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                                                                     Exhibit 2.2



                             STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT


        STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT, dated as of September 26, 1996 (this
"Agreement"), by and among The Providence Journal Company, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), and each of the other parties signatory hereto
(each a "Stockholder" and, collectively, the "Stockholders").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:
                              - - - - - - - - - -


        WHEREAS, concurrently herewith, the Company, A.H. Belo Corporation, a
Delaware corporation ("Acquiror"), and A H Finance Company, a Delaware
corporation and a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Acquiror ("Sub"), are
entering into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (as such agreement may hereafter
be amended from time to time, the "Merger Agreement"; initially capitalized and
other terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them
in the Merger Agreement), pursuant to which the Company will be merged with and
into Sub (the "Merger");

        WHEREAS, each of the Stockholders Beneficially Owns (as defined herein)
the number of shares, par value $1.67 per share, of Series A and/or Series B
Common Stock of Acquiror (the "Shares" or "Acquiror Common Stock") set forth
opposite such Stockholder's name on Schedule I hereto;

        WHEREAS, as an inducement and a condition to entering into the Merger
Agreement, the Company has required that the Stockholders agree, and the
Stockholders have agreed, to enter into this Agreement;

        NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual
premises, representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained
herein, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

        1. PROVISIONS CONCERNING ACQUIROR COMMON STOCK. Each Stockholder hereby
agrees with the Company that, during the period commencing on the date hereof
and continuing until the first to occur of the Effective Time and termination of
the Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms, at any meeting of Acquiror's
stockholders, however called, or in connection with any written consent of
Acquiror's stockholders, such Stockholder shall vote (or, in the case of joint
ownership, use all reasonable efforts to cause to be voted) the Shares
Beneficially Owned (as defined below) by such Stockholder, whether heretofore
owned or hereafter acquired, (i) in favor of the issuance of shares of Series A
Common Stock of Acquiror (the "Series A Stock") pursuant to the Merger Agreement
and any actions required in furtherance thereof and hereof; (ii) against any
action or agreement that would result in a breach in any respect of any
covenant, representation or warranty or any other obligation or agreement of

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Acquiror under the Merger Agreement (after giving effect to any materiality or
similar qualifications contained therein); and (iii) except as otherwise agreed
to in writing in advance by the Company, against any changes in a majority of
the persons who constitute the board of directors of Acquiror. Such Stockholder
shall not enter into any agreement or understanding with any person the effect
of which would be inconsistent or violative of the provisions and agreements
contained in Section 1 or 2 hereof. For purposes of this Agreement,
"Beneficially Own" or "Beneficial Ownership" with respect to any securities
shall mean a person's having direct ownership of and the right to vote such
securities in his or her individual capacity.

        2.  OTHER COVENANTS, REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.  Each Stockholder
hereby represents and warrants to the Company as follows:

        (a) OWNERSHIP OF SHARES. Such Stockholder is the record and Beneficial
Owner of the number of Shares set forth opposite such Stockholder's name on
Schedule I hereto. On the date hereof, the Shares set forth opposite such
Stockholder's name on Schedule I hereto constitute all of the Shares
Beneficially Owned by such Stockholder. Such Stockholder has sole voting power
with respect to the matters set forth in Section 1 hereof with respect to all of
the Shares set forth opposite such Stockholder's name on Schedule I hereto with
no limitations, qualifications or restrictions on such rights.

        (b) POWER; BINDING AGREEMENT. Such Stockholder has the legal capacity,
power and authority to enter into and perform all of such Stockholder's
obligations under this Agreement. The execution, delivery and performance of
this Agreement by such Stockholder will not violate any law, regulation or court
order or any other agreement to which such Stockholder is a party including,
without limitation, any voting agreement, Stockholder agreement or voting trust.
This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by such
Stockholder and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of such Stockholder,
enforceable against such Stockholder in accordance with its terms. If such
Stockholder is married and such Stockholder's Shares constitute community
property, this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by,
and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of, such Stockholder's spouse,
enforceable against such person in accordance with its terms.

