Notice and Proxy

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

SCHEDULE 14A

 

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

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   Preliminary Proxy Statement    ¨    Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

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   Definitive Proxy Statement      

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   Definitive Additional Materials      

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   Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12      

 

Media General, Inc.

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 

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LOGO

 

 

 

Notice of 2011

Annual Meeting

and

Proxy Statement

 

Thursday, April 28, 2011

11:00 a.m.

Richmond Newspapers Production Facility

8460 Times-Dispatch Boulevard

Mechanicsville, Virginia


LOGO

March 11, 2011

Dear Stockholder:

 

You are cordially invited to attend Media General’s 2011 Annual Meeting on Thursday, April 28, 2011.

 

Our Annual Meeting will be held at the Richmond Newspapers Production Facility, 8460 Times-Dispatch Boulevard (a right turn off U.S. 301, just north of its intersection with I-295), Mechanicsville, Virginia.

 

Walter Williams will be retiring from our Board after 11 years. During most of that time, Walter has served as Chairman of our Audit Committee, and, since 2008, he additionally has been a member of the Board’s Executive Committee. Media General has benefited greatly from Walter’s judgment, his leadership and his incisive wit. We shall miss him. We particularly hope you will attend this year’s Annual Meeting to thank Walter personally for his outstanding service to our Company.

 

We are pleased once again to be taking advantage of the Securities and Exchange Commission rule allowing stockholders to receive proxy materials over the Internet. This environmentally responsible e-proxy process expedites receipt of our proxy materials and lowers costs for the Company.

 

Whether or not you plan to be present at the Annual Meeting, we value your vote. Most stockholders have a choice of voting over the Internet, by telephone, or by using a traditional proxy card. Please refer to your proxy card or the information forwarded by your bank, broker or other holder of record to see which options are available to you. However you choose to vote, please do so at your earliest convenience.

 

Thank you for being a Media General stockholder. I look forward to seeing you on April 28.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

LOGO

 

J. Stewart Bryan III

 


LOGO

 

NOTICE OF 2011 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

To the Class A and Class B Common Stockholders

    of Media General, Inc.

 

The 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Media General, Inc., will be held at the Richmond Newspapers Production Facility, 8460 Times-Dispatch Boulevard (a right turn off U.S. 301, just north of its intersection with I-295), Mechanicsville, Virginia, on Thursday, April 28, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. for the following purposes:

 

  1.   To elect a Board of Directors;

 

  2.   To ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accountants for the fiscal year ending December 25, 2011;

 

  3.   To hold an advisory vote on executive compensation;

 

  4.   To hold an advisory vote on the frequency of the advisory vote on executive compensation; and

 

  5.   To act upon such other matters as properly may come before the meeting.

 

Holders of the Company’s Class A and Class B Common Stock of record at the close of business on February 25, 2011, are entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting.

 

Stockholders are requested to vote by the Internet, by telephone or, for those who have received paper copies of the proxy card, by completing and returning the proxy card in the envelope provided, whether or not they expect to attend the meeting in person. Internet and telephone voting facilities will close at 11:59 p.m. E.S.T. on April 27, 2011. A proxy may be revoked at any time before it is voted.

 

By Order of the Board of Directors,

 

GEORGE L. MAHONEY, Secretary

 

Richmond, Virginia

March 11, 2011


PROXY STATEMENT

 

2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders

 

SOLICITATION OF PROXIES

 

This statement is being furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of Media General, Inc. (the Company), to be used at the 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held at the Richmond Newspapers Production Facility, 8460 Times-Dispatch Boulevard (a right turn off U.S. 301, just north of its intersection with I-295), Mechanicsville, Virginia, on Thursday, April 28, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. All shares entitled to vote and represented by properly completed proxies received prior to the meeting and not revoked will be voted in accordance with their instructions. Internet and telephone voting facilities will close at 11:59 p.m. E.S.T. on April 27, 2011. A proxy may be revoked by a Stockholder at any time before it is voted.

 

A notice containing instructions on how to access this Proxy Statement and our Annual Report online was mailed to some of the Company’s stockholders on March 11, 2011; on that date, we also began mailing a full set of proxy materials to other stockholders and to those stockholders who had requested paper copies of our proxy materials.

 

The Company had outstanding 22,482,607 shares of Class A Common Stock (Class A Stock) and 548,564 shares of Class B Common Stock (Class B Stock) as of February 25, 2011. Only holders of record at the close of business on that date will be entitled to vote, and each share of Class A or Class B Stock will be entitled to one vote on each matter on which that class is entitled to vote.

 

DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

 

All non-management members of the Company’s Board are independent, in accordance with the rules of the New York Stock Exchange and the Company’s more stringent Director Independence categorical standards, except J. Stewart Bryan III, who retired as an employee of the Company in 2008 and, because of that prior employment, is deemed not an independent Director. More specifically, the Board affirmatively has determined that, Scott D. Anthony, Diana F. Cantor, Dennis J. FitzSimons, Thompson L. Rankin, Rodney A. Smolla, Carl S. Thigpen, Walter E. Williams and Coleman Wortham III are independent and have no relationship with the Company that would interfere with their exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a Director. The Company’s Director Independence standards are available at the Company website, www.mediageneral.com.

 

Mr. Bryan has voting control over approximately 85% of the Company’s Class B Stock. The Board therefore could determine that the Company constitutes a “controlled company” under the rules of the NYSE, meaning that the Company would not be required to have a majority of independent directors, nor would it be required to maintain compensation and nominating committees comprised solely of independent directors. The Board, however, has chosen a different approach. In addition to having a more than two-thirds majority of independent Directors, the Board maintains Audit, Compensation and Nominating & Governance Committees comprised solely of independent Directors.

 

1


THE BOARD AND ITS COMMITTEES

 

The Chairman of the Board of Directors presides over the meetings of the Board and, as described in the Company’s Principles of Corporate Governance, establishes the agenda for each meeting. Senior management, led by the Chief Executive Officer, is responsible for running the day-to-day operations of the Company and promptly informing the Board of the status of the Company’s operations. In adopting this leadership structure, the Board additionally has considered the Company’s dual-class capital structure and has determined that the Board and the Company presently are best managed by separating the roles of the Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer.

 

The Board of Directors held five meetings during 2010. The Company’s non-management Directors meet regularly in executive session (that is, without Messrs. Ashe and Morton). The presiding position at these executive sessions is rotated among the chairs of the Audit, Compensation, Nominating & Governance and Executive Committees, a practice the Board believes is more advantageous than having a single “presiding director.” All Directors attended 75% or more of the meetings of the Board and the Board committees on which they served in 2010, except Mr. Rankin.

 

The standing committees of the Board of Directors are the Executive Committee, the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating & Governance Committee. The Audit, Compensation and Nominating & Governance Committees have written charters, each of which is available on the Company’s website, www.mediageneral.com.

 

The Executive Committee consists of Messrs. Bryan, Morton, Smolla, Williams and Wortham. The Executive Committee is empowered, with certain limitations, to exercise all of the powers of the Board of Directors when the full Board is not in session. The Executive Committee did not meet in 2010.

 

The Audit Committee consists of Mrs. Cantor and Messrs. FitzSimons, Rankin and Williams, each of whom is independent under the rules of the NYSE and the Securities and Exchange Commission. As discussed more fully below, each member of the Committee also is an “audit committee financial expert.” This Committee has been established in accordance with the rules of the NYSE and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Exchange Act) and oversees the audit function of the Company with regard to its internal auditors and its independent registered public accounting firm. The Committee meets with these internal and independent auditors, has sole authority to retain and terminate the Company’s independent auditors and reviews all quarterly and annual SEC filings made by the Company. The Audit Committee met six times during 2010.

 

The Compensation Committee consists of Messrs. Anthony, Smolla and Wortham. All of the members of the Committee are independent. This Committee has general responsibility for employee compensation and makes recommendations to the Board with respect to the compensation of all Directors, officers and other key executives, including incentive-compensation plans and equity-based plans. The Committee receives recommendations from the Chief Executive Officer, and, based on project-specific instructions, it receives reports and recommendations

 

2


from the compensation consultants it has retained directly on both short-term and long-term executive and Director compensation matters. The Committee has the sole authority to retain, terminate and fix the compensation of any compensation consultant it deems appropriate to assist it in the fulfillment of its responsibilities. For 2011, the Committee has retained Mercer LLP to provide services to the Committee as its compensation consultants. The Compensation Committee met four times during 2010.

 

The Nominating & Governance Committee consists of Mrs. Cantor and Messrs. Smolla, Thigpen and Wortham. All of the members of the Committee are independent. The Committee assists the Board with the identification and consideration of, and recommends to the Board, candidates qualified to become nominees for election as Directors of the Company. The Committee additionally is responsible for developing policies and practices relating to corporate governance, including the Company’s Principles of Corporate Governance and its Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. The Nominating & Governance Committee met three times during 2010.

 

Compensation Risk

 

The primary components of compensation of the Company’s employees are base salary, sales commissions, annual incentives and long-term incentives. The Company believes that none of these compensation components encourages excessive risk-taking. Accordingly, the Company does not believe that its compensation policies and practices create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.

 

The Board’s Role in Risk Oversight

 

The Board of Directors receives regular reports from the Chief Executive Officer and members of senior management on operational, financial, legal and regulatory issues and risks. The Audit Committee of the Board additionally is charged under its Charter with oversight of financial risk, including the Company’s internal controls, and it receives regular reports from management, the Company’s internal auditors and the Company’s independent auditors. When- ever a Committee of the Board receives a report involving risk identification, risk management or risk mitigation, the Chairman of the Committee reports on that discussion, as appropriate, to the full Board during the next Board meeting.

 

3


PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF THE COMPANY’S STOCK

 

The following table shows the stock ownership as of the most recent practicable date of all persons known by the Company to have been the beneficial owners of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of any class of the Company’s securities and the stock ownership of the directors and officers of the Company as a group. All such information is based on information furnished by or on behalf of the persons listed, who have sole voting power and sole dispositive power as to all shares of Class A and Class B Stock listed, unless noted to the contrary.

 

Name and Address of
    Beneficial Holder


   Title of
Class


       Amount
and Nature
of Beneficial
Ownership


     Percent
of
Class


 

J. Stewart Bryan III

     Class A           568,475 (1)       2.5

333 East Franklin Street

     Class B           466,162 (1)       85.0

Richmond, VA 23219

                            

Jane Bryan Brockenbrough

     Class B           55,580         10.1

c/o Bryan Brothers

                            

1802 Bayberry Court, Suite 302

                            

Richmond, VA 23226

                            

Mario J. Gabelli and affiliates

     Class A           7,847,385 (2)       34.9

One Corporate Center

                            

Rye, NY 10580

                            

Fidelity Management Trust Company

     Class A           3,276,716 (3)       14.6

82 Devonshire Street

                            

Boston, MA 02109

                            

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP

     Class A           1,617,124 (4)       7.2

Palisades West, Building One

                            

6300 Bee Cave Road

                            

Austin, TX 78746

                            

Royce & Associates, LLC

     Class A           1,441,810 (5)       6.4

745 Fifth Avenue

                            

New York, NY 10151

                            

All directors and executive

     Class A           2,179,791 (6)       9.7

officers as a group

     Class B           466,162         85.0

(1)   The shares listed for J. Stewart Bryan III include 38,523 shares of Class A Stock held (as of January 31, 2011) for his benefit by the MG Advantage 401(k) Plan (the 401(k) Plan), 27,000 shares of Class A Stock subject to currently exercisable options (and options exercisable within 60 days), 502,852 shares of Class A Stock held by trusts of which Mr. Bryan serves as a fiduciary and shares in the control of the voting and disposition of the shares, and 466,162 shares of Class B Stock held by the D. Tennant Bryan Media Trust, of which Mr. Bryan serves as sole trustee. Mr. Bryan and the Media Trust constitute a group for certain purposes.

 

(2)  

According to a Schedule 13D filed by Mario J. Gabelli and affiliates, as amended on February 23, 2011, the shares listed include shares beneficially owned by Mr. Gabelli or entities under his direct or indirect control or for which he acts as chief investment officer,

 

4


 

including 5,072,866 shares beneficially owned by GAMCO Asset Management, Inc. (GAMCO), 2,009,139 shares beneficially owned by Gabelli Funds, LLC (Gabelli Funds), 765,000 shares beneficially owned by Teton Advisors, Inc. (Teton Advisors), and 380 shares issuable upon conversion of Class B Stock beneficially owned by MJG Associates, Inc. (MJG Associates). All such shares are also beneficially owned by Mr. Gabelli and by GGCP, Inc. (GGCP) and GAMCO Investors, Inc., parent companies of GAMCO, and Gabelli Funds. According to the Schedule 13D, each of Mr. Gabelli, GGCP, GAMCO Investors, Inc., GAMCO, Gabelli Funds, Teton Advisors, and MJG Associates has sole dispositive and voting power over all of the shares he or it beneficially owns except that (a) GAMCO does not have authority to vote 329,200 shares beneficially owned by it and (b) with respect to 2,008,139 shares beneficially owned by Gabelli Funds and directly held by funds to which Gabelli Funds provides advisory services (collectively, the Funds), the Proxy Voting Committee of each such Fund exercises the entire voting power with respect to such shares held by such Funds.

 

(3)   Fidelity Management Trust Company serves as trustee of the 401(k) Plan and of the Media General, Inc. Supplemental 401(k) Plan (the Supplemental Plan), and the 3,276,716 Class A shares held as of January 31, 2011, are held in that capacity. The 401(k) Plan and the Supplemental Plan provide that shares held in each plan are to be voted by the trustee in the same proportion as instructions received from participants in that plan. Subject to certain restrictions, participants have the right to direct the disposition of shares of Class A Stock held for their benefit by the 401(k) Plan.

