Document:

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                                       1                           EXHIBIT 10(f)

                               SEVERANCE AGREEMENT

         AGREEMENT made as of December 15, 2000, between Harte-Hanks, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and __________ (the "Executive").

         WHEREAS, the Executive is currently serving as a Senior Vice President
of the Company;

         WHEREAS, the Executive possesses an intimate knowledge of the business
and affairs of the Company, its policies, methods, personnel and plans for the
future and has acquired contacts of considerable value to the Company; and

         WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") recognizes
that the Executive's contribution to the growth and success of the Company has
been substantial and wishes to offer an inducement to the Executive to remain in
the employ of the Company;

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of the respective
covenants and agreements of the parties herein contained, this Agreement sets
forth benefits which the Company will pay to Executive in the event of
termination of Executive's employment under the circumstances described herein:

1.       Term. Except as otherwise provided in Section 4, the term of this
Agreement shall be effective upon a Change in Control (as defined herein) and
continue until the earlier of (i) the expiration of the second anniversary of
the occurrence of a Change in Control, (ii) the Executive's death, or (iii) the
Executive's earlier voluntary retirement (except as provided in Section 3(a)(2))
(the "Term").

2.       Definitions.

         (a)      Cause. For "Cause" means that the Executive shall have
                  committed:

                  (i)      an intentional material act of fraud or embezzlement
                           in connection with his duties or in the course of his
                           employment with the Company;

                  (ii)     intentional wrongful material damage to property of
                           the Company; or

                  (iii)    intentional wrongful disclosure of material secret
                           processes or material confidential information of the
                           Company.

For the purposes of this Agreement, no act, or failure to act, on the part of
the Executive will be deemed "intentional" unless done, or omitted to be done,
by the Executive not in good faith and without reasonable belief that his action
or omission was in the best interest of the Company.

         (b)      Change in Control. A "Change in Control" of the Company shall
                  have occurred if any of the following events shall occur:

                  (i)      The Company is merged, consolidated or reorganized
                           into or with another corporation or other legal
                           person and as a result of such merger, consolidation
                           or reorganization less than 60% of the combined
                           voting power of the then outstanding securities of
                           the remaining corporation or legal person or its
                           ultimate parent immediately after such transaction is
                           received in respect of or in exchange for voting
                           securities of the Company pursuant to such
                           transaction;

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                                       2                           EXHIBIT 10(f)

                  (ii)     The Company sells all or substantially all of its
                           assets to any other corporation or other legal person
                           and as a result of such sale less than 60% of the
                           combined voting power of the then outstanding
                           securities of such corporation or legal person or its
                           ultimate parent immediately after such transaction is
                           received in respect of or in exchange for voting
                           securities of the Company pursuant to such sale;

                  (iii)    Any person (including any "person" as such term is
                           used in Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the
                           Exchange Act), has become the beneficial owner (as
                           the term "beneficial owner, is defined under Rule
                           13d-3 or any successor rule or regulation promulgated
                           under the Exchange Act) of securities which when
                           added to any securities already owned by such person
                           would represent in the aggregate 30% or more of the
                           combined voting power of the then outstanding
                           securities of the Company; or

                  (iv)     Such other events that cause a Change in Control of
                           the Company as determined by the Board in its sole
                           discretion.

         (c)      Code. The "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
                  as amended.

         (d)      Disability. "Disability" shall have the meaning given to
                  disability in the Company's long term disability insurance
                  plan.

         (e)      Severance Compensation. The "Severance Compensation" shall be
                  a lump sum cash amount equal to 200% of the sum of (A) the
                  annual base salary of the Executive in effect immediately
                  prior to the Change in Control or the Termination Date,
                  whichever is larger, plus (B) the average of the bonus or
                  incentive compensation of the Executive, received from the
                  Company for the two fiscal years preceding the year in which
                  the Change in Control occurred or for the two fiscal years
                  preceding the year in which the Termination Date occurs,
                  whichever is larger.

         (f)      Termination Date. The "Termination Date" shall be the date
                  upon which the Executive or the Company terminates the
                  employment of the Executive.

