Document:

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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.23

                             STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

  AGREEMENT made as of this 28th day of July, 1999 by and between NEWS
COMMUNICATIONS, INC., a corporation organized under the laws of the State of
Nevada (the "Company"), and Jerry Finkelstein (the "Optionee").

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

  WHEREAS, the Optionee is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the
Companyin and

  WHEREAS, the Optionee was instrumental in bringing about the employment by the
Company of Steven Farbman as the Company's President and Chief Executive
Officer; and

  WHEREAS, the Company desires to compensate the Optionee for his services to
the Company as Chairman of the Board and for his efforts in the hiring of Steven
Farbman.

  NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants and agreements herein
contained, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

  1.  Grant of Option.  Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
      ---------------
herein, the Company hereby grants to the Optionee, during the period commencing
on the date of this Agreement, the right and option (the "Option") to purchase
200,000 shares of the Company's common stock (the "Common Stock") at $2.25 per
share.

  2.  Vesting and Exercise of Option.  The Option shall vest as of the date
      ------------------------------
hereof and shall expire on the fifth anniversay of the date hereof (the
"Termination Date").  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the
Optionee may exercise all or part of the Option any time prior to the
Termination Date.

  3.  Method of Exercising Option.  The Optionee may exercise the Option by
      ---------------------------
delivering to the Company (i) a written notice stating the number of shares of
Common Stock that the Optionee has elected to purchase at that time from the
Company and (ii) full payment of the purchase price of the shares of Common
Stock then to be purchased.

  Payment of the purchase price for the shares of Common Stock upon any exercise
of the Option may be made by certified or bank cashier's check payable to the
order of the Company, by wire transfer subject to the Company's instructions or
by delivery of shares of Common Stock having a fair market value equal to the
purchase price of the Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Option, duly
endorsed in blank or accompanied by appropriate stock powers, together with such
amount as the Company shall, in its sole discretion, deem
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necessary to satisfy any tax withholding  obligation or tax arising by reason of
the transfer of such shares of Common Stock.

  Only full shares of Common Stock with an aggregate fair market value (as
determined by the Company) not exceeding the purchase price of the Option will
be accepted in payment, and any portion of the Option price which is in excess
of such aggregate fair market value must be paid in cash or by certified or bank
cashier's check payable to the order of the Company, it being understood that
the Company shall not be required to pay cash in exchange for tendered
certificates.  If the tendered certificate(s) evidence more shares of Common
Stock than are accepted for payment, an appropriate replacement certificate
shall be issued to the Optionee for the number of excess shares of Common Stock.

  4.  Issuance of Common Stock upon Exercise of Option.  As promptly as
      ------------------------------------------------
practicable after receipt of such written notification of the Optionee's
election to exercise the Option and full payment of such purchase price, the
Company shall issue or transfer to the Optionee the number of shares of Common
Stock with respect to which the Option has been so exercised and shall deliver
to the Optionee a certificate or certificates therefor, registered in the
Optionee's name.

  5.  Securities Law Acknowledgments.   The Optionee acknowledges that the
      ------------------------------
shares of Common Stock issued upon exercise of the Option may not be registered
under applicable securities laws, that such shares of Common Stock purchased
upon the exercise of the Option must be held indefinitely unless subsequently
registered under the applicable securities laws or unless an exemption therefrom
is available and at the election of the Company, such certificates may bear such
legends regarding the limited transferability of the shares of Common Stock
under applicable securities laws as counsel for the Company may require.  The
shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to the terms of this Agreement shall
represent fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock.

  6.  Optionee.  Whenever the word "Optionee" is used in any provision of this
      --------
Agreement under circumstances where the provision should logically be construed
to apply to the executors, administrators or person or persons to whom the
Option may be transferred by will or by the laws of descent and distribution,
the word "Optionee" shall be deemed to include such person or persons.

  7.  Transferability.  The Option may be transferred by the Optionee only to a
      ---------------
member of the Optionee's immediate family or pursuant to applicable laws of
descent and distribution.

  8.  Rights as Shareholder.  The Optionee shall have no rights as a shareholder
      ---------------------
with respect to any share of Common Stock covered by the Option until the
Optionee shall have become the holder of record of such share of Common Stock,
and no adjustment shall be made for dividends or distributions or other rights
in respect of such share of Common Stock for which the record date is prior to
the date upon which the Optionee shall become the holder of record thereof.
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  9.  Adjustment for Recapitalization, Merger, Etc.  The aggregate
      --------------------------------------------
number of shares of Common Stock that may be purchased pursuant to the Option,
the number of shares of Common Stock covered by the Option and the price per
share shall be appropriately adjusted for any increase or decrease in the number
of outstanding shares of Common Stock resulting from a stock split or other
subdivision or consolidation of shares of Common Stock or for other capital
adjustments or payments of stock dividends or distributions or other increases
or decreases in the outstanding shares of Common Stock effected without receipt
of consideration by the Company.

  Subject to any required action by the shareholders, if the Company shall be
the surviving corporation in any merger, combination, consolidation or other
business transaction, the Option shall cover the securities to which a holder of
the number of shares of Common Stock covered by the unexercised portion of the
Option would have been entitled pursuant to the terms of the merger or
consolidation.

  Upon the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Option shall
terminate; provided, however, that the surviving corporation may grant an option
or options to purchase its shares on such terms and conditions, both as to the
number of shares and otherwise, which shall substantially preserve the rights
and benefits of the Option.

  The foregoing adjustments and the manner of application of the foregoing
provisions shall be determined by the Board of Directors of the Company in its
sole discretion. Any such adjustments may provide for the elimination of any
fractional share which might otherwise become subject to the Option.

  10.  Compliance with Law.  Notwithstanding any of the provisions hereof, the
       -------------------
Optionee hereby agrees that the Optionee will not exercise the Option, and that
the Company will not be obligated to issue or transfer any shares of Common
Stock to the Optionee hereunder, if the exercise hereof or the issuance or
transfer of such Common Stock shall constitute a violation by the Optionee or
the Company of any provisions of any law or regulation of any governmental
authority.  Any determination in this regard by the Compensation Committee or,
in the absence of a Compensation Committee, by the Board of Directors shall be
final, binding and conclusive.  The Company shall in no event be obliged to
register any securities pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or
to take any other affirmative action in order to cause the exercise of the
Option or the issuance or transfer of Common Stock pursuant thereto to comply
with any law or regulation of any governmental authority.

  11.  Notice.  Every notice or other communication relating to this Agreement
       ------
shall be in writing and shall be mailed to or delivered to the party for whom it
is intended at such address as may from time to time be designated in a notice
mailed or delivered to the other party as herein provided; provided that, unless
and until some other address be so designated, all notices or communications by
the Optionee to the Company shall be mailed or delivered to the Company at its
executive offices at 174-15 Horace Harding Expressway, Fresh Meadows, NY  11365
and all notices or communications by the Company to the Optionee may be given to
the Optionee personally or may be mailed to the Optionee at the address shown
below the Optionee's signature to this Agreement.
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  12.  Entire Agreement.  This Agreement sets forth the complete understanding
       ----------------
of the Company and the Optionee with respect to the subject matter hereof and
supersedes all prior understandings, whether oral or written.

  13.  Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
       -------------
accordance with the laws of the State of New York (without giving effect to
principles of conflicts of law).

  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the day
and year first above written.

                                   NEWS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

                                   By:  /s/  Steven Farbman
                                        -------------------
                                   Name:  Steven Farbman
                                   Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

                                   Name:    /s/ Jerry Finkelstein
                                            ---------------------
                                   Address:  The Carlyle Hotel
                                             Room 1907
                                             35 East 76th Street
                                             New York, NY  10021<PAGE>

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.24

                            NEWS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
                        174-15 Horace Harding Expressway
                            Fresh Meadows, NY  11365

                                                  July 29, 1999

Mr. Jerry Finkelstein
10 East 40th Street, Suite 1308
New York, NY

Dear Jerry:

     On behalf of myself personally and everyone else on the board of directors
of News Communications, I appreciate your understanding and acceptance of the
changes required in order for us to reach the next level in our growth.  This
letter is intended to confirm the substance of our discussions with respect to
your employment with News Communications, Inc. and the options granted to you in
connection with your employment and service to us.

     Section 2.1 of your Amended and Restated Employment Agreement with NCI,
dated as of October 28, 1986, as amended (the "Employment Agreement"), is
amended to reduce your annual salary from $195,000 to $95,000 per annum.  In
addition, the Board has appointed a committee of Wilbur Ross and Gary Weiss to
look into your claims of unreimbursed business expenses and we hope to have this
matter resolved as soon as possible.  Except as modified by this letter, the
Employment Agreement remains in full force and effect.

     This letter also confirms that the Board has granted to you new options to
purchase 200,000 shares of NCI's common stock at an exercise price of $2.25 per
share.  These options will expire on July 28, 2004 and the terms of the options
will be formalized by a Grant Letter.  In addition, the Board has authorized the
extension of each of your 193,333 unexpired options to July 28, 2004 so that
they are coterminus with the new options granted to you.
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     We appreciate your understanding in making these changes and we look
forward to continuing your long association with us.  Please acknowledge your
agreement with the foregoing by signing the space provided for your signature
below.  Upon receipt of your signature, $150,000 will be paid to you as per our
understanding.

     This letter supercedes the similar letter to you from News Communications,
Inc. dated July 28, 1999.

                                         Very truly yours,

                                         NEWS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

                                         By:  /s/  Steven Farbman
                                              -------------------
                                              Steven Farbman
                                              President and Chief Executive
                                              Officer

Accepted and agreed to:

/s/  Jerry Finkelstein
----------------------
Jerry Finkelstein

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