 

(4)   According to a Schedule 13G filed by Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, as amended on February 11, 2011, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP possesses sole voting power over 1,564,907 shares and sole dispositive power over 1,617,124 shares.

 

(5)   According to a Schedule 13G filed by Royce & Associates, LLC, as amended on January 18, 2011, Royce & Associates LLC has the sole dispositive and voting power over the shares listed.

 

(6)   An aggregate of 597,666 Class A shares are subject to currently exercisable stock options (and stock options exercisable within 60 days). Please see the following table for the holdings of the Company’s Chairman, the Named Executive Officers listed in the “Summary Compensation Table” and its Outside Directors and Director-Nominee.

 

5


 

     Number and Percentage* of Shares
Beneficially Owned  February 25, 2011
 
Name    Class A      %      Class B      %  

J. Stewart Bryan III, Chairman (a)

     568,475         2.5      466,162         85.0
       

Named Executive Officers (b)

                                   

Marshall N. Morton, President and Chief Executive Officer and Director (c)

     487,430         2.2      —              

O. Reid Ashe, Jr., Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer and Director (d)

     234,841         1.0      —              

John A. Schauss, Vice President-Finance and Chief Financial Officer (e)

     80,690                  —              

George L. Mahoney, Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary (f)

     119,248                  —              

Stephen Y. Dickinson, Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer (g)

     66,631                  —              
       

Outside Directors and Director-Nominee (h)

                                   

Scott D. Anthony

     21,158                  —              

Diana F. Cantor

     46,556                  —              

Dennis J. Fitzsimons

     21,108                  —              

Thompson L. Rankin

     73,379                  —              

Rodney A. Smolla

     45,840                  —              

Carl S. Thigpen

     5,958                  —              

Walter E. Williams

     103,409                  —              

Coleman Wortham, III

     147,560                  —              

 

*   Percentages of stock ownership less than one percent are not shown.
(a)   For further information as to stock held by Mr. Bryan, see Note 1 above.
(b)   Includes shares held in the 401(k) Plan as of January 31, 2011.
(c)   Shares listed for Mr. Morton include 232,001 shares subject to currently exercisable options (and stock options exercisable within 60 days) and 208,800 shares registered in his name under the Restricted Stock Plan.
(d)   Shares listed for Mr. Ashe include 121,900 shares subject to currently exercisable options (and stock options exercisable within 60 days) and 98,100 shares registered in his name under the Restricted Stock Plan. Mr. Ashe is co-trustee, along with his wife, of 8,937 shares held in a revocable trust.
(e)   Shares listed for Mr. Schauss include 35,233 shares subject to currently exercisable options (and stock options exercisable within 60 days) and 38,300 shares registered in his name under the Restricted Stock Plan.
(f)   Shares listed for Mr. Mahoney include 50,366 shares subject to currently exercisable options (and stock options exercisable within 60 days) and 51,400 shares registered in his name under the Restricted Stock Plan.
(g)   Shares listed for Mr. Dickinson include 25,700 shares subject to currently exercisable options (and stock options exercisable within 60 days) and 21,700 shares registered in his name under the Restricted Stock Plan.
(h)   Includes deferred Class A Stock units earned, as of December 26, 2010, pursuant to the Media General, Inc., Directors' Deferred Compensation Plan as indicated in "Director Compensation."

 

6


EXECUTIVE AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

 

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

 

Overview of the Company’s Executive Compensation Philosophy

 

Media General’s compensation system is used to support and reinforce key operating and strategic goals. It is applied consistently to all salaried employees, including the named executive officers identified in the Summary Compensation Table.

 

The Company’s executive compensation programs:

 

   

link individual performance with compensation opportunities and,

 

   

align the interests of the individual with those of the stockholders.

 

These two elements are intended to encourage executives to be more responsive to the needs of the Company. Periodically, the Company reviews its compensation programs with outside consultants who are engaged by and report directly to the Compensation Committee (the Committee). While such a review did not take place with consultants for 2010, the Committee utilized survey data prepared by Towers Watson in connection with its review. The goal of the compensation review is to ensure that the programs are competitive and are designed to compensate executive performance that is likely to result in increased shareholder value.

 

The Committee feels that a tightly administered compensation system that rewards appropriate performance is a constructive way to attract and retain talented personnel.

 

Approach to Determining Compensation

 

The three primary components of the Company’s total executive compensation are:

 

   

base salary,

 

   

annual incentives,

 

   

and long-term incentives.

 

The Company does not have a specific policy regarding either the allocation of compensation among cash and non-cash or current and long-term components. Base salary levels are guided by reference to external competitive levels as well as other factors including individual and Company performance. Pay and performance are linked through the use of the annual and long-term incentive programs. The Company also provides various pension and retirement benefits as well as perquisites. The sections that follow provide a detailed discussion of each component of executive compensation.

 

The Chief Executive Officer (with the assistance of the Vice President, Human Resources) recommends compensation for the named executive officers (other than the CEO). The CEO presents these recommendations to the Committee. The CEO’s compensation package and those of the named executive officers are determined by the Committee and are approved by independent members of the Board meeting in executive session. In years prior to 2010, the determinations by the Committee were made in consultation with its outside consultants. The Committee expects to conduct a review of compensation packages with Mercer LLP in 2011.

 

7


The Company’s Human Resources Department periodically reviews and summarizes published survey data prepared by outside consultants and proxy data related to media industry companies (in 2010, over 100 companies were included in the survey as indicated in the attached Appendix A). The Company uses the survey as a guideline for each element of compensation. The Company also considers the executive’s responsibilities, management level, experience, and performance.

 

Specific Components of the Executive Compensation Program

 

Base Salary

 

The Company believes individual performance can have a significant impact on overall Company results. Therefore, the Company considers individual performance, along with the factors below, when determining base salary:

 

   

Company performance,

 

   

management level and experience,

 

   

market salary data, and

 

   

internal pay equity.

 

Prior to 2010, executive officers were provided Company-owned automobiles. During 2010, the Company ceased this program and each of the named executive officers received an increase in base salary equivalent to the Company’s estimated average annual cost of owning and maintaining the automobile. In 2010, the named executive officers also received a one-time tax gross-up on the increase to base salary (which is included in All Other Compensation in the Summary Compensation Table). The named executive officers will not receive any further tax gross-up compensation related to the cessation of the automobile program. Upon termination of the program, each named executive officer was given the option of purchasing the automobile at its fair market value.

 

The Company implemented 15 mandatory unpaid furlough days for substantially all employees in 2009. The furlough program effectively reduced each named executive officer’s salary by 6% for 2009 only. In 2010, the Company paid compensation equivalent to two of these furlough days to all affected employees who were actively employed at the time of the distribution, including named executive officers. This furlough repayment is included in All Other Compensation in the Summary Compensation Table.

 

Annual Incentive Plan Awards

 

Individual incentive award targets and performance goals are established at the beginning of each measurement year. Cash awards are paid based on the accomplishment of the performance goals. Award targets for each named executive officer are based on a percentage of the individual’s base salary. In 2010, performance goals included an EBITDA measure. Payment of incentive awards was contingent on the Company attaining 100% of its 2010 budgeted cash flow. As the Company did not attain this threshold for 2010, none of the named executive officers received an annual incentive payout (this was also the case for 2009 and 2008).

 

8


At its January 2011 meeting, the Committee established individual incentive award targets and EBITDA-based performance goals for 2011. The Committee believes the degree of difficulty of achieving the individual incentive award targets and EBITDA-based performance goals is significant yet attainable given the existing business environment. Payment of any incentive awards is contingent on the Company attaining a minimum threshold of 85% of its 2011 budgeted cash flow. Additionally, the amount available for annual incentive award payments is limited to the excess of the Company’s actual cash flow over its budgeted cash flow.

 

The table below summarizes the relationship between performance goal attainment and the relative payout of the targeted incentive award for the named executive officers for 2011:

 

Performance Goal Attainment    Relative Payout

Less than 80%

   0% of targeted incentive award

80 - 100%

   50% - 100% of targeted incentive award

100% - 120%

  

100% - 200% of targeted

incentive award

More than 120%

   200% of targeted incentive award

 

Long-Term Incentive Plan Awards

 

A long-term incentive program is used to reward sustained stock price growth and/or achievement of long-term earnings-per-share (EPS) growth targets. Awards are made in the form of stock options vesting over a three-year period and Performance-Accelerated Restricted Stock (PARS). PARS awards are subject to ten-year restrictions on sale that could be lifted earlier if pre-established EPS growth targets are met. These targets are discussed below. The relative value of a given award at the end of a measurement period is heavily dependent on the growth in value of the common stock of the Company over the period during which vesting occurs. The vesting and ten-year trading restrictions encourage eligible employees to remain in the employ of the Company.

 

For 2010, the grant date fair value of PARS was used to determine the number of shares to be granted to deliver 60% of the overall long-term incentive value. A pricing model was used to determine the number of options to be granted to deliver 40% of the overall long-term incentive value. Similar to the Annual Incentive Plan, the target value of equity awards granted to each named executive officer is based on a percentage of the individual’s base salary.

 

A general description of each long-term incentive award follows:

 

PARS. PARS were granted in 2010 and the Committee plans to continue to issue PARS in even-numbered years. Restrictions on PARS awards lapse in ten years but can lapse on an accelerated basis if any of the pre-established EPS growth targets are met. Compound EPS growth targets are established at the time of grant for three, five, and seven years. The growth targets for early lapse of restrictions of the PARS grants currently outstanding are as follows:

 

Number of Years   

Compound EPS

Growth Target

3

   15%

5

   10%

7

   7%

 

9


At the discretion of the Committee, the calculation of EPS excludes the impact of certain accounting changes and gains or losses on sales of significant assets. A participating executive also must remain with the Company for the specified period of time. The realized value from the grant is tied to the Company’s stock price. PARS awards entitle executives to receive dividends (if any) on the shares.

 

Stock Options. A stock option rewards an executive as the Company’s stock price increases above the price of the award at the time it was granted. Vesting of stock options granted to the named executive officers generally occurs annually over a three-year period.

 

SARs. The Committee granted Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs) to certain executives in 2007. Similar to a stock option, Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs) provide the grantee the ability to derive benefit from appreciation in the value of the Company’s Class A Stock. However, SARs are settled in cash rather than stock. The amount realized upon exercise of a SAR is the difference between the fair market value of Class A Stock on the date of grant and the fair market value of Class A Stock on the date of exercise, subject to a maximum increase in value of 100%. All SARs are now fully vested and will expire if they are not exercised by January 31, 2012. No future grants of SARs are anticipated.

 

Pension and Other Retirement Benefits

 

Qualified and non-qualified retirement plans, as well as an executive life insurance program, are designed to provide retirement income to executives (and their beneficiaries) who have contributed to the long-term success of the Company. Qualified retirement plans (i.e., Media General Advantage Retirement Plan and 401(k) Plan) are generally available to a broad range of employees, including named executive officers. Non-qualified retirement plans (i.e., Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, 1985 Deferred Compensation Plan, Deferred Compensation Plan, and Supplemental 401(k) Plan) are generally designed to provide benefits where federal benefit and compensation limitations would limit the benefits available to an executive under the qualified retirement plans. Each qualified and non-qualified plan is described more fully in the narrative discussion following the Pension and Non-qualified Deferred Compensation tables.

 

The Company has not entered into any employment, severance, post-employment consulting, or termination payment agreements with any of its named executive officers.

 

Perquisites and Other Personal Benefits

 

While not a material component of the Company’s executive compensation programs, the Company does provide its named executive officers a limited number of perquisites as described below:

 

   

The Company ceased its automobile program for executive officers during 2010 as previously described. For a portion of 2010, the named executive officers were provided Company owned automobiles. While the officer was not prohibited from using the automobile for non-business purposes, he or she was responsible for paying the associated income taxes.

 

10


   

The Company pays for the cost of certain club memberships primarily to facilitate business relationships.

 

   

Spouses may, on a limited basis, accompany the executive officer when traveling to certain industry conferences and other business-related functions. Reasonable expenses related to such travel are reimbursed.

 

   

The Company offers tax preparation and financial planning services to its executive officers to reduce the amount of time and attention that the officer must devote to such activities and to ensure that the officer’s tax returns comply with IRS regulations. The services are considered taxable to the officer, and the officer pays the associated income taxes.

 

   

Annual physical examination costs (and diagnostic tests) are reimbursed as part of the Company’s overall health benefit package for senior management.

 

   

Home security services are offered in order to provide mutual protection to the executive officer and the Company. The services are considered personal income for which the officer pays the associated income taxes.

 

   

The Company leases stadium boxes primarily to entertain certain customers, vendors and their spouses; the presence of spouses and other family members of officers is not prohibited.

 

Executive officers are also permitted, on a limited basis, to use the Company’s aircraft for personal travel and are responsible for paying the associated income taxes. Additionally, the Company’s Chief Operating Officer, who is also a licensed pilot, is reimbursed for reasonable costs incurred when he flies his personal aircraft to business-related functions.

 

Timing of Equity-Based Compensation Awards

 

Equity-based awards are based on the closing price on the day of grant. The Company typically grants equity-based awards on the same day that the Company releases fourth quarter and full-year earnings for the previous year.