        (c) RESTRICTION ON TRANSFER, PROXIES AND NON-INTERFERENCE. Such
Stockholder shall not, directly or indirectly: (i) except as contemplated by the
Merger Agreement, offer for sale, sell, transfer, tender, pledge, encumber,
assign or otherwise dispose of, or enter into any contract, option or other
arrangement or understanding with respect to or consent to the offer for sale,
sale, transfer, tender, pledge, encumbrance, assignment or other disposition of,
any or all of such Stockholder's Shares or any interest therein; (ii) grant any
proxies or powers of attorney, deposit any Shares into a voting trust or enter
into a voting agreement with respect to any Shares; or (iii) take any action
that would make any representation or warranty of such Stockholder contained
herein untrue or incorrect or have the effect of preventing or disabling such
Stockholder from performing such Stockholder's obligations under this Agreement;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that, notwithstanding clause (i) of this sentence, (x) such
Stockholder shall be permitted to transfer any of such Stockholder's Shares to a
trust or similar entity for estate planning purposes so long as such Stockholder
retains, or another Stockholder acquires, (1) sole power to vote such Shares


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(and votes such Shares in accordance with this Agreement) and (2) investment
power over such shares (and causes such trust or similar entity to retain such
Shares until the termination of this Agreement); (y) such Stockholder shall be
permitted to make one or more gifts or charitable donations of such Shares up to
such number of Shares as represents no more than 10% of the voting power
represented by the aggregate number of such Stockholder's Shares on the date
hereof; and (z) such Stockholder may pledge or margin any of such Stockholder's
Shares so long as such Stockholder retains sole power to vote such Shares (and
votes in accordance with this Agreement) for the term of this Agreement
(provided that such pledge or margin transaction shall be made only to or with a
financial institution extending credit to such Stockholder in the ordinary
course of such financial institution's business and unrelated to any transaction
or transactions involving an attempt to acquire control of the Company).

        (d) RELIANCE BY THE COMPANY. Such Stockholder understands and
acknowledges that the Company is entering into the Merger Agreement in reliance
upon such Stockholder's execution and delivery of this Agreement.

        3.  STOP TRANSFER. Each Stockholder agrees with, and covenants to, the
Company that such Stockholder shall not request that Acquiror register the
transfer (book-entry or otherwise) of any certificate or uncertificated interest
representing any of such Stockholders' Shares, unless such transfer is made in
compliance with this Agreement. In the event of a stock dividend or
distribution, or any change in the Acquiror Common Stock by reason of any stock
dividend, split-up, recapitalization, combination, exchange of shares or the
like, the term "Shares" shall be deemed to refer to and include the Shares as
well as all such stock dividends and distributions and any shares into which or
for which any or all of the Shares may be changed or exchanged.

        4.  TERMINATION.  Except as otherwise provided herein, the covenants and
agreements contained herein with respect to the Shares shall terminate upon the
earlier of (a) the termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its
terms and (b) the Effective Time.

        5.  STOCKHOLDER CAPACITY.  No person executing this Agreement who is or
becomes during the term hereof a director of Acquiror or a trustee of a trust
makes any agreement or understanding herein in his or her capacity as such
director or trustee. Each Stockholder signs solely in his or her capacity as the
Beneficial Owner of such Stockholder's Shares.

        6.  Miscellaneous.
            --------------
        (a) ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement
among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all
other prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the
parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.

        (b) CERTAIN EVENTS. Each Stockholder agrees that this Agreement and the
obligations hereunder shall attach to such Stockholder's Shares and shall be
binding upon any person to which legal or beneficial ownership of such Shares
shall pass, whether by operation of law or otherwise. Notwithstanding any
transfer of Shares, the transferor shall remain liable for the performance of
all obligations under this Agreement of the transferor.


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        (c) ASSIGNMENT.  This Agreement shall not be assigned by operation of 
law or otherwise without the prior written consent of the other party.

        (d) AMENDMENTS, WAIVERS, ETC. This Agreement may not be amended,
changed, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified or terminated, with respect
to any one or more Stockholders, except upon the execution and delivery of a
written agreement executed by the relevant parties hereto; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
that Schedule I hereto may be supplemented by the Company and one or more
stockholders of Acquiror by adding the name and other relevant information
concerning any stockholder of the Company who agrees to be bound by the terms of
this Agreement without the agreement of any other party hereto, and thereafter
such added stockholder shall be treated as a "Stockholder" for all purposes of
this Agreement.

        (e) NOTICES. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other
communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given (and shall be
deemed to have been duly received if so given) by hand delivery, telegram, telex
or telecopy, or by mail (registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return
receipt requested) or by any courier service, such as Federal Express, providing
proof of delivery. All communications hereunder shall be delivered to the
respective parties at the following addresses:

If to any Stockholder:             At the address set forth
                                   on Schedule I hereto

with a copy to:                    Michael J. McCarthy, Esq.
                                   Senior Vice President and General Counsel
                                   A.H. Belo Corporation
                                   400 South Record Street
                                   Dallas, Texas  75202
                                   Telephone: (214) 977-6600
                                   Facsimile: (214) 977-8209

                                                 and

                                   Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
                                   200 Park Avenue
                                   New York, NY  10166
                                   Telephone: (212) 351-4000
                                   Facsimile: (212) 351-4035
                                   Attention: E. Michael Greaney, Esq.