3.       Rights of Executive Upon Change in Control and Termination.

         (a)      The Company shall provide the Executive, within ten days
                  following the Termination Date, or, if later, within ten days
                  following the execution of the release described in Section 7
                  below, Severance Compensation in lieu of compensation to the
                  Executive for periods subsequent to the Termination Date, if,
                  following the occurrence of a Change in Control, any of the
                  following events shall occur:

                  (1)      the Company terminates the Executive's employment
                           during the term of this Agreement other than for any
                           of the following reasons:

                           (i)      the Executive dies;

                           (ii)     the Executive suffers a Disability and is
                                    unable to work (with or without reasonable
                                    accommodation) for a period of 180
                                    consecutive days; or

                           (iii)    for Cause,

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                                       3                           EXHIBIT 10(f)

                  (2)      the Executive terminates his employment after such
                           Change in Control and the occurrence of at least one
                           of the following events:

                           (i)      A material adverse change in the nature or
                                    scope of the authorities, functions or
                                    duties attached to the position with the
                                    Company that the Executive had immediately
                                    prior to the Change in Control; a reduction
                                    in the Executive's salary, bonus or
                                    incentive compensation or a significant
                                    reduction in scope or value of other
                                    monetary or non-monetary benefits (other
                                    than benefits pursuant to a broad based
                                    employee benefit plan) to which the
                                    Executive was entitled from the Company
                                    immediately prior to the Change in Control,
                                    any of which is not remedied within ten
                                    calendar days after receipt by the Company
                                    of written notice from the Executive of such
                                    change, reduction, alteration or
                                    termination, as the case may be;

                           (ii)     A determination by the Executive made in
                                    good faith that as a result of a Change in
                                    Control and a change in circumstances
                                    thereafter, he has been rendered
                                    substantially unable to carry out, or has
                                    been substantially hindered in the
                                    performance of, the authorities, functions
                                    or duties attached to his position
                                    immediately prior to the Change in Control,
                                    which situation is not remedied within ten
                                    calendar days after receipt by the Company
                                    of written notice from the Executive of such
                                    determination;

                           (iii)    The Company shall require the Executive to
                                    relocate his principal location of work from
                                    the location thereof immediately prior to
                                    the Change in Control, or to travel away
                                    from his office in the course of discharging
                                    his responsibilities or duties significantly
                                    more than required of him prior to the
                                    Change in Control without, in either case,
                                    the Executive's prior written consent; or

                           (iv)     the Company commits any material breach of
                                    this Agreement.

                  (3)      the Executive terminates his employment for any
                           reason during the 30-day period following the first
                           anniversary of the Change in Control.

         (b)      Severance Compensation pursuant to this Section 3 will not be
                  subject to setoff or mitigation.

         (c)      Upon a Change in Control, or in the event the Company becomes
                  obligated to make the payments specified in Section 4(a), all
                  stock options previously granted by the Company to the
                  Executive and not yet exercised will become vested and fully
                  exercisable by the Executive. Such options shall remain
                  exercisable for their original term; provided, however, that
                  the Company has the right to require the Executive to exercise
                  such options within 90 days after receipt of written notice to
                  the Executive. If the Executive fails to exercise his options
                  within such 90-day period, the Company has the right to cancel
                  the options.

         (d)      In the event the Company becomes obligated hereunder to pay
                  the Executive the Severance Compensation or the payments
                  specified in Section 4(a), the Company shall also pay the
                  Executive a lump sum cash payment in the amount necessary to
                  make continuation coverage (COBRA) payments under the
                  Company's group health insurance plan for a period of 18
                  months.

         (e)      If the amounts due to the Executive in connection with a
                  Change of Control under this and/or other agreements, plans or
                  arrangements would result in an "excess parachute payment"
                  within

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                                       4                           EXHIBIT 10(f)