 

Stock Ownership Guidelines

 

The Company strongly encourages select executives (including its executive officers), to retain at least 50% of remaining shares upon exercise of stock options or upon the release of restrictions on PARS, after shares have been sold to cover the cost of exercise and any taxes due. While the Company continues to believe that ownership of stock aligns executives’ interest with those of its stockholders and signals executives’ continued commitment to the Company, the Company believes it is appropriate in the current economic environment to allow all employees to fully benefit from a recovery of its stock price. Therefore, the Company waived this stock ownership guideline for exercises of stock options granted prior to 2010. The Company does not anticipate waiving the guideline for the 2010, 2011, and future stock option grants.

 

11


Accounting and Tax Issue Effects on Executive Compensation

 

Accounting and tax issues are explicitly considered in setting compensation policies, especially with regard to the Company’s choice of long-term incentive types. The Company chooses to grant stock options and PARS due in part to the fixed plan accounting treatment prescribed by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for those awards. For both types of awards, the expense per share granted is substantially fixed at the grant date although actual forfeitures that differ from original estimates can cause adjustment. The Company’s performance relative to the pre-set EPS targets under the PARS plan is reviewed at least annually. Any necessary adjustments are recognized prospectively, based on the remaining term over which the restrictions are expected to lapse. In addition to the impact accounting treatment has had in the selection of long-term incentive types, the Company also regularly quantifies the overall expense arising from the compensation program.

 

Because SARs awards are settled in cash, compensation expense is adjusted each quarter to reflect the current fair value of the awards. Due to a decline in the Company’s stock price since the grant date, the cumulative compensation expense related to SARs is not material.

 

With regard to policies on IRS limits (Section 162(m)) on the deductibility of compensation, the Committee generally seeks to maximize the deductibility of compensation paid to executive officers. However, it also recognizes that the payment of compensation that cannot be deductible because of the application of 162(m) may at times be in the best interests of the Company and therefore the Committee maintains flexibility to make compensation awards that are non-deductible, including, in particular, awards of PARS.

 

Report of the Compensation Committee

 

The Compensation Committee has reviewed the section of this Proxy Statement titled “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” with the management of the Company, and the Committee has recommended that the CD&A be included in this Proxy Statement and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

The Compensation Committee

 

Coleman Wortham III, Chairman

Scott D. Anthony

Rodney A. Smolla

 

12


Summary Compensation Table

 

The following table sets forth total compensation for 2010, 2009 and 2008 for the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and the three other most highly compensated executive officers as of December 26, 2010. Please note, as described in the footnotes below, that total compensation includes equity-based compensation (i.e., stock awards and option awards) and certain compensation paid in-kind (e.g., certain perquisites). Therefore, total compensation reflected below includes both cash and non-cash compensation attributable to the named executive officer during the year.

 

Name and Principal
Position
  Year     Salary
(1)
    Stock
Awards
(PARS) (2)
    Option
Awards
(Stock
Options)
(3)
    Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
(Annual
Incentive
Plan)
    Change in
Pension Value
and
Non-qualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings (4)
    All Other
Compensation
(5)
    Total  

Marshall N. Morton,

    2010      $ 938,700      $ 570,490      $ 194,081      $         —        $ 218,702      $   64,740      $ 1,986,713   

President and

Chief Executive Officer

    2009        871,635        —          37,469        —          210,749        230,396        1,350,249   
    2008        925,000        1,715,350        205,448        —          562,578        267,035        3,675,411   

O. Reid Ashe, Jr.,

    2010        561,700        182,450        62,235        —          592,432        82,363        1,481,180   

Executive Vice President

and Chief Operating

Officer

    2009        518,269        —          12,015        —          567,651        98,590        1,196,525   
    2008        550,000        550,130        65,880        —          343,017        155,874        1,664,901   
                                                               

John A. Schauss,

    2010        416,700        120,150        41,029        —          381,406        39,443        998,728   

Vice President-Finance

and Chief Financial

Officer

    2009        381,635        —          7,921        —          352,376        40,978        782,910   
    2008        405,000        300,440        36,112        —          225,644        92,412        1,059,608   
                                                               

George L. Mahoney

    2010        516,700        145,070        49,327        —          413,807        92,424        1,217,328   

Vice President,

General Counsel and

Secretary

    2009        475,866        —          9,523        —          283,250        96,347        864,986   
    2008        505,000        375,550        44,896        —          220,369        96,016        1,241,831   
                                                               

Stephen Y. Dickinson

    2010        334,000        59,630        20,284        —          116,265        9,863        540,042   

Vice President

and Chief Accounting

Officer

    2009        290,519        —          3,293        —          93,582        4,799        392,193   
    2008        293,000        152,250        18,056        —          327,262        68,468        859,036   
                                                               

 

(1)   The increase in 2010 salary is due to: 1) the termination of the executive automobile program and 2) the 15 mandatory unpaid furlough days in 2009 that did not recur in 2010, as described previously. Also as indicated in the Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Table, certain amounts included in the Salary column were deferred.
(2)   Stock awards represent the grant date fair value of shares awarded during the applicable fiscal year under the PARS program. The grant date fair value of PARS is equal to the closing stock price on the date of grant.
(3)   Option awards represent the grant date fair value of stock options. Reference is made to Note 7 of Item 8 of the 2010 Form 10-K, which is incorporated herein by reference, for assumptions made in the valuation of stock options.
(4)   The amount disclosed under this column for 2010 consists of the following:

 

Name   Above-Market
Amounts
Earned on
Non-qualified
Deferred
Compensation
During the
Fiscal Year
    Change in
Present Value
of
Accumulated
Benefits under
Retirement
Plan
    Change in Present
Value of
Accumulated
Benefits under
Supplemental
Retirement Plan
     Total  

Marshall N. Morton

  $ —        $ 46,756      $ 171,946       $ 218,702   

O. Reid Ashe, Jr.

    —          29,868        562,564         592,432   

John A. Schauss

    —          13,961        367,445         381,406   

George L. Mahoney

    —          35,462        378,345         413,807   

Stephen Y. Dickinson

    5,089        70,337        40,839         116,265   

 

13


(5)   The amounts disclosed under this column for the most recent fiscal year (2010) consist of the following:

 

Name   Dollar Value of
Insurance
Premiums Paid
by the Company
With Respect to
Variable
Universal Life
Insurance for
the Benefit of
the Named
Executive Officer
    Tax Gross Up
Associated with
Variable
Universal Life
Insurance for
the Benefit of
the Named
Executive
Officer
    Furlough
Repayment
Compensation
    Tax Gross Up
Associated
with
Termination
of Company
Owned
Automobile
Program
    Perquisites     Total  

Marshall N. Morton

  $ 17,500      $ 12,105      $ 7,115      $ 9,476      $ 18,544      $ 64,740   

O. Reid Ashe, Jr.

    9,179        6,349        4,231        8,093        54,511        82,363   

John A. Schauss

    16,690        11,545        3,115        8,093        —          39,443   

George L. Mahoney

    38,710        26,776        3,885        8,093        14,960        92,424   

Stephen Y. Dickinson

    —          —          2,254        7,609        —          9,863   

 

Perquisites for Mr. Schauss and Mr. Dickinson were less than $10,000 in aggregate and thus are excluded from total compensation. Perquisites include the incremental cost to the Company, for each of the other named executive officers, of the personal usage of Company-owned automobiles for a portion of 2010, the reimbursement of the cost of certain club memberships, and the cost of certain tax preparation and financial planning services. Mr. Morton and Mr. Ashe were also reimbursed for spousal travel costs on business trips. Mr. Ashe was reimbursed for costs ($40,553) incurred when he utilized his personal aircraft for business purposes; the Company also paid for his annual physical examination. Perquisites for Mr. Morton and Mr. Mahoney also include the ascribed value of tickets and refreshments related to usage of Company-leased stadium boxes and the cost of home security services paid by the Company.

 

Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table

 

The following table sets forth information regarding grants of annual incentive awards, PARS, and stock options for 2010 for each named executive officer.

 

Name

  Grant
Date
    Estimated Possible Payouts
Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan
Awards (Annual Incentive Plan)
    All Other
Stock
Awards:
Number of
Shares of
Stock or
Units
(PARS) (#)
    All Other
Option
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Options (#)
    Exercise
or Base
Price of
Option
Awards
($/sh)
    Grant
Date Fair
Value of
Stock
(PARS) and
Option
Awards
 
    Threshold     Target     Maximum          

Marshall N. Morton

    1/28/2010      $ 352,013      $ 704,025      $ 1,408,050                                   
    1/28/2010                                64,100                      $ 570,490   
    1/28/2010                                        42,100      $ 8.90        194,081   

O. Reid Ashe, Jr.

    1/28/2010        126,383        252,765        505,530                                   
    1/28/2010                                20,500                        182,450   
    1/28/2010                                        13,500        8.90        62,235   

John A. Schauss

    1/28/2010        93,758        187,500        375,000                                   
    1/28/2010                                13,500                        120,150   
    1/28/2010                                        8,900        8.90        41,029   

George L. Mahoney

    1/28/2010        116,258        232,515        465,030                                   
    1/28/2010                                16,300                        145,070   
    1/28/2010                                        10,700        8.90        49,327   

Stephen Y. Dickinson

    1/28/2010        58,450        116,900        233,800                                   
    1/28/2010                                6,700                        59,630   
    1/28/2010                                        4,400        8.90        20,284   

 

14


Annual Incentive Plan Awards

 

Annual incentive payouts are based on performance goals established by the Compensation Committee each January with a minimum attainment of at least 80% of the performance goal (the “Threshold”) to trigger any payout and a maximum possible payout at 120% of the performance goal. No incentive awards are paid until an aggregate corporate cash flow threshold (which is reset annually) is attained. As discussed above, no annual incentive payouts were made to executive officers for 2010.

 

Executive officers who terminate employment or who are terminated by the Company prior to the end of the fiscal year are not eligible to receive an annual incentive payout for that fiscal year. Executive officers who retire and are at least 55 years of age, with five years of service, are typically eligible to receive a prorated annual incentive based on the full year’s actual attained results; the same provision is applicable in the event of death or disability.

 

Performance-Accelerated Restricted Stock Awards

 

All Other Stock Awards represent grants of PARS which are typically awarded biennially and vest over a ten-year period. If certain pre-established earnings per share targets are achieved, vesting may accelerate to either a three, five or seven year period.

 

PARS recipients are entitled to all the ownership rights of other Class A Stockholders including dividends. However, PARS cannot be sold or traded, and the ownership reverts to the Company upon termination of employment. Upon death, disability, or retirement after attaining age 63, executive officers vest in a pro rata portion of the shares awarded (which assumes ratable vesting over a 10-year period).

 

Stock Option Awards

 

All Other Option Awards represent the number of options of Class A Stock granted under the Long-Term Incentive Plan. Options have historically been awarded each January and expire 10 years after the grant date. Vesting occurs annually over a three-year period. Options granted in 2010 vest immediately upon death, disability or retirement after age 63 with 10 years of service (provided that the grantee was employed on December 31, 2010). Upon termination of employment, the employee has up to 12 months thereafter to exercise a vested option.

 

The exercise price of an option represents the closing price of Class A Stock on the date of grant. In 2010, the grant date occurred on the day of the Compensation Committee and Board meetings which coincided with the Company’s fourth-quarter and full-year 2009 earnings release.

 

15


Outstanding Equity Awards Table

 

The following table provides a detail of outstanding stock options, SARs, and PARS awards for each named executive officer as of December 26, 2010.

 

          Option Awards     Stock Awards  
Name   Grant Date     Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
Exercisable
(#)
    Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
Unexercisable
(#) (1)
    Option
Exercise
Price ($)
    Option
Expiration
Date
    Number of
Shares or
Units of
Stock that
Have Not
Vested
(#) (3)
    Market
Value of
Shares or
Units of
Stock that
Have Not
Vested as of
12/26/10 ($)
 

Marshall N. Morton

    11/17/1989        8,000        —        $ 32.5000        (2)                   
      1/30/2001        11,400        —          51.4050        1/30/2011                   
      (PARS)    1/30/2001                                        15,600        $  88,296   
      12/31/2001        5,400        —          50.4150        12/31/2011                   
      1/31/2002        12,500        —          50.3550        1/31/2012                   
      1/29/2003        22,800        —          56.0250        1/29/2013                   
      (PARS)    1/29/2003                                        29,600        167,536   
      1/28/2004        22,100        —          63.2300        1/28/2014                   
      1/27/2005        24,700        —          63.1800        1/27/2015                   
      (PARS)    1/27/2005                                        30,600        173,196   
      1/26/2006        52,300        —          49.6600        1/26/2016                   
      (SARs)    1/31/2007        96,100        —          40.0100        1/31/2012                   
      1/29/2008        28,067        14,033        20.3000        1/29/2018                   
      (PARS)    1/29/2008                                        84,500        478,270   
      1/29/2009        14,034        28,066        2.1600        1/29/2019                   
      1/28/2010        —          42,100        8.9000        1/28/2020                   
      (PARS)    1/28/2010                                        64,100        362,806   

O. Reid Ashe, Jr.

    1/30/2001        4,100        —        $ 51.4050        1/30/2011                   
      (PARS)    1/30/2001                                        5,600      $ 31,696   
      12/31/2001        4,300        —          50.4150        12/31/2011                   
      1/31/2002        8,200        —          50.3550        1/31/2012                   
      1/29/2003        18,800        —          56.0250        1/29/2013                   
      (PARS)    1/29/2003                                        24,400        138,104   
      1/28/2004        19,200        —          63.2300        1/28/2014                   
      1/27/2005        21,000        —          63.1800        1/27/2015                   
      (PARS)    1/27/2005                                        26,100        147,726   
      1/26/2006        23,400        —          49.6600        1/26/2016                   
      (SARs)    1/31/2007        30,900        —          40.0100        1/31/2012                   
      1/29/2008        9,000        4,500        20.3000        1/29/2018                   
      (PARS)    1/29/2008                                        27,100        153,386   
      1/29/2009        4,500        9,000        2.1600        1/29/2019                   
      1/28/2010        —          13,500        8.9000        1/28/2020                   
      (PARS)    1/28/2010                                        20,500        116,030   