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If to the Company:                 The Providence Journal Company
                                   75 Fountain Street
                                   Providence, Rhode Island  02902
                                   Telephone: (401) 277-7000
                                   Facsimile: (401) 277-7889
                                   Attention: Stephen Hamblett and
                                              John L. Hammond, Esq.

with a copy to:                    Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
                                   51 West 52nd Street
                                   New York, NY 10166
                                   Telephone: (212) 403-1000
                                   Facsimile: (212) 403-2000
                                   Attention: Daniel A. Neff, Esq.

                                                 and

                                   Edwards & Angell
                                   2700 Hospital Trust Tower
                                   Providence, RI 02903
                                   Telephone: (401) 274-9200
                                   Facsimile: (401) 276-6611
                                   Attention: Walter G.D. Reed, Esq.

or to such other address as the person to whom notice is given may have
previously furnished to the others in writing in the matter set forth above.

        (f) SEVERABILITY. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement
will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable
law but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or rule in any
jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability will not affect
any other provision or portion of any provision in such jurisdiction, and this
Agreement will be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if
such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision or portion of any provision had
never been contained herein.

        (g) SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE. Each of the parties hereto recognizes and
acknowledges that a breach by it of any covenants or agreements contained in
this Agreement will cause the other party to sustain damage for which it would
not have an adequate remedy at law for money damages, and therefore each of the
parties hereto agrees that in the event of any such breach the aggrieved party
shall be entitled to the remedy of specific performance of such covenants and
agreements and injunctive and other equitable relief in addition to any other
remedy to which it may be entitled, at law or in equity.

        (h) NO WAIVER. The failure of any party hereto to exercise any right,
power or remedy provided under this Agreement or otherwise available in respect
hereof at law or in 


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equity, or to insist upon compliance by any other party hereto with its
obligations hereunder, and any custom or practice of the parties at variance
with the terms hereof, shall not constitute a waiver by such party of its right
to exercise any such or other right, power or remedy or to demand such
compliance.

        (i) GOVERNING LAW.  This Agreement shall be governed and construed in 
accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to the
principles of conflicts of law thereof.

        (j) COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each
of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which, taken together,
shall constitute one and the same Agreement.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and each Stockholder have caused this
Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

                                   THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL COMPANY

                                   By: /s/ Stephen Hamblett
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       Name:  Stephen Hamblett
                                       Title: Chairman of the Board, Chief
                                              Executive Officer and Publisher


                                   STOCKHOLDERS:

                                   /s/ Robert W. Decherd
                                   ---------------------------------------------
                                   Robert W. Decherd

                                   /s/ Maureen H. Decherd
                                   ---------------------------------------------
                                   Maureen H. Decherd

                                   /s/ Dealey D. Herndon
                                   ---------------------------------------------
                                   Dealey D. Herndon

                                   /s/ James M. Moroney, Jr.
                                   ---------------------------------------------
                                   James M. Moroney, Jr.

                                   /s/ Helen Claire Wilhoit Moroney
                                   ---------------------------------------------
                                   Helen Claire Wilhoit Moroney



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                                   /s/ John W. Bassett, Jr.
                                   ---------------------------------------------
                                   John W. Bassett, Jr.





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ACKNOWLEDGED AND AGREED TO 
(with respect to Section 3):

A.H. BELO CORPORATION


By:  /s/ Robert W. Decherd
    ---------------------------------------
    Name:  Robert W. Decherd
    Title: Chairman of the Board, President
           and Chief Executive Officer




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<TABLE>
                                  Schedule I to
                             Stockholders Agreement
                             ----------------------
<CAPTION>

Name and Address                                   Number of Shares Owned
----------------                               -------------------------------
                                                Series A              Series B
                                               ---------             ---------

<S>                                            <C>                   <C>      
Robert W. Decherd                                583,509             1,972,908
A.H. Belo Corporation
400 South Record Street
Dallas, Texas  75202

Dealey D. Herndon                              1,048,146             1,305,624
322 Congress Avenue
Austin, Texas  78701

James M. Moroney, Jr.                            494,235               154,922
A.H. Belo Corporation
400 South Record Street
Dallas, Texas  75202

John W. Bassett, Jr.                               3,200                 3,200
A.H. Belo Corporation
400 South Record Street
Dallas, Texas  75202
</TABLE>




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