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                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1

                                 HOLLINGER INC.
                             PROVIDES STATUS UPDATE

         Toronto, Canada, July 14, 2004 -- Hollinger Inc. ("Hollinger") (TSX:
HLG.C; HLG.PR.B) provides the following update in accordance with the guidelines
pursuant to which the June 1, 2004 management and insider cease trade order was
issued. These guidelines contemplate that Hollinger will normally provide
bi-weekly updates on its affairs until such time as it is current with its
filing obligations under applicable Canadian securities laws.

         Hollinger continues to devote resources to the completion and filing of
its financial statements as soon as practicable. Despite its requests, Hollinger
has not, to date, received access to the financial records and management
personnel of Hollinger International Inc. ("Hollinger International") and the
working papers of Hollinger International's auditors in order to allow for the
preparation and, where required, audit of Hollinger's financial statements. As a
result, the Litigation Committee of the board of directors of Hollinger has
authorized the commencement of legal proceedings to compel such access.

         As a result of Hollinger's inability to obtain the above-noted access,
Hollinger is currently not in a position to release alternative financial
statements as previously indicated. However, Hollinger intends to provide in its
bi-weekly updates certain financial information such as its cash on hand and the
current market value of its direct and indirect holdings in Hollinger
International.

         As of the close of business on July 14, 2004, Hollinger had
approximately US$18 million of cash or cash equivalents on hand and owned,
directly or indirectly, 792,560 shares of Class A Common Stock and 14,990,000
shares of Class B Common Stock of Hollinger International. Based on the July 13,
2004 closing price of the shares of Class A Common Stock of Hollinger
International on the New York Stock Exchange of US$16.10, the market value of
Hollinger's direct and indirect holdings in Hollinger International was
US$254,099,216. All of Hollinger's direct and indirect holdings in Hollinger
International are pledged as security in connection with Hollinger's senior
secured notes due 2011 (the "Notes").

         As previously announced, as a result of the delay in the filing of the
2003 Form 20-F with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission by
June 30, 2004 resulting from the continuing lack of co-operation from Hollinger
International, Hollinger is not in compliance with its obligations to deliver to
relevant parties its filings under the indenture governing the Notes. US$78
million principal amount of Notes are outstanding under the indenture. The delay
does not result in an automatic event of default or acceleration of the Notes.
If the trustee under the indenture governing the Notes or the holders of at
least 25 percent of the outstanding principal amount of the Notes provide notice
of such non-compliance (the "Non-Compliance Notice") to Hollinger, and Hollinger
fails to file and deliver the 2003 Form 20-F within 30 days after such notice is
provided, the trustee under the indenture or such holders will then have the
right to accelerate the maturity of the Notes. Hollinger received a
Non-Compliance Notice from the trustee on July 8, 2004. Hollinger is not aware
of any holder, or group of related holders or parties, that holds at least
25 percent of the outstanding principal amount of the Notes.

         If an acceleration of the Notes were to occur, Hollinger may be unable
to meet its payment obligations in connection therewith. In such case, Hollinger
would seek alternative

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financing sources in an effort to satisfy such obligations. At present,
Hollinger does not have any binding agreements or understandings in place with
respect to any such financing.

         Hollinger's principal asset is its approximately 68.0% voting and 18.2%
equity interest in Hollinger International. Hollinger International is a global
newspaper publisher with English-language newspapers in the United States, Great
Britain and Israel. Its assets include The Daily Telegraph, The Sunday Telegraph
and The Spectator and Apollo magazines in Great Britain, the Chicago Sun-Times
and a large number of community newspapers in the Chicago area, The Jerusalem
Post and The International Jerusalem Post in Israel, a portfolio of new media
investments and a variety of other assets.

Media contact:
Jim Badenhausen
646-805-2006

                              www.hollingerinc.com