John A. Schauss

    1/30/2001        1,466        —        $ 51.4050        1/30/2011                   
      (PARS)    1/30/2001                                        3,000      $ 16,980   
      1/31/2002        1,800        —          50.3550        1/31/2012                   
      1/29/2003        2,800        —          56.0250        1/29/2013                   
      (PARS)    1/29/2003                —                          3,600        20,376   
      1/28/2004        2,900        —          63.2300        1/28/2014                   
      1/27/2005        5,200        —          63.1800        1/27/2015                   
      (PARS)    1/27/2005                                        6,400        36,224   
      1/26/2006        9,200        —          49.6600        1/26/2016                   
      (SARs)    1/31/2007        15,800        —          40.0100        1/31/2012                   
      1/29/2008        4,933        2,467        20.3000        1/29/2018                   
      (PARS)    1/29/2008                                        14,800        83,768   
      1/29/2009        —          5,933        2.1600        1/29/2019                   
      1/28/2010        —          8,900        8.9000        1/28/2020                   
      (PARS)    1/28/2010                                        13,500        76,410   

 

16


Name

 

Grant Date

    Option Awards     Stock Awards  
    Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
Exercisable
(#)
    Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
Unexercisable
(#) (1)
    Option
Exercise
Price ($)
    Option
Expiration
Date
    Number of
Shares or
Units of
Stock that
Have Not
Vested
(#) (3)
    Market
Value of
Shares or
Units of
Stock that
Have Not
Vested as of
12/26/10 ($)
 

George L. Mahoney

    1/30/2001        1,367        —        $ 51.4050        1/30/2011                   
      (PARS)    1/30/2001                                        5,600      $   31,696   
      1/31/2002        3,133        —          50.3550        1/31/2012                   
      1/29/2003        5,800        —          56.0250        1/29/2013                   
      (PARS)    1/29/2003                                        7,500        42,450   
      1/28/2004        5,700        —          63.2300        1/28/2014                   
      1/27/2005        7,300        —          63.1800        1/27/2015                   
      (PARS)    1/27/2005                                        9,100        51,506   
      1/26/2006        12,100        —          49.6600        1/26/2016                   
      (SARs)    1/31/2007        20,100        —          40.0100        1/31/2012                   
      1/29/2008        6,133        3,067        20.3000        1/29/2018                   
      (PARS)    1/29/2008                                        18,500        104,710   
      1/29/2009        —          7,133        2.1600        1/29/2019                   
      1/28/2010        —          10,700        8.9000        1/28/2020                   
      (PARS)    1/28/2010                                        16,300        92,258   

Stephen Y. Dickinson

    8/21/1987        1,000        —        $ 46.5000        (2)                   
      1/30/2001        2,400        —          51.4050        1/30/2011                   
      (PARS)    1/30/2001                                        3,200      $ 18,112   
      12/31/2001        2,100        —          50.4150        12/31/2011                   
      1/31/2002        2,700        —          50.3550        1/31/2012                   
      1/29/2003        2,600        —          56.0250        1/29/2013                   
      (PARS)    1/29/2003                                        3,400        19,244   
      1/28/2004        2,700        —          63.2300        1/28/2014                   
      1/27/2005        3,300        —          63.1800        1/27/2015                   
      (PARS)    1/27/2005                                        4,100        23,206   
      1/26/2006        4,900        —          49.6600        1/26/2016                   
      (SARs)    1/31/2007        8,100        —          40.0100        1/31/2012                   
      1/29/2008        2,467        1,233        20.3000        1/29/2018                   
      (PARS)    1/29/2008                                        7,500        42,450   
      1/29/2009        —          2,466        2.1600        1/29/2019                   
      1/28/2010        —          4,400        8.9000        1/28/2020                   
      (PARS)    1/28/2010                                        6,700        37,922   

 

(1)   The remaining unexercisable options awarded on 1/29/08 vested on 1/29/11; the unexercisable options awarded on 1/29/09 vest evenly on 1/29/11 and 1/29/12. One-third of the options awarded on 1/28/10 vested on 1/28/11, one-third vest on 1/28/12, and one-third vest on 1/28/13.
(2)   These options are exercisable during the continued employment of the optionee and for a three-year period thereafter.
(3)   Restrictions on PARS awards granted on 1/30/2001 automatically lapsed on 1/30/2011; restrictions on PARS awards granted on 1/29/2003 automatically lapse on 1/29/2013; restrictions on PARS awards granted on 1/27/2005 automatically lapse on 1/27/2015; restrictions on PARS awards granted on 1/29/2008 automatically lapse on 1/29/2018; and restrictions on PARS awards granted on 1/28/2010 automatically lapse on 1/28/2020.

 

17


Option Exercises and Stock Vested Table

 

The following table provides information with respect to stock options exercised during fiscal 2010.

 

     Stock Options  
Name    Number of Shares
Acquired on Exercise (#)
       Value Realized
on Exercise ($)
 

Marshall N. Morton

     —           $ —     

O. Reid Ashe, Jr.

     —             —     

John A. Schauss

     2,967           17,982   

George L. Mahoney

     3,567           35,548   

Stephen Y. Dickinson

     1,234           7,479   

 

Pension Benefits Table

 

The following table provides information regarding estimated pension benefits for each of the named executive officers as of and for the fiscal year ended December 26, 2010. For purposes of calculating the present value of accumulated benefits in the table below, the normal retirement age (the age at which the participant is eligible for unreduced benefits) is 65 for the Media General Advantage Retirement Plan and 63 for the Supplemental Retirement Plan. Reference is made to Note 8 of Item 8 of the 2010 Form 10-K, which is incorporated herein by reference, for assumptions made in valuing the pension benefits below.

 

Name   Plan Name   Number of Years
Credited Service (#) (1)
    Present Value of
Accumulated Benefit ($)
    Payments During
Last Fiscal Year ($)
 

Marshall N. Morton

  Media General Advantage
Retirement Plan
    17      $ 564,270      $         —     
    Supplemental Retirement
Plan
    15        7,261,446        —     

O. Reid Ashe, Jr.

  Media General Advantage
Retirement Plan
    10        278,695        —     
    Supplemental Retirement
Plan
    13        5,163,180        —     

John A. Schauss

  Media General Advantage
Retirement Plan
    6        104,536        —     
    Supplemental Retirement
Plan
    9        1,542,241        —     

George L. Mahoney

  Media General Advantage
Retirement Plan
    14        296,508        —     
    Supplemental Retirement
Plan
    15        3,140,594        —     

Stephen Y. Dickinson

  Media General Advantage
Retirement Plan
    23        737,485        —     
    Supplemental Retirement
Plan
    12        1,374,076        —     

 

(1)   Years of credited plan service under the Media General Advantage Retirement Plan reflect the officer’s years of service through December 31, 2006. The maximum number of years of credited plan service under the Supplemental Retirement Plan is 15 years. Years began to be counted following admission to the Supplemental Retirement Plan and accrued through January 31, 2010.

 

18


Media General Advantage Retirement Plan

 

The Media General Advantage Retirement Plan is a funded, qualified non-contributory defined benefit plan which covers substantially all full time employees hired before January 1, 2007. Employees become fully vested in plan benefits upon the earlier of completing five years of service or reaching age 65. Plan benefits begin either upon normal or late retirement after age 65 or upon early retirement after age 55 with at least ten years of service. Effective January 2011, Mr. Morton and Mr. Dickinson are eligible to receive full retirement benefits if either elects to retire.

 

Each employee’s retirement benefit is based on a formula that uses average monthly compensation (salary and non-equity incentive awards), Social Security wages, and years of benefit service as its key inputs. Additional years of service are not granted under the plan. This aspect of the plan was frozen, effective December 31, 2006, and participants received years of service credit through that date or their date of termination, if earlier. The total amount of compensation to be factored into the benefit payment is subject to a federal limit. Due to an April 2009 plan amendment, compensation earned after May 31, 2009, does not increase accrued benefits. This plan is fully frozen.

 

Mr. Ashe, Mr. Schauss and Mr. Mahoney are eligible to receive early retirement benefits if they elect to retire early. Benefits for any employee who elects early retirement are calculated in a manner similar to that described above; however, the amount of benefit is reduced by a formula based on retirement age.

 

Married participants are paid a joint and 100% survivor annuity, with the accrued benefit paid monthly over the life of the retiree. Upon the retiree’s death, 100% of this benefit is paid monthly to the surviving spouse. Participants alternatively may elect a life-only annuity payment, fixed payments for life plus 10 years, leveling payments (which consider the effects of Social Security payments), a joint and 50% survivor annuity, a joint and 66.67% survivor annuity or, for total retirement benefit amounts under $10,000, a lump-sum payment.

 

Supplemental Retirement Plan

 

The Supplemental Retirement Plan (SERP) is an unfunded, non-qualified, non-contributory defined benefit plan which provides selected employees with the opportunity to receive a retirement benefit that may exceed the limitations of the qualified defined benefit plan. SERP participants are eligible to receive an early retirement benefit upon reaching age 55 with one year of plan service and are eligible to receive an unreduced retirement benefit upon reaching age 63 with 15 years of plan service. The Company amended the plan twice during 2009. As a result, retirement benefits are based on final average earnings as of May 31, 2009 and service provided after January 31, 2010 does not increase the retirement benefit. Mr. Morton is eligible to receive unreduced retirement benefits upon retirement. Mr. Dickinson is eligible for reduced retirement benefits upon retirement (due to the plan freeze, he will not receive additional years of credited service beyond January 31, 2010). Mr. Ashe, Mr. Schauss and Mr. Mahoney are eligible to receive reduced early retirement benefits upon retirement. Due to the plan freeze, Mr. Ashe and Mr. Schauss will not receive additional years of credited service beyond January 31, 2010, and will never reach the maximum service credits allowed under the plan.

 

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The SERP benefit is based on a formula that uses average annual compensation (salary and non-equity incentive awards) for the five calendar years during which compensation was highest together with years of plan service as its key inputs. As stated above, compensation earned after May 31, 2009, does not increase accrued benefits. The minimum possible benefit, for participants age 55 with one year of plan service, is 2.5% of average annual compensation. Plan participants age 63 with 15 years of plan service receive a maximum combined benefit under the SERP and qualified pension plan which is equal to 55% of the participant’s average annual compensation.

 

If a plan participant becomes disabled and is unable to return to work for an indefinite period of time, the participant becomes eligible to receive a supplemental benefit. The benefit is determined as the excess of the employee’s base salary and incentive award as of May 31, 2009 (adjusted for Social Security benefits) over any other compensation, including self-employment income, received by the employee.

 

After retirement, SERP participants are prohibited from engaging in any business that is in competition with the Company’s business, without the written consent of the Company. Accrued benefits for participants who violate this non-compete clause are subject to forfeiture.

 

Upon retirement, married participants receive an annuity benefit whereby the accrued benefit is paid monthly over the lifetime of the employee. Upon death, the plan participant’s spouse continues to receive a lower monthly benefit. Participants may also irrevocably elect to receive a reduced benefit in exchange for at least 120 monthly benefit payments to the employee and spouse. The present value of an unmarried participant’s death benefit is payable in a lump-sum to the participant’s estate if he or she was an employee at the time of death.

 

20


Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Table

 

The following table summarizes, for each named executive officer, the activity during the last fiscal year related to the Company’s non-qualified deferred compensation plans.

 

Name   Plan Name   Executive
Contributions
in last FY ($) (2)
    Registrant
Contributions
in last FY ($)
    Aggregate
Earnings
in last FY
($) (3)
    Aggregate
Withdrawals/
Distributions
in last FY ($)
    Aggregate
Balance
at last FYE
($) (4)
 

Marshall N. Morton

  Deferred
Compensation
Plan
  $ —        $     —        $ 267,024      $     —        $ 2,644,124   
    Supplemental
401(k) Plan
    49,000        —          (104,458     —          288,827   

O. Reid Ashe, Jr.

  Deferred
Compensation
Plan
    —          —          23,006        —          162,340   
    Supplemental
401(k) Plan
    —          —          (34,969     —          98,115   

John A. Schauss

  Deferred
Compensation
Plan
    —          —          15,053        —          117,897   
    Supplemental
401(k) Plan
    10,000        —          (23,189     —          64,192   

George L. Mahoney

  Supplemental
401(k) Plan
    —          —          (35,088     —          98,451   

Stephen Y. Dickinson

  1985 Deferred
Compensation
Plan (1)
    —          —          6,250        —          39,144   
    Deferred
Compensation
Plan
    —          —          107,349        —          891,866   
    Supplemental
401(k) Plan
    —          —          (8,074     —          22,655   

 

(1)   The aggregate balance represents the post-retirement benefit from the 1985 Deferred Compensation Plan which vests at age 65. Mr. Dickinson vested in his account balance in January 2011.
(2)   Amounts reported as executive contributions are included in the salary column of the Summary Compensation Table for each executive.
(3)   Aggregate earnings represent interest and dividends earned as well as unrealized gains and losses. Aggregate earnings include $5,089 in above-market earnings for Mr. Dickinson which were reflected in the Summary Compensation Table.
(4)   The aggregate balance includes amounts previously reported in the Summary Compensation Table for each named executive officer as follows:

 

Name   Plan Name   Amounts
Included in
2009 Total
Compensation
    Amounts
Included in
2008 Total
Compensation
 

Marshall N. Morton

  Supplemental 401(k) Plan   $ 49,000      $ 81,776   

O. Reid Ashe, Jr.

  Supplemental 401(k) Plan     16,200        45,832   

John A. Schauss

  Supplemental 401(k) Plan     12,500        18,862   

George L. Mahoney

  Supplemental 401(k) Plan     17,250        29,151   

Stephen Y. Dickinson

  1985 Deferred Compensation Plan     4,099        3,380   
    Deferred Compensation Plan     —          70,000   
    Supplemental 401(k) Plan     3,688        7,000   

 

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1985 Deferred Compensation Plan

 

The 1985 Deferred Compensation Plan permitted certain executives to defer a portion of their base salary for 1985 only. Mr. Dickinson deferred $6,000. The plan, which is supported by insurance policies purchased at its inception, accrued interest at a rate of 19% for Mr. Dickinson. Beginning on January 1, 1992, the participating executives received four annual installment payments, each of which equaled the amount deferred. If a participant remains employed until age 65, the Company pays an accrued benefit in fifteen substantially equal installments beginning upon retirement. If a participant dies after age 65, the Company continues to pay the benefit to the designated beneficiary. Accrued benefits are forfeited if the participant terminates for any reason prior to age 65, if the participant is terminated for cause after age 65, or if the participant violates a non-compete clause. As stated above, Mr. Dickinson vested in his account balance in January 2011.

