by withholding from any payment of Common Stock due as a result of
the exercise of such Option, or by permitting the Participant to deliver to the
Company, shares of Common Stock having a fair-market value, as determined by the
Board, equal to the amount of such required withholding taxes.

         8.3 Amendments to Options. The Board may at any time unilaterally amend
any unexercised Option; provided, however, that any such amendment which, in the
opinion of the Board, is adverse to the Participant shall require the
Participant's consent.

         8.4 No Right to Continued Employment or Grants. Participation in the
Plan shall not give any Employee any right to remain in the employ of Liberty or
any Subsidiary. Liberty, or, in the case of employment with a Subsidiary, the
Subsidiary, reserves the right to terminate any Employee at any time. Further,
the adoption of this Plan shall not be deemed to give any Employee or any other
individual any right to be selected as a Participant or to be granted an Option.

         8.5 Amendment/Termination. The Board may suspend or terminate the Plan
at any time with or without prior notice. In addition, the Board may, from time
to time and with or without prior notice, amend the Plan in any manner, but may
not without stockholder approval adopt any amendment that would require the vote
of the stockholders of Liberty pursuant to Section 16 of the Exchange Act,
Section 162(m) of the Code (but only insofar as such amendment affects Covered
Employees), or Section 422 of the Code.

         8.6 Governing Law. The Plan shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware (other than its laws
respecting choice of law), except as superseded by applicable Federal law.

         8.7 No Right, Title, or Interest in Company Assets. No Participant
shall have any rights as a stockholder as a result of participation in the Plan
until the date of issuance of stock in his or her name.

         8.8 No Guarantee of Tax Consequences. The Company shall not be liable
or responsible in any way for the Option constituting or failing to constitute
an incentive stock option for any reason, and Participant agrees to undertake to
determine and be responsible for any and all tax consequences to himself or
herself with respect to the Option's constituting or failing to constitute an
incentive stock option.

         8.9 Compliance with Section 162(m). If any provision of the Plan, other
than the application of those contained in Article 7 hereof, would cause the
Options granted to a Covered Person not to qualify as "performance-based
compensation" under Section 162(m) of the Code, that provision, insofar as it
pertains to the Covered Person, shall be severed from, and shall be deemed not
to be a part of this Plan, but the other provisions hereof shall remain in full
force and effect.



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         8.10 Other Benefits. No Option granted under the Plan shall be
considered compensation for purposes of computing benefits under any retirement
plan of the Company nor affect any benefits or compensation under any other
benefit or compensation plan of the Company now or subsequently in effect.

         8.11 Common Stock Issued Pursuant to Plan Subject to Stockholders'
Agreement. Common Stock at any time and from time to time issued upon exercise
of an Option granted pursuant to the Plan shall be subject to a Stockholders'
Agreement to the extent set forth in the Agreement with respect to such Option.
In such case, all evidence of ownership of the Common Stock issued under the
Plan shall be appropriately noted so as to comply with the Stockholders'
Agreement.

         8.12 Definitions. For purposes of this Plan, the following terms shall
have the meaning set forth below:

              Agreement. "Agreement" means any agreement entered into pursuant
to this Plan pursuant to which an Option is granted to a Participant.

              Approved Reason. "Approved Reason" means a reason for terminating
employment with the Company that, in the opinion of the Board, is in the best
interests of the Company, as determined by the Board on a case-by-case basis in
its sole discretion. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the President of Liberty,
and with respect to a Participant, any Vice-President or Regional Manager with
supervisory responsibility for such Participant, may determine that a
termination of employment for an Approved Reason has occurred with respect to
such Participant.

              Board. "Board" means the Board of Directors of Liberty.

              Cause. "Cause" means theft from the Company, embezzlement of the
Company's funds, falsification of the Company's records, fraud committed against
the Company, commission of a felonious criminal act involving the Company or
while engaged in conduct of the Company's business, incompetence due to the use
of or reporting to work under the influence of alcohol, narcotics, other
unlawful drugs or controlled substances, legal incapacity, insanity, act or acts
involving dishonesty or misconduct which have or may reasonably be expected to
have a material adverse effect on the business or reputation of the Company,
breach of fiduciary duty to the Company, willful and substantial failure to
perform stated duties or lawful directives of the Board or of management of the
Company, unless provided otherwise in an Agreement.