                  the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, and the total amounts
                  due to the Executive would have to be reduced by more than ten
                  percent (10%) to avoid such an "excess parachute payment,"
                  then the Company shall pay to Executive an additional amount
                  in cash (a "Gross-Up Payment") equal to the amount necessary
                  to cause the amount of the aggregate after-tax compensation
                  and benefits received by the Executive hereunder (after
                  payment of the excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code with
                  respect to any excess parachute payment, and any state and
                  federal income and FICA taxes with respect to the Gross-Up
                  Payment) to be equal to the aggregate after-tax compensation
                  and benefits such Executive would have received if Sections
                  280G and 4999 of the Code had not been enacted. A nationally
                  recognized public accounting firm selected by the Company
                  shall determine the amount of the Gross-Up Payment at the
                  Company's expense. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Gross-Up
                  Payment shall be made if, in the opinion of tax counsel
                  selected by the Company, no excess parachute payments would
                  occur if the total amounts due to the Executive in connection
                  with a Change of Control were reduced by ten percent (10%) or
                  less; in such event, total benefits under this Agreement shall
                  be reduced by up to ten percent (10%) in value in the
                  following order: (i) cash amounts payable as Severance
                  Compensation under Section 3(a) above shall be reduced first;
                  (ii) if necessary, amounts for the maintenance of continuation
                  coverage under Section 3(d) above shall be reduced next; and
                  (iii) if necessary, the accelerated vesting of options as
                  provided in Section 3(c) above shall be reduced.

4.       Additional Rights of Executive Prior to Change in Control.

         (a)      In the event the employment of the Executive with the Company
                  is terminated prior to a Change in Control, the Company shall
                  provide the Executive, within ten days following the
                  Termination Date, Severance Compensation in lien of
                  compensation to the Executive for periods subsequent to the
                  Termination Date, if, and only if,

                  (i)      the Company terminates the Executive's employment
                           without "Justification" (as defined herein); or

                  (ii)     the Executive terminates his employment with "Good
                           Reason" (as defined herein).

         (b)      "Justification" means that the Executive shall have (i)
                  committed an act of fraud, dishonesty, gross misconduct or
                  other unethical practices, or (H) materially failed to perform
                  his duties to the satisfaction of the chief executive officer
                  of the Company, which failure has not been cured within 60
                  days after receipt of written notice from the chief executive
                  officer.

         (c)      With "Good Reason" means that the Executive shall have
                  terminated his employment following a reduction (which is
                  instituted without his consent and which is not rescinded
                  within 30 days after the Executive delivers written notice of
                  objection to the chief executive officer) in his functions,
                  duties or responsibilities (i) to a level that is not
                  commensurate with those of an executive in the position of the
                  Executive prior to such reduction (it being understood that
                  the reassignment of any of the Executive's functions, duties
                  or responsibilities to one or more persons who report directly
                  or indirectly to the Executive is not such a reduction), or
                  (ii) which causes the Employee's position with the Company to
                  become one of lesser importance or scope.

5.       Successors, Binding Agreement. This Agreement will be binding upon the
Company, its successors and assigns, and all rights of the Executive hereunder
shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive's personal or
legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs,
distributes, devisees and legatees.

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                                       5                           EXHIBIT 10(f)

6.       Notice. The Company shall give written notice to Executive within ten
days after any Change in Control. Failure to give such notice shall constitute a
material breach of this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, notices and
all other communications provided for in the Agreement shall be in writing and
shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered or received after being
mailed by United States registered mail, return receipt requested, postage
prepaid, addressed as follows:

If to the Executive:

--------------------------------
c/o Harte-Hanks, Inc.
200 Concord Plaza Drive
Suite 800
San Antonio, Texas 78216

If to the Company:
Harte-Hanks, Inc.
200 Concord Plaza Drive
Suite 800
San Antonio, Texas 78216
Attention:  Donald R. Crews

or to such other address as any party may have furnished to the other in writing
in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall be
effective only upon receipt.

7.       Release. In consideration for the benefits and payments provided for
under Sections 3(a) and 3(d) of this Agreement, unless such requirement is
waived by the Board in its sole discretion, the Executive agrees to execute a
release acceptable to the Company releasing the Company, its subsidiaries,
shareholders, partners, officers, directors, employees and agents from any and
all claims and from any and all causes of action of any kind, including but not
limited to all claims or causes of action arising out of the Executive's
employment with the Company or the termination of such employment. The Executive
shall execute such release prior to or as soon as practicable after his
Termination Date.

8.       Miscellaneous. No provisions of this Agreement may be modified, waived
or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in
writing signed by the Executive and such officer as may be specifically
designated by the Board. No waiver by either party hereto of, or compliance
with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other
party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions
at the same or at any prior or subsequent time. No agreements or
representations, oral or otherwise, express or implied, unless specifically
referred to herein, with respect to the subject matter hereof have been made by
either party which are not set forth expressly in this Agreement. The validity,
interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed
by the substantive laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to principles
of conflicts of law. This Agreement replaces any prior severance agreement
between the Company and the Executive.