 

Deferred Compensation Plan

 

Generally, participants in the Deferred Compensation Plan are employees who earn amounts over certain qualified plan limits. Participants can elect to defer, on a pre-tax basis, up to 80% of their annual salary and up to 100% of their non-equity incentive awards and earn a tax-deferred return on these amounts. Elections to defer salary and non-equity incentive awards must be made in the year prior to the year the compensation is earned.

 

Employees who participate can select from a combination of eight “phantom” equity and bond funds. Unlike a 401(k) plan, the obligation resides with the Company and earnings are credited to each participant’s account based on hypothetical rather than actual investment activity. Prior to 1999, participants had the option to participate in a variable interest account which earned income based on the same interest rate applicable to the Company’s long-term borrowings. While this fund choice no longer exists for current deferrals, some participants continue to maintain a portion of their balance in this account. Investment choices can be changed at any time; however, no amounts can be transferred into the variable interest account. The Plan’s funds had returns ranging from approximately 0% to 26% during 2010.

 

The allowable methods of distribution, which must be elected prior to or at the time of the deferral, are summarized below:

 

   

Retirement or death after retirement – participants can elect to receive a lump sum or annual payments of up to 20 years upon attaining the age of early retirement (defined in this plan as at least age 55 with 5 years of service). In case of death, the designated beneficiary will receive any remaining annual payments.

 

   

Termination of employment, disability, or death prior to retirement – amounts will be paid to the participant or designated beneficiary in a lump sum or in annual payments of up to 10 years.

 

   

Interim distributions – participants who are actively employed and who have fulfilled the three-year waiting period can receive all or a portion of one year’s deferral plus accrued earnings.

 

Supplemental 401(k) Plan

 

The Supplemental 401(k) Plan is a non-qualified plan which permits certain executives to defer amounts that are above the federal 401(k) limit and obtain Company matching funds and

 

22


earnings on those deferrals. The maximum annual amount that can be deferred into the supplemental plan is indexed to the federal maximum defined contribution level ($49,000 in 2010). Prior to 2008, all participant account balances were invested in Media General Class A Stock held by a third-party trust. Beginning in 2008, participants over age 55 had the option to invest in a range of equity and bond funds (12 in 2010) in addition to Class A Stock. The Plan’s funds reflect returns ranging from -26% to 27% during 2010.

 

Prior to April, 2009, the employer matching contribution was equal to the lesser of: a) 100% of the participant’s contribution or b) 5% of the participant’s salary, non-equity incentive plan awards, and flexible credits (used for purposes of maintaining healthcare insurance and other benefits offered to all employees), minus the government’s qualified contribution earnings limit ($245,000 in 2010). The Company suspended the match on the Supplemental 401(k) Plan effective April 1, 2009; however, effective January 1, 2011, the Company reinstated the match up to a maximum of 2% of an eligible and participating employee’s salary.

 

Upon termination of employment for any reason, the participant (or beneficiary) receives a cash distribution. Participants are able to select the timing of payment (minimum of 6 months after separation and a maximum of 10 years after separation) provided the election was made at the time of deferral or prior to December 31, 2008, for amounts previously deferred. Participants cannot receive any distributions (including loans) while actively employed.

 

Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change-in-Control

 

The Company provides no benefits to any employee, including named executive officers, in the event of a change-in-control. The Company has no agreements to provide incremental benefits to named executive officers in the event of pre-retirement termination (voluntary or involuntary). As summarized in the accompanying table, the Company maintains certain plans that require the Company to provide compensation to named executive officers of the Company in the event of retirement, death or disability; the provisions generally apply to all participants of a particular plan equally. The accompanying table excludes plans that are available generally to all salaried employees. As the named executive officers are vested in their account balances under the previously described SARs, Deferred Compensation, and Supplemental 401(k) plans, reference to those plans is also excluded.

 

23


Executive Benefits and
Payments Upon Specified
Triggering Event
  Retirement   Disability   Death
Compensation:            

Performance-Accelerated Restricted Shares (PARS)

  Upon retirement after age 63, a pro rata portion of the restricted shares becomes vested (which assumes ratable vesting over a 10-year period).   Upon disability, a pro rata portion of the restricted shares becomes vested.   Upon death, a pro rata portion of the restricted shares becomes vested.

Stock Options

  Options become fully vested after age 63 with 10 years of service, provided the individual is employed on December 31 of the year of grant.   Upon disability, all options become fully vested.   Upon death, all options become fully vested.

Annual Incentive Plan

  Employees who retire (age 55 or older with at least 5 years of service) are typically eligible to receive a prorated incentive award based on the full year's actual attained results.   Employees who become disabled (age 55 or older with at least 5 years of service) are typically eligible to receive a prorated incentive award based on the full year's actual attained results.   Upon death, employees (age 55 or older with at least 5 years of service) are typically eligible to receive a prorated incentive award based on the full year's actual attained results.
Benefits and Perquisites:            

Supplemental Retirement Plan (SERP)

  SERP participants are eligible to receive an unreduced retirement benefit upon reaching age 63 with fifteen years of plan service. Participants are eligible to receive an early retirement benefit upon reaching age 55 with one year of service. Because the plan is now frozen, participants do not receive credit for additional earnings or years of service.   If a SERP participant becomes disabled for an indefinite period of time, the participant becomes eligible to receive a supplemental benefit which effectively maintains their current compensation as of May 31, 2009 (salary and non-equity incentive award) during the period of disability.   A participant’s spouse receives 80 percent of the amount to which the participant was entitled, less payments due under the qualified pension plan. Unmarried participants’ estates receive a lump-sum payment if the participants were employees at the time of death.

1985 Deferred Compensation Plan

  If a participant remains employed to age 65, the Company pays an accrued benefit in fifteen substantially equal installments beginning upon retirement.   There are no specific provisions for participants who become disabled prior to reaching age 65.   For participants who retired after age 65 or who are actively employed and age 65 and older, the Company pays the vested retirement benefit to the designated beneficiary.

Life Insurance Premiums Paid on Behalf of Officer and Associated Tax Gross Up

  Retired employees (age 55 or older with 5 or more years of service) are eligible for continued Company-paid life insurance premium and tax gross-up payments until age 65. The targeted death benefit is generally equal to 150% of compensation (salary and non-equity incentive award target).   For disabled employees, the targeted death benefit is generally equal to 300% of final compensation up to age 55. The targeted death benefit generally decreases to 150% of compensation between ages 55 to age 65.   For active employees who die prior to age 65, the targeted death benefit is generally equal to 300% of compensation.

Retirement Transition Planning Program

  Retiring participants age 55 or older are eligible for this program, however the Company must select the executives for participation. Participants receive tax and financial planning services for the tax year of retirement as well as the tax year immediately following the year of retirement.   Disabled employees age 55 or older are also eligible for this program, however the Company must select the executives for participation. Participants receive tax and financial planning services for the tax year of retirement as well as the tax year immediately following the year of retirement.   If an executive was a participant or was selected for participation at the time of his death, the surviving spouse is eligible for benefits. The surviving spouse would receive tax and financial planning services for the tax year of retirement as well as the tax year immediately following the year of retirement.

 

24


If retirement, disability, or death had occurred as of December 26, 2010, Mr. Morton or his estate would immediately vest in 87,530 PARS with a market value of $495,420. If disability or death had occurred as of December 26, 2010, Mr. Morton would immediately vest in an additional 84,199 stock options, which have an aggregate intrinsic value of approximately $98,000. If retirement had occurred as of December 26, 2010, Mr. Morton would immediately vest in an additional 42,099 stock options, which have an intrinsic value of $98,000.

 

If disability or death had occurred as of December 26, 2010, Mr. Ashe or his estate would immediately vest in 50,096 PARS with a market value of $283,542. He or his estate would also immediately vest in an additional 27,000 stock options, which have an aggregate intrinsic value of approximately $32,000. Upon retirement prior to age 65, the Company would continue to pay life insurance premiums and the related tax gross-up of approximately $16,000 per year on Mr. Ashe’s behalf until age 65.

 

If disability or death had occurred as of December 26, 2010, Mr. Schauss, or his estate would immediately vest in 15,166 PARS with a market value of $85,839. He or his estate would also immediately vest in an additional 17,300 stock options, which have an aggregate intrinsic value of approximately $21,000. Upon retirement prior to age 65, the Company would continue to pay life insurance premiums and the related tax gross-ups of approximately $28,000 per year on Mr. Schauss’ behalf until age 65.

 

If disability or death had occurred as of December 26, 2010, Mr. Mahoney, or his estate would immediately vest in 23,765 PARS with a market value of $134,510. He or his estate would also immediately vest in an additional 20,900 stock options, which have an aggregate intrinsic value of approximately $25,000. Upon retirement prior to age 65, the Company would continue to pay life insurance premiums and the related tax gross-up of approximately $65,000 per year on Mr. Mahoney’s behalf until age 65.

 

If retirement, disability or death had occurred as of December 26, 2010, Mr. Dickinson, or his estate would immediately vest in 11,093 PARS with a market value of $62,784. If disability or death had occurred as of December 26, 2010, he or his estate would also immediately vest in an additional 8,099 stock options, which have an aggregate intrinsic value of approximately $8,600. If retirement had occurred as of December 26, 2010, Mr. Dickinson would immediately vest in an additional 3,699 stock options, which have an intrinsic value of $8,600.

 

If disabled, in addition to the benefits described above, each named executive officer is eligible to receive a supplemental benefit pursuant to the SERP plan which would effectively maintain their compensation level as of May 31, 2009 (salary and non-equity incentive award) during the period of disability but not beyond retirement age. SERP benefits are subject to a non-compete clause, as discussed previously.

 

25


The obligation to pay death benefits to the beneficiary of each named executive officer pursuant to a variable universal life insurance policy is that of the insurance company, the Company only pays the insurance premiums on behalf of the named executive officer. The table below quantifies the approximate life insurance proceeds that would have been payable (by the insurance company) to the beneficiary of each named executive officer if a triggering event had occurred as of December 26, 2010:

 

Named Executive Officer  

Estimated Life Insurance

Benefit as of

December 26, 2010

 

Marshall N. Morton

  $ 4,928,000   

O. Reid Ashe, Jr.

    2,558,000   

John A. Schauss

    1,871,000   

George L. Mahoney

    1,706,000   

Stephen Y. Dickinson

    1,100,000   

 

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

 

Overview of the Company’s Director Compensation Philosophy

 

The Company’s Director compensation program is designed to align the interests of the Chairman and the Outside Directors (i.e., Directors who had not at any time served as an employee of the Company) with those of the Company’s stockholders and to provide competitive current compensation for services to the Board. The Compensation Committee, with the assistance of outside consultants, periodically reviews and modifies the Company’s Director compensation system to ensure that these objectives continue to be met.

 

Chairman Compensation

 

J. Stewart Bryan III, retired as an executive officer of the Company in 2008. Mr. Bryan continues to serve as the non-executive Chairman of the Board. Mr. Bryan is paid annual cash compensation of $225,000 for his service as non-executive Chairman. The Committee determined that cash compensation was appropriate given Mr. Bryan’s existing stock holdings in the Company. Additionally, Mr. Bryan is entitled to certain perquisites and personal benefits (which were less than $10,000 in the aggregate for 2010).

 

Mr. Bryan is a beneficiary of the Media General Advantage Retirement Plan and the Supplemental Retirement Plan. He is receiving an annual benefit of approximately $137,000, which is paid in monthly installments, under the qualified plan and an annual benefit of approximately $265,000 under the SERP plan which is paid annually. Mr. Bryan is receiving a total of $406,650 spread over fifteen annual installment payments pursuant to the 1985 Deferred Compensation Plan. Mr. Bryan has 27,000 stock options ($0 intrinsic value) which will expire if they are not exercised prior to September 26, 2011.

 

Outside Director Compensation

 

In 2010, each of the Outside Directors received an annual retainer of $116,000 for all scheduled Board meetings and two scheduled committee meetings. An additional $1,750 was paid for each unscheduled Board meeting and each committee meeting attended by an Outside

 

26


Director beyond the two included in the retainer. Pursuant to the Media General, Inc., Director’s Deferred Compensation Plan, each Outside Director receives 50% of his or her annual compensation, including any additional meeting fees, in deferred Class A stock units and may elect to receive the other half of his or her annual compensation either fully in cash, fully in deferred stock units, or split evenly in cash and deferred stock units. Annual deferral elections must be made prior to the calendar year in which the retainer and additional meeting fees will be earned. In 2010, as indicated below, Mr. Williams and Mr. Wortham elected to receive all of their annual compensation in deferred stock units and Mr. Anthony elected to receive 75% of his compensation in deferred stock units; all other Outside Directors elected to receive 50% of their compensation in cash and 50% in deferred stock units. The retainer and additional meeting fees are paid quarterly.

 

The number of Class A stock units is determined quarterly, based on the average of the closing trading prices for the last ten trading days of the preceding calendar quarter. Participant accounts are credited quarterly with amounts that are equivalent to dividends paid (if any) on Class A Stock.

 

Upon election to the Board of Directors, a Director selects the method of account settlement. Upon termination from the Board for any reason, the Director or beneficiary will be paid by one of the following methods: lump sum cash or common stock payment, lump sum cash or common stock payment (deferred until January 1 of the year following retirement), annual cash or common stock payments ranging from two to ten years. If no election is made, the Director will receive a single common stock distribution as of the date of retirement.

 

Directors’ Stock Ownership Guideline

 

To further align the interests of Directors and Stockholders, the Board of Directors adopted a share ownership guideline of 5,300 shares of the Company’s Class A Stock, including deferred Class A stock units. The Board of Directors recommended that this ownership guideline be attained within five years of a Director’s election to the Board.

 

Total Compensation for the Chairman and Outside Directors

 

The following table sets forth the components of total compensation during 2010 for the Chairman and Outside Directors:

 

Name   Fees Earned or
Paid in Cash
($)
    Stock Awards
($) (1)
    All Other
Compensation
($) (2)
    Total ($)  

J. Stewart Bryan III, Chairman

  $ 225,000      $ —        $ —        $ 225,000   

Scott D. Anthony

    29,437        88,313        —          117,750   

Diana F. Cantor

    64,125        64,125        —          128,250   

Dennis J. FitzSimons

    60,625        60,625        —          121,250   

Thompson L. Rankin

    58,000        58,000        —          116,000   

Rodney A. Smolla

    62,375        62,375        —          124,750   

Carl S. Thigpen (3)

    38,667        38,667        —          77,334   

Walter E. Williams

    —          124,750        1,124        125,874   

Coleman Wortham III

    —          124,750        —          124,750   

 

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(1)   Amounts in the Stock Awards column reflect the aggregate grant date fair value of Class A Stock units received by each Outside Director during 2010. Pursuant to the Director’s Deferred Compensation Plan, the following Outside Directors elected to receive Class A Stock units in lieu of cash: Mr. Anthony (3,648 units), Mr. Williams (7,677 units), and Mr. Wortham (7,713 units). As the Class A Stock units are not settled until the retirement of the Outside Director, the value that is ultimately realized by the Outside Director is subject to changes in the Company’s stock price. The table below illustrates the impact that changes in stock price have on the Outside Director’s stock unit account balance:

 

    12/27/09 Balance     Units Received     Change in
Fair Value
    12/26/10 Balance  
Name   (#)     ($)     (#)     ($)     ($)     (#)     ($)  

Scott D. Anthony

    10,216        82,545        10,942      $ 88,313      $ (51,104     21,158      $ 119,754   

Diana F. Cantor

    38,468        310,821        7,888        64,125        (112,571     46,356        262,375   

Dennis J. FitzSimons

    3,639        29,403        7,469        60,625        (27,157     11,108        62,871   

Thompson L. Rankin

    65,037        525,499        7,142        58,000        (174,966     72,179        408,533   

Rodney A. Smolla

    38,126        308,058        7,714        62,375        (110,979     45,840        259,454   

Carl S. Thigpen

    —          —          4,958        38,667        (10,605     4,958        28,062   

Walter E. Williams

    88,055        711,484        15,354        124,750        (250,939     103,409        585,295   

Coleman Wortham III

    82,134        663,643        15,426        124,750        (236,203     97,560        552,190   

 

(2)   Mr. Williams is a widely syndicated newspaper columnist and is compensated for being published in two Media General publications. Media General purchases the newspaper columns from the syndicator (in the same manner as any other newspaper) who in turn pays Mr. Williams 50% of the amount charged to Media General.

 

(3)   Mr. Thigpen was elected to the Board on April 22, 2010.

 

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

 

During 2010, none of the members of the Compensation Committee was an officer or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, and no member of the Committee was formerly an officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries. In addition, during 2010, none of the Company’s executive officers served as a member of a compensation committee or on a board of directors of any other entity an executive officer of which served as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors.

 

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Equity Compensation Plan Information as of December 26, 2010

 

Plan Category


   Number of
securities to be
issued upon
exercise of
outstanding
options, warrants
and rights
(a)

     Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding
options, warrants
and rights
(b)

     Number  of
securities
remaining
available for future
issuance under
equity
compensation
plans (excluding
securities reflected
in column (a))
(c) *

 

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

                          

1966 Selected Employees’ Stock Option Plan

     400       $ 2.31         —     

1976 Non-qualified Stock Option Plan

     —           —           —     

1987 Non-qualified Stock Option Plan

     47,400         38.41         —     

1995 Long-term Incentive Plan

     2,417,317         31.01         925,168   

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders

                          

None

                          

Total

     2,465,117       $ 31.15         925,168   

 

*   The total includes 167,944 shares available for grants of Performance Accelerated Restricted Stock (PARS). At December 26, 2010, restrictions remained on 602,300 outstanding PARS.

 

AUDIT-RELATED MATTERS

 

Audit Committee Financial Experts

 

The Board of Directors has determined that all of the members of the Audit Committee are “audit committee financial experts” in accordance with applicable SEC rules. In reaching this conclusion, the Board considered each Audit Committee member’s qualifications in the aggregate, including the following relevant experience.

 

   

Mrs. Cantor has served as a Director of the Company since 2005 and has been a member of the Audit Committee for each of those years. She is a Partner with Alternative Investment Management, LLC, an independent, privately held investment management firm, and she is the Chairman of the Virginia Retirement System, where she additionally is a member of the Audit and Compliance Committee and is responsible for the agency’s annual audit and budget. From 2008-2009, she was a Managing Director of New York Private Bank & Trust, the wealth management division of Emigrant Bank. Her position with New York Private Bank & Trust entailed the oversight and management of wealth management professionals providing a full range of financial services, including financial, estate and tax planning, investment management and trust services. From 1996 to 2007, she served as the Founder and Executive Director of the Virginia College Savings Plan, an independent agency of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and in that capacity actively supervised those charged with the preparation of that agency’s financial statements. She also worked closely with the agency’s independent auditors in the preparation, audit, analysis and evaluation of the agency’s financial and actuarial statements, which are included in the Commonwealth of Virginia’s financial reports. She has degrees from the

 

29


 

University of Florida (B.S. in Accounting), the University of Miami (M.B.A) and New York University (J.D.). She formerly was an active Certified Public Accountant and is a member of the Virginia, New York and Florida bar associations. She previously was an associate at Kaye, Scholer, Fierman, Hays & Handler and held several positions, including Vice President, at Goldman, Sachs & Co. Mrs. Cantor additionally serves as a Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee of Domino’s Pizza, Inc.

 

   

Mr. FitzSimons is the Chairman of McCormick Foundation, a charitable trust based in Chicago. From 2003 until December 2007, he was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Tribune Company, one of the largest media companies in the nation, in which capacity he actively supervised those who prepared that company’s financial statements. He also was the Chairman of Tribune Company from 2004 until 2007, had served as that company’s Chief Operating Officer and, before that, rose through the ranks of Tribune’s Broadcast Division, managing that company’s broadcasting, publishing and interactive groups. He became a Director of the Company in 2009 and has served on the Audit Committee since joining the Board.

 

   

Mr. Rankin has served as a Director of the Company from 1985 to 1994 and since 2001 and has been a member of the Audit Committee for each of those years. He also served for more than 10 years as the President and Chief Operating Officer of Lykes Bros. Inc. Mr. Rankin also served for more than 10 years as the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Lykes Energy, Inc. In these capacities, he has actively supervised those companies’ principal financial officers, principal accounting officers, controllers, internal auditors and the services of its independent public accountants. He additionally serves as a director of TECO Energy, Inc., where he is the Chairman of the Finance Committee and a member of the Audit Committee of that Board.

 

   

Mr. Williams has served as a Director of the Company since 2001 and has been the Chairman of the Audit Committee since 2003. He has degrees in economics from California State University (B.A.) and UCLA (M.A. and Ph.D.). He has served for over 20 years on the faculty of George Mason University, where he is the John M. Olin Distinguished Professor of Economics and was the department chairman from 1995 to 2001. He is also an author, columnist and frequent television and radio commentator.

 

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Audit Committee Report

 

The Audit Committee oversees the Company’s financial reporting process on behalf of the Board of Directors and operates under a written charter adopted by the Board. Company management has the primary responsibility for the financial statements and the reporting process including the systems of internal controls. In fulfilling these oversight responsibilities, the Committee has reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements in the Annual Report with management including a discussion of the suitability, not just the acceptability, of the accounting principles, the reasonableness of significant judgments and the clarity of disclosures in the financial statements.

 

In addition, the Committee has discussed with the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm its judgments as to the suitability, not just the acceptability, of the accounting principles adopted by the Company as well as such other matters as are required to be discussed with the Committee by the Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, as amended (Communication with Audit Committees) and under the other standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB). The Committee also has discussed with the independent auditors the auditors’ independence from management and the Company, including matters in the written disclosures and letter received by the Committee from the independent auditors and required by the applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding the independent auditors’ communications with the Committee concerning independence, and it has considered whether the auditors’ provision of non-audit services is compatible with the auditors’ independence. It also reviewed the Company’s compliance with the internal control provisions of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

The Committee discussed with the Company’s internal and independent auditors the overall scope and plans for their respective audits. The Committee meets with the internal auditors and the independent auditors, with and without management present, to discuss the results of their examinations, their evaluations of the Company’s internal controls and the overall quality of the Company’s financial reporting.

 

In reliance on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Committee recommended to the Board of Directors (and the Board has approved) that the audited financial statements for the year ended December 26, 2010, be included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for filing with the SEC.

 

The Audit Committee

 

Walter E. Williams, Chairman

Diana F. Cantor

Dennis J. FitzSimons

Thompson L. Rankin

 

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Audit and Non-Audit Fees

 

The Audit Committee has adopted policies and procedures for pre-approving audit and non-audit services to be performed by the Company’s independent auditors to assure that the provision of these services does not impair the auditors’ independence. Under these policies, the term of any pre-approval is 12 months from the date of pre-approval, unless the Audit Committee provides for a different period. The Company’s annual audit services engagement terms and fees and audit-related services to be provided by the Company’s auditors are subject to specific pre-approval by the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee may pre-approve non-audit services, including tax compliance, tax planning and tax advice, that it believes are appropriate and would not impair an independent accountant’s independence.

 

The following table presents fees billed by Deloitte & Touche LLP for services provided during fiscal 2010. All services reflected in the fees below were pre-approved by the Audit Committee in accordance with its established procedures.

 

     2010

 

Audit Fees (a)

   $ 788,000   

Audit-Related Fees

     —     

Tax Fees (b)

     46,000   

All Other Fees

     —     
    


Total

   $ 834,000   

 

(a)   Audit Fees include professional services provided for the audit of the Company's annual financial statements as well as reviews of the Company's quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and fees for professional services for the audit of the Company's internal controls under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

 

(b)   Tax Fees included fees for professional services for tax-related advice. Executive tax services are not provided to the Company by Deloitte & Touche.

 

The following table presents fees billed by Ernst & Young LLP for services provided during fiscal 2009. All services reflected in the fees below were pre-approved by the Audit Committee in accordance with its established procedures.

 

     2009

 

Audit Fees (a)

   $ 1,110,000   

Audit-Related Fees (b)

     28,000   

Tax Fees (c)

     23,000   

All Other Fees

     —     
    


Total

   $ 1,161,000   

 

(a)   Audit Fees included professional services provided for the audit of the Company’s annual financial statements as well as reviews of the Company’s quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and fees for professional services for the audit of the Company’s internal controls under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

 

(b)   Audit-Related Fees included audits of the Company’s employee benefit plans.

 

(c)   Tax Fees included fees for professional services for tax-related advice. Executive tax services were not provided to the Company by Ernst & Young.

 

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STOCKHOLDER VOTING

 

The Company’s Articles of Incorporation provide for the holders of the Class A Stock voting separately and as a class to elect 30% of the Board of Directors (or the nearest whole number if such percentage is not a whole number) and for the holders of the Class B Stock to elect the balance. The Company’s Class B Stockholders have the sole right to vote on all other matters submitted for a vote of Stockholders, except as required by law and except with respect to limited matters specifically set forth in the Articles of Incorporation.

 

OVERVIEW OF ITEMS FOR STOCKHOLDER VOTES

 

This Proxy Statement contains four items requiring Stockholder action. Item 1 requests the election of 10 Directors to the Board; three by the Company’s Class A Stockholders, and seven by the Company’s Class B Stockholders. Item 2 requests ratification by the Company’s Class B Stockholders of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accountants for the 2011 fiscal year. Items 3 and 4 request advisory votes by the Company’s Class B Stockholders on executive compensation and on the frequency of the vote on executive compensation.

 

ITEM 1—ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

 

The Board of Directors proposes that the 10 nominees named below, all of whom presently are serving as Directors, be elected for a term of one year or until their successors are elected. Three Directors will be elected by the Company’s Class A Stockholders; seven Directors will be elected by the Company’s Class B Stockholders.

 

The accompanying biographical information for each nominee and the discussion of each nominee’s specific experience, qualifications, attributes and skills below summarize the matters that led to the conclusions by the Nominating & Governance Committee and the Board that each nominee should continue to serve as a Director in light of the Company’s business and structure.

 

Class A Directors

 

LOGO

SCOTT D. ANTHONY – Principal Occupation: Managing Director, Innosight LLC

 

Director since 2009; Age – 36

 

Mr. Anthony is the Managing Director of Innosight LLC and is based in Singapore. Innosight is a consulting, training and investment firm based in Massachusetts specializing in strategies for growth through innovation. Mr. Anthony is responsible for Innosight’s Asian operations, its venture capital investing operations and its business building services. Mr. Anthony was a Partner at Innosight from 2003 to 2005; he was named Managing Director in 2006, and he became President of the firm’s consulting operations in 2007. Mr. Anthony also is a prolific author on innovation. He serves on the Board’s Compensation Committee.

 

Specific experience, qualifications, attributes and skills:

 

Mr. Anthony is an internationally recognized consultant on innovation. Because innovation is a key strategic initiative for the Company as it expands its product offerings and transitions increasingly to digital platforms, Mr. Anthony’s global perspective and experience with large and small

 

33


companies adds meaningfully to the Board’s deliberations. Mr. Anthony’s background additionally includes extensive financial oversight of his firm as well as structuring and monitoring his firm’s equity investments in portfolio companies. All of these skills and qualifications are important to the Board’s assessment of the performance of the Company’s traditional business platforms, its growing Digital offerings and its earlier acquisitions of the Blockdot, DealTaker.com and NetInformer businesses which comprise its Advertising Services operations. Mr. Anthony is independent of the Company.

 


 

LOGO

DENNIS J. FITZSIMONS – Principal Occupation: Chairman, McCormick Foundation

 

Director since 2009; Age – 60

 

Mr. FitzSimons is the Chairman of McCormick Foundation, a charitable trust based in Chicago. From 2003 until December 2007, he was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Tribune Company, one of the largest media companies in the nation. Mr. FitzSimons resigned from Tribune Company in December 2007 upon the sale of the company. In December 2008, the company declared bankruptcy. Mr. FitzSimons also was the Chairman of Tribune Company from 2004 until 2007, had served as that company’s Chief Operating Officer and, before that, rose through the ranks of Tribune’s Broadcast Division, managing that company’s broadcasting, publishing and interactive groups. Mr. FitzSimons serves on the Board’s Audit Committee and is an “audit committee financial expert.”

 

Specific experience, qualifications, attributes and skills:

 

Mr. FitzSimons brings strategic media industry knowledge and extensive public company experience to the Board’s deliberations. As Tribune Company’s former Chief Executive Officer, Mr. FitzSimons well understands the changing media landscape and the regulatory framework under which the Company’s television broadcast platforms operate. At Tribune Company, he additionally had direct responsibility for developing and managing the cross-platform potential of that company’s broadcast, print and emerging digital media operations, all of which also are critically important today to Media General’s success. At the McCormick Foundation, with $1.3 billion in assets, Mr. FitzSimons has further broadened his executive leadership experience, overseeing all of the audit and investment decisions of that organization. Mr. FitzSimons is independent of the Company.

 


 

LOGO

CARL S. THIGPEN – Principal Occupation: Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer, Protective Life Corporation

 

Director since 2010; Age – 54

 

Mr. Thigpen is an Executive Vice President and the Chief Investment Officer of Protective Life Corporation and has served in those positions for more than five years. Protective Life Corporation is a publicly traded diversified life insurance and financial services company based in Birmingham, Alabama, where Mr. Thigpen is responsible for the management of more than $29 billion in total cash and investments. Birmingham, an important market for the Company, is the home of its television station WVTM-TV. Mr. Thigpen has been designated a

 

34


Chartered Financial Analyst by the CFA Institute. He previously served on the Board of Directors and was a member of the Audit Committee of Cavalier Homes, Inc., a New York Stock Exchange company that was acquired by a Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary in 2009.

 

Specific experience, qualifications, attributes and skills:

 

Mr. Thigpen contributes important, diversified public company directorship and committee experience to the Board in addition to his extensive financial background and regional knowledge of Alabama, an important market for the Company. His strong investment background also adds a valuable perspective to the Board’s deliberations. Mr. Thigpen is independent of the Company.

 


 

Class B Directors

 

LOGO

O. REID ASHE, JR. – Principal Occupation: Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Media General, Inc.

 

Director since 2002; Age – 62

 

Mr. Ashe is the Chief Operating Officer of the Company. He was elected to that position in 2001 and has been the Company’s Executive Vice President since 2005. He previously served as the President and Publisher of The Tampa Tribune from 1997 to 2001, and he was the President and Associate Publisher of The Tampa Tribune from 1996 to 1997.

 

Specific experience, qualifications, attributes and skills:

 

Mr. Ashe possesses strong operating and management experience and has everyday responsibility for the Company’s execution of its multi-platform strategy. His deep operating experience and perspective as Media General’s Chief Operating Officer help to keep the Company nimble as it identifies new revenue opportunities and accelerates the development of successful new products and initiatives across the Company’s various markets, all to maximize growth. Mr. Ashe additionally is a leading proponent of innovation within the Company and has been instrumental in the Company’s successful efforts to become a more sales-focused organization.

 


 

LOGO

J. STEWART BRYAN III – Principal Occupation: Chairman of the Board, Media General, Inc.

 

Director since 1974; Age – 72

 

Mr. Bryan is the Chairman of the Board of Directors and has served in that capacity for more than five years. He retired as an employee of the Company in 2008 and was the Company’s Chief Executive Officer from 1990 until July 2005, President from 1990 to 2001 and, between 1985 and 1990, variously served as Vice Chairman of the Board, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of the Company. He was the Publisher of the Richmond Times-Dispatch from 1978 to 2005. Mr. Bryan serves on the Board’s Executive Committee.

 

35


Specific experience, qualifications, attributes and skills:

 

Mr. Bryan brings deep knowledge of the Company’s history, strategies and culture to the Board’s deliberations. His extensive executive leadership experience with the Company has included the crafting of the Company’s “convergence” strategy, and he was primarily responsible for sharpening the Company’s focus from that of a diversified media company to one that specializes in providing valuable, multi-platform local content to the communities it serves.

 


 

LOGO

DIANA F. CANTOR – Principal Occupation: Partner, Alternative Investment Management LLC

 

Director since 2005; Age – 53

 

Mrs. Cantor is a Partner with Alternative Investment Management, LLC, an independent, privately held investment management firm, and she is the Chairman of the Virginia Retirement System, where she additionally is a member of the Audit and Compliance Committee and is responsible for the agency’s annual audit and budget. From 2008-2009, she was a Managing Director of New York Private Bank & Trust, the wealth management division of Emigrant Bank, where she managed wealth management professionals providing a full range of financial, trust, estate, tax planning and investment management services. From 1996 to 2007, she served as the Founder and Executive Director of the Virginia College Savings Plan, an independent agency of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and in that capacity, she actively supervised the preparation of that agency’s financial statements and worked closely with the agency’s independent auditors. She was Vice President of Richmond Resources, Ltd., a real estate development, construction and management company from 1990 to 1996, and she held several positions, including Vice President, at Goldman, Sachs & Co. between 1985 and 1990. She previously was an associate at Kaye, Scholer, Fierman, Hays & Handler, a New York law firm, from 1983 to 1985. Mrs. Cantor is an “audit committee financial expert” and serves on the Board’s Audit and Nominating & Governance Committees. She also serves as a Director of Domino’s Pizza, Inc., where she is Chairman of that Board’s Audit Committee.

 

Specific experience, qualifications, attributes and skills:

 

Mrs. Cantor possesses extensive financial skills and significant public company directorship and committee experience, all of which add important, multi-disciplinary financial perspective and valuable consumer product and marketing experience to the Company’s Board and Audit Committee deliberations. She holds an undergraduate degree in accounting and graduate degrees in law and business. Mrs. Cantor is independent of the Company.

 


 

36


LOGO

MARSHALL N. MORTON – Principal Occupation: President and Chief Executive Officer, Media General, Inc.

 

Director since 1997; Age – 65

 

Mr. Morton is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and has served in those capacities since July 2005. He was the Company’s Chief Financial Officer from 1989 until July 2005, its Senior Vice President from 1989 to 2001 and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors from 2001 to July 2005. He previously held various corporate positions with West Point-Pepperell, Inc. Mr. Morton serves on the Board’s Executive Committee.

 

Specific experience, qualifications, attributes and skills:

 

Mr. Morton is the principal architect of the Company’s industry-leading market-based and multi-platform strategies. He has deep executive leadership experience and is responsible for the Company’s efforts to become more innovative and customer- and sales-focused across all of its operations. As Media General’s Chief Executive Officer, he additionally has dramatically increased employee engagement and has led the Company’s efforts to transform itself in a rapidly changing world, particularly with its “digital first” strategy, to provide relevant information to consumers how, when and where they want it.

 


 

LOGO

THOMPSON L. RANKIN – Principal Occupation: Retired; Formerly President and Chief Executive Officer, Lykes Bros. Inc.

 

Director since 2001; Age – 70

 

Mr. Rankin retired in 1997 as President and Chief Executive Officer of Lykes Bros. Inc., having served in that position for more than 10 years. Mr. Rankin also served for more than 10 years as the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Lykes Energy, Inc. He previously served on the Board of Directors of the Company from 1985 to 1994. Mr. Rankin is a member of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, is an “audit committee financial expert” and is a resident of Tampa, Florida. He additionally serves as a director of TECO Energy, Inc., a public company based in Tampa, where he is the Chairman of the Finance Committee and a member of the Audit Committee of that Board.

 

Specific experience, qualifications, attributes and skills:

 

In addition to his intimate knowledge of business conditions in Florida, an important market for the Company, Mr. Rankin’s long executive leadership experience and his public company directorship and committee experience add valuable perspective to the Board’s deliberations. Mr. Rankin additionally possesses strong financial expertise and a deep understanding of the Company, all contributing important business judgment to the Board and to the Company as it has re-aligned itself in a market-based structure and implemented its “digital first” strategy. Mr. Rankin is independent of the Company.

 


 

37


LOGO

RODNEY A. SMOLLA – Principal Occupation: President, Furman University

 

Director since 2006; Age – 57

 

Mr. Smolla is the President of Furman University. Prior to assuming that position in July 2010, he served for three years as the Dean and Roy L. Steinheimer, Jr. Professor of Law at the Washington and Lee University School of Law. From 2003 to July 2007, Mr. Smolla was the Dean of the University of Richmond’s T.C. Williams School of Law and additionally served as the school’s George E. Allen Professor of Law. Mr. Smolla has authored two books and is a frequent commentator in newspapers and print and online magazines. He is the Chairman of the Board’s Nominating & Governance Committee and also serves on the Board’s Compensation and Executive Committees.

 

Specific experience, qualifications, attributes and skills:

 

Mr. Smolla is a nationally known educator and scholar and an expert on freedom of speech and freedom of the press. He also has earned a national reputation as an innovator through ground-breaking changes he made to the third-year curriculum at Washington and Lee’s Law school while he was the Dean. Mr. Smolla has a keen grasp on what it takes to be a transformational leader and to implement game-changing strategies that distinguish an organization from its peers. Mr. Smolla is independent of the Company.

 


 

LOGO

COLEMAN WORTHAM III – Principal Occupation: President and Chief Executive Officer, Davenport & Company LLC

 

Director since 2004; Age – 65

 

Mr. Wortham is President and Chief Executive Officer of Davenport & Company LLC, a Richmond, Virginia, investment banking firm, and has served in those positions for more than five years. Mr. Wortham is the Chairman of the Board’s Compensation Committee. He additionally serves as a member of the Board’s Nominating & Governance Committee and its Executive Committee.

 

Specific experience, qualifications, attributes and skills:

 

As the Chief Executive Officer of a strong company in a very competitive industry, Mr. Wortham understands the critical importance of focusing on the customer and using that skill as the foundation for managing and transforming a company in a rapidly changing world. He combines deep operating, financial and executive leadership experience with long-standing familiarity with the Company, its history, its strategies and its employees and executives. He is independent of the Company.

 


 

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The By-laws of the Company provide that in the election of each class of Directors, those receiving the greatest number of votes of each class of Stockholders entitled to vote will be elected. Abstentions and non-votes by brokers, banks and other nominee holders of record will not be counted for or against any nominee. Unless otherwise indicated, shares subject to completed proxies will be voted for the election of the above nominees, or, if for any reason any of these nominees is unavailable, for substitutes that the Board may propose. The Company has no reason to believe any nominee will be unavailable.

 

The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR each of its nominees.

 

ITEM 2 – RATIFICATION OF REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

 

On March 30, 2010, the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors appointed Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accountants for the fiscal year ending December 26, 2010. The Company’s Class B Stockholders ratified this appointment on June 21, 2010, at a special meeting held for that purpose.

 

During the fiscal years ended December 27, 2009, and December 28, 2008, and through March 30, 2010 (i) Deloitte had not been engaged as the principal accountants of the Company to audit its financial statements or as independent accountants to audit a significant subsidiary of the Company, and (ii) the Company had not consulted with Deloitte regarding (a) the application of accounting principles to any completed or proposed transaction, (b) the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company’s financial statements for such periods or (c) any other accounting, auditing or financial reporting matter described in Items 304(a)(2)(i) and (ii) of Regulation S-K.

 

In connection with this appointment of Deloitte, the Audit Committee on March 30, 2010, also dismissed Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accountants.

 

Ernst & Young’s report on the financial statements of the Company for the fiscal years ended December 27, 2009, and December 28, 2008, did not contain any adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor were such reports qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principle. During the fiscal years ended December 27, 2009, and December 28, 2008, and through March 30, 2010, there were no (i) disagreements with Ernst & Young on any matter of accounting principle or practice, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedure which, if not resolved to Ernst & Young’s satisfaction, would have caused Ernst & Young to make reference to the subject matter thereof in its report on the financial statements of the Company for such years, and (ii) there have been no reportable events as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.

 

On February 22, 2011, the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors appointed Deloitte as the Company’s independent registered public accountants for the fiscal year ending December 25, 2011.

 

39


Deloitte advises that it is an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Company within the meaning of the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC. A representative of Deloitte will be present at the meeting to make a statement, if he desires to do so, and to respond to appropriate questions from Stockholders.

 

The Board of Directors recommends that Class B Stockholders vote FOR ratification of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accountants for fiscal year 2011.

 

ITEM 3 – ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

The Board of Directors is providing the Company’s Class B Stockholders with the opportunity to cast an advisory vote on executive compensation, as described below and consistent with federal legislation known as the Dodd-Frank Act.

 

The Company utilizes its compensation system to support and reinforce key operating and strategic goals and its compensation system is applied consistently to all salaried employees, including the named executive officers in the Summary Compensation Table.

 

Base salary levels in the Company’s executive compensation system are guided by reference to external competitive levels as well as other factors including individual and Company performance. Pay and performance are linked through the use of annual and long-term incentives. The Company also provides various pension and retirement benefits as well as perquisites. The Company’s executive compensation program is tightly administered by the Board’s Compensation Committee to link individual performance with compensation opportunities and to align the interests of the Company’s executives with those of its Stockholders.

 

The Compensation Discussion and Analysis, beginning on Page 7 of this Proxy Statement, describes the Company’s executive compensation system.

 

The Board requests the Company’s Class B Stockholders approve the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers as follows:

 

RESOLVED, that the compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers, as disclosed pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, including in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the compensation tables and narrative discussion is hereby approved.

 

As an advisory vote, this proposal is not binding. However, the Compensation Committee and the Board value the opinions expressed by the Company’s Class B Stockholders on this issue and will consider the outcome of this vote when making future compensation decisions for the named executive officers.

 

The Board of Directors recommends that Class B Stockholders vote FOR the above resolution.

 

40


ITEM 4 – ADVISORY VOTE ON FREQUENCY OF SAY-ON-PAY VOTES

 

This proposal affords the Company’s Class B Stockholders, also consistent with the Dodd-Frank Act, the opportunity to cast an advisory vote on how frequently the Board should include a say-on-pay vote in the proxy materials for future Annual Meetings of Stockholders (or a special meeting of Stockholders at which the Company must include executive compensation information in the proxy statement for that meeting). Under this Item 4, the Company’s Class B Stockholders may vote to have the say-on-pay vote every year, every two years or every three years.

 

The Board believes that say-on-pay votes should be conducted every year so that the Company’s Class B Stockholders annually may express their views on the Company’s executive compensation program.

 

As an advisory vote, this proposal is not binding, but as with Item 3, the Compensation Committee and the Board value the opinions expressed by the Company’s Class B Stockholders on this issue and will consider the outcome of this vote in making decisions on executive compensation.

 

The Board of Directors recommends that Class B Stockholders vote to hold say-on-pay votes every year (as opposed to every two years or every three years).

 

NOMINATIONS AND PROPOSALS FOR 2012 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

The By-laws of the Company provide that the Annual Meeting of stockholders shall be held during the Company’s second fiscal quarter on a date fixed by the Board of Directors. The Company’s 2012 Annual Meeting will be held on April 26, 2012.

 

Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act contains eligibility requirements that must be satisfied for a stockholder to submit a proposal for inclusion in a company’s proxy statement. One of the eligibility requirements under that Rule is that a stockholder be entitled to vote on the proposal the stockholder seeks to submit. In addition, it is the Company’s view that ownership of shares of a class not registered under the Exchange Act does not entitle a Stockholder to submit a proposal under the Rule. Stockholders who believe they are eligible to have their proposals included in the Company’s Proxy Statement for the 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, in addition to other applicable requirements established by the SEC, must ensure that their proposals are received by the Secretary of the Company no later than November 11, 2011.

 

The By-laws of the Company also establish advance notice procedures for eligible Stockholders to make nominations for Director and to propose business to be transacted at an Annual Meeting. Under the Company’s By-laws, a Stockholder who wishes to submit Director nominations or other proposals for consideration at the 2012 Annual Meeting must ensure that the same are received by the Secretary of the Company between December 28, 2011, and January 27, 2012. The Company’s By-laws also require that certain specific information accompany a Stockholder’s notice of nomination or proposal for business.

 

41


DIRECTOR NOMINATION PROCESS

 

Pursuant to the Company’s Principles of Corporate Governance, a copy of which is available without charge on the Company’s website, www.mediageneral.com, the Nominating & Governance Committee is responsible for assisting the Board with the identification and consideration of, and recommends to the Board, candidates qualified to become nominees for election as Directors of the Company. Under the Corporate Governance Principles, in its consideration of Director nominees recommended by the Nominating & Governance Committee, the Board is to consider all criteria established by it for election of nominees to the Board as well as the expressed interests of any Stockholder entitled to elect at least a majority of the Directors. Additionally, except for a Director who may have been an officer of the Company, the Company’s Principles of Corporate Governance provide that all Directors shall be under the age of 73, provided that a Director serving at the time he or she reaches such age shall be permitted to complete his or her term of office but shall not thereafter be eligible for re-election unless the Board of Directors annually shall determine otherwise.

 

Mr. Thigpen was recommended to the Nominating & Governance Committee and then nominated by the Board of Directors for election at the Company’s 2010 Annual Meeting by Mr. Mario J. Gabelli, a principal stockholder of the Company. Mr. Gabelli additionally had suggested subsequent to the Company’s 2009 Annual Meeting that Mr. FitzSimons be considered for the Board of Directors. Following a recommendation by the Nominating & Governance Committee, Mr. FitzSimons joined the Board on June 24, 2009.

 

To qualify to be one of the Company’s Director nominees, at a minimum, a candidate must exhibit the highest standards of integrity, commitment and independence of thought and judgment and be able to dedicate sufficient time, energy and attention to ensure the diligent performance of his or her duties as a Director. The Board believes that the Directors as a group should possess a diverse range of talent, skill and expertise sufficient to provide sound and prudent guidance with respect to all of the Company’s operations and interests. In light of these considerations, in selecting Director nominees, the Nominating & Governance Committee and the Board review information regarding each proposed candidate, including any information provided in connection with a Stockholder recommendation submitted in accordance with the procedures described below, and consider the demonstrated talents, skills and expertise of any proposed candidate in relation to those of the existing Directors.

 

In selecting the Company’s Director nominees in connection with each Annual Meeting, it is the Company’s policy that the Nominating & Governance Committee consider Director candidates recommended by any Stockholder of the Company. Pursuant to procedures adopted by the Board, Director candidate recommendations made by Stockholders in connection with any Annual Meeting must be submitted, in writing, and received by the Secretary of the Company at least 120 days prior to the anniversary of the date on which the Company mailed its proxy statement in connection with the prior year’s Annual Meeting. Any Stockholder who wishes to recommend to the Nominating & Governance Committee and the Board a candidate for election at the Company’s 2012 Annual Meeting must ensure that the recommendation is received by

 

42


the Secretary of the Company not later than November 11, 2011. Stockholder recommendations must be submitted together with the following information regarding the candidate:

 

   

The candidate’s full name, age, principal occupation and employer;

 

   

The candidate’s residence and business addresses and telephone numbers;

 

   

A biographical profile of the candidate, including educational background and business and professional experience and experience in the industries in which the Company has operations;

 

   

Any relationship between the candidate and the Company (either directly or as a partner, shareholder or officer of an organization that has a relationship with the Company) and all other information necessary for the Nominating & Governance Committee and the Board to determine whether the candidate meets the Board’s independence standards and qualifies as independent under the NYSE rules;

 

   

The classes and number of shares of stock of the Company owned beneficially and of record by the candidate;

 

   

Any other information relating to the candidate (including a written consent of the candidate to be named as a nominee of the Company and to serve as a Director if elected) that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the election of Directors pursuant to the SEC’s proxy rules and the rules of the NYSE; and

 

   

Any other information regarding the candidate that the Stockholder wishes the Board to consider in evaluating the recommended candidate.

 

In addition, when submitting a recommendation, a Stockholder must include the following information:

 

   

The Stockholder’s full name, principal occupation and employer;

 

   

The Stockholder’s address and telephone number;

 

   

The classes and number of shares of stock of the Company owned beneficially and of record by the Stockholder, including, if the Stockholder is not a Stockholder of record, proof of ownership of the type referred to in Rule 14a-8(b)(2) of the SEC’s proxy rules;

 

   

A description of all arrangements and understandings between the Stockholder and each candidate being recommended by the Stockholder and any other person or persons (including their names) pursuant to which the candidate(s) are being recommended by the Stockholder; and

 

   

All other information relating to the Stockholder that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the election of Directors pursuant to the SEC’s proxy rules and the rules of the NYSE.

 

43


The Nominating & Governance Committee weighs these criteria in the context of the Company’s Principles of Corporate Governance and, in making its recommendations to the Board of Directors, the Committee as a matter of practice additionally considers candidates’ diversity of experience, profession, skills, geographic representation and background, all to provide the Board and the Company with an appropriate mix of experience, knowledge, perspective and judgment.

 

CODE OF BUSINESS CONDUCT AND ETHICS

 

The Board of Directors has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to the Company’s Directors, officers and employees, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and others performing similar functions. A copy of the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is available without charge on the Company’s website, www.mediageneral.com, and in print from the Investor Relations Department. The Company intends to disclose on its website any amendments that are made to the Code as well as any waivers granted under the Code to any Executive Officer or Director, as required by the rules of the SEC and the NYSE.

 

RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS

 

There were no transactions in effect since the beginning of the Company’s last fiscal year or currently proposed in which the Company was or is to be a participant, the amount involved exceeds $120,000, and in which any related person had or will have a direct or indirect material interest.

 

The Board of Directors has adopted a written Policy and Procedures With Respect to Related Person Transactions containing the policies and procedures governing the review and approval of related person transactions involving the Company.

 

For purposes of this policy, a “Related Person Transaction” is any financial transaction, arrangement or relationship in which the Company was, is or will be a participant, the amount involved exceeds $120,000 and in which a Director, executive officer, Director nominee, beneficial owner of 5% of Class A Stock or Class B Stock, or any of their respective immediate family members, has a direct or indirect interest, unless the Company’s Chief Financial Officer or General Counsel determines that the interest is not material or otherwise not required to be disclosed under the SEC’s rules.

 

Under the policy, any potential Related Person Transaction is to be analyzed by the Company’s Chief Financial Officer or the General Counsel to determine whether the transaction is a Related Person Transaction. Related Person Transactions will be submitted to the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors for consideration at the next Audit Committee meeting. However, in those instances in which the Chief Financial Officer or the General Counsel, in consultation with the Chief Executive Officer or the Chief Financial Officer (as applicable), determines it is not practicable or desirable for the Company to wait until the next Audit Committee meeting, the

 

44


Related Person Transaction will be submitted to the Chair of the Audit Committee. The review of a Related Person Transaction is to include the consideration of all the relevant facts and circumstances, including, if applicable:

 

   

the benefits to the Company,

 

   

the impact of the transaction on the independence of any Director or Director nominee,

 

   

the availability of other sources for comparable products or services,

 

   

the terms of the transaction, and

 

   

the terms available to unrelated third parties or to employees generally.

 

The Audit Committee (or its Chair) is to approve only those Related Person Transactions that the Audit Committee (or its Chair) determines in good faith are in, or not inconsistent with, the best interests of the Company and its shareholders.

 

The Policy and Procedures With Respect to Related Person Transactions is available at the Company’s website, www.mediageneral.com.

 

DIRECTOR ATTENDANCE AT ANNUAL MEETINGS

 

As a policy matter, all Directors are urged strongly to attend each Annual Meeting of Stockholders. All members of the Board attended the Company’s Annual Meeting in 2010.

 

COMMUNICATIONS WITH BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

Stockholders or other interested parties desiring to send communications to the Board’s independent Directors, non-management Directors or any individual Director, including the Director to preside at the Board’s next executive session, may do so by addressing their correspondence to “Corporate Secretary, Media General, Inc., P.O. Box 85333, Richmond, Virginia 23293-0001” and by marking the envelope “Confidential—Communication to Board of Directors.” The Board’s independent non-management Directors have approved a process by which the Corporate Secretary will maintain a log of all such correspondence and will review, sort and summarize this correspondence. Communications determined to be appropriate in accordance with the independent non-management Directors’ approved process will be forwarded to the individual members of the Board. Directors at any time may review the log of all correspondence and request a copy of any communication.

 

SOLICITATION OF PROXIES

 

The Company may solicit proxies in person, via the Internet or by telephone or mail. The cost of solicitation of proxies, including the reimbursement to banks and brokers for reasonable expenses in sending proxy material to their principals, will be borne by the Company. Officers and other employees of the Company may participate in such solicitation, for which they