              Change In Control. "Change In Control" occurs if and when (a) any
"person" (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act,
other than (i) a person who is a stockholder of Liberty as of the effective date
of the Plan, and (ii) a person who becomes a stockholder of Liberty as a result
of the exercise of Options granted under the Plan, becomes a "beneficial owner"
(as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of
securities of Liberty representing 50.1% or more of the combined voting power





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of Liberty's then outstanding equity securities; provided that a Change In
Control shall not be deemed to occur as a result of a change of ownership
resulting from the death of a stockholder, (b) individuals who constitute the
Board on December 31, 1998 (the "Incumbent Board") have ceased for any reason to
constitute at least a majority of the Board, provided that any person becoming a
director subsequent to December 31, 1998 whose election, or nomination for
election by Liberty's stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least
three-quarters (3/4) of the directors comprising the Incumbent Board (either by
a specific vote or by approval of the nomination of such person for election as
Director without objection) shall be, for purposes of the Plan, considered as
though such person were a member of the Incumbent Board, or (c) stockholders of
Liberty approve (or, if stockholder approval is not required, the Board
approves) (i) a merger or consolidation of Liberty with another corporation
where those who are the stockholders of Liberty immediately prior to the merger
or consolidation will not beneficially own, immediately after the merger or
consolidation shares entitling such stockholders to vote 50.1% or more of all
votes to which all stockholders of the surviving corporation would be entitled
in the election of directors, (ii) the sale or disposition of all or
substantially all of Liberty's assets, or (iii) a plan of partial or complete
liquidation of Liberty. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, a
Change In Control shall not take place upon the initial public offering of
Liberty's Common Stock, or any other class of its securities (unless provided
otherwise in an Agreement), except to the extent provided in an Agreement.

         Code. "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from
time to time, including regulations thereunder and successor provisions and
regulations thereto.

         Common Stock. "Common Stock" means Common Stock of Liberty, which may
be newly issued, treasury stock, shares issued and outstanding or shares owned
by a Subsidiary.

         Company. "Company" means Liberty and its Subsidiaries.

         Covered Employee. "Covered Employee" means an Employee who is a
"Covered Employee" within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.

         Director. "Director" means a director of Liberty.

         Disability. "Disability," in the case of a Key Employee or a
Nonemployee Director, means the permanent and lasting inability, by reason of
physical or mental infirmity, or both, of a person to perform his or her duties
as as an Employee or Director, as the case may be. Such Disability shall be
determined exclusively by the Board, with or without reference to the
certificate of a qualified physician. No Director whose Disability is to be
determined shall participate in such determination.

         Effective Date. "Effective Date" means the date an Option is determined
to be effective by the Board upon its grant of such Option.



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         Employee. "Employee" means either (a) a salaried employee of Liberty or
(b) a salaried employee of a Subsidiary.

         Exchange Act. "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended from time to time, including rules thereunder and successor
provisions and rules thereto.

         Key Employee. "Key Employee" means an Employee who holds a position of
responsibility in a managerial, technical, production, or administrative
capacity, including but not limited to a publisher of any newspaper owned by the
Company.

         Nonemployee Director. "Nonemployee Director" means a Director who is
not an Employee.

         Option. "Option" means a right to purchase Common Stock issued to a
Participant by the Board pursuant to such terms, conditions, restrictions, and
limitations, if any, as the Board may establish by the Agreement or otherwise.

         Participant. "Participant" means any Key Employee or Nonemployee
Director who has been selected for a grant of stock options pursuant to Article
6.

         Plan. "Plan" means this Liberty Group Publishing, Inc. 1999 Stock
Option Plan, as amended or modified from time to time.

         Retirement. "Retirement" means, in the case of a Key Employee, for all
Plan purposes other than Section 8.10, a termination of employment from the
Company on or after attainment of Normal Retirement Age as defined under the
Liberty Group Group Publishing, Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan. "Retirement"
means, in the case of a Nonemployee Director, for all Plan purposes other than
Section 8.10, the termination of such Nonemployee Director's service as a
Nonemployee Director on or after age 70, or at any earlier age with the consent
of the Board.

         Stockholders' Agreement. "Stockholders' Agreement" means a
stockholders' or subscription agreement containing repurchase rights, voting
agreements and other restrictions on transfer substantially similar to those
contained in the stockholder or subscription agreements executed by management
stockholders of the Company except that, with respect to the repurchase rights
set forth in the Stockholders' Agreement relating to the termination of a
Participant's employment with the Company, the periods during which the Company
will have the right to repurchase shares of Common Stock will extend until sixty
(60) days after a Participant exercises the Option and purchases shares of
Common Stock pursuant thereto.

         Subsidiary. "Subsidiary" means a corporation or other business entity
in which Liberty directly or indirectly has an ownership interest of 80 percent
or more.



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