9.       Validity. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or
provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of
any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and
effect.

10.      Employment Rights. Nothing expressed or implied in this Agreement shall
create any right or duty on the part of the Company or the Executive to have the
Executive remain in the employment of the Company

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                                       6                          EXHIBIT 10(f)

prior to any Change in Control; provided, however, that any termination of
employment of the Executive or removal of the Executive as an elected officer of
the Company following the commencement of any discussion authorized by the Board
of Directors of the Company with a third person that ultimately results in a
Change in Control shall be deemed to be a termination or removal of the
Executive after a Change in Control for purposes of this Agreement and shall
entitle the Executive to all Severance Compensation. Notwithstanding any other
provision hereof to the contrary, the Executive may, at any time during his
employment with the Company upon the giving of 30 days prior written notice,
terminate his employment hereunder. If this Agreement or the employment of the
Executive is terminated under circumstances in which the Executive is not
entitled to any Severance Compensation, neither the Executive nor the Company
shall have any further obligation or liability hereunder.

11.      Withholding of Taxes. The Company may withhold from any amounts payable
under this Agreement all federal, state, city or other taxes as shall be
required pursuant to any law or government regulation or ruling; provided,
however, that no withholding pursuant to Section 4999 of the Code shall be made
unless, in the opinion of tax counsel selected by the Company and acceptable to
the Executive, such withholding relates to payments which result in the
imposition of an excise tax pursuant to Section 4999 of the Code.

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

                                     HARTE-HANKS, INC.

                                     By:
                                        ----------------------------------------

                                     Title: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

                                     EXECUTIVE

                                     -------------------------------------------

Donald R. Crews
Peter E. Gorman
Jacques D. Kerrest

JDK's Agreement: (other than those customarily performed by a chief financial
officer of a business of comparable size and complexity)<PAGE>   1
                                        1                          EXHIBIT 10(l)

                                AMENDMENT ONE TO

                                HARTE-HANKS, INC.

                            RESTORATION PENSION PLAN

                As Amended and Restated Effective January 1, 2000

         WHEREAS, effective as of January 1, 2000, Harte-Hanks, Inc. (the
"Corporation") amended and restated the Harte-Hanks, Inc. Restoration Pension
Plan (the "Plan") to provide retirement and retirement-related benefits for a
select group of highly compensated employees;

         WHEREAS, by the terms of Section 8 of the Plan, the Plan may be amended
by the Board of Directors of the Corporation; and

         WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Corporation has approved the
amendment to the Plan set forth below in order to change the definition of
"Covered Compensation" to reflect a change in the manner in which the
Corporation sets maximum potential bonuses;

         NOW, THEREFORE, the Plan is hereby amended, effective as of January 1,
2000, as follows:

         1.       The third sentence of Section 2 of the Plan is hereby amended
to read in its entirety as follows:

                  " 'Covered Compensation' shall mean Compensation as defined in
                  the Basic Plan without regard to the limitation imposed by
                  Section 401(a)(17) of the Code, except that (a) the amount of
                  bonus that otherwise would have been included in the
                  Participant's Compensation for a given calendar year ending
                  prior to January 1, 2001 shall not exceed an amount equal to
                  the 100% potential bonus level established for that
                  Participant for the year for which such bonus was paid, (b)
                  the amount of bonus that otherwise would have been included in
                  the Participant's Compensation for a given calendar year
                  ending after December 31, 2000 shall not exceed an amount
                  equal to the 50% potential bonus level established for that
                  Participant for the year for which such bonus was paid, and
                  (c) any salary or bonuses deferred by the Participant under an
                  unfunded, nonqualified deferred compensation plan of the
                  Employer pursuant to the Participant's election shall be
                  included in the Participant's Covered Compensation for the
                  purposes of the Restoration Plan in the calendar year during
                  which such salary or bonuses would have been paid to the
                  Participant in the absence of such election to defer."

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, HARTE-HANKS, INC. has caused this instrument to be
executed by its duly authorized officer on the ____ day of ________________,
20___, to be effective as of January 1, 2000.

                                          HARTE-HANKS, INC.

                                          By
                                            ----------------------------------

                                          Title:
                                                ------------------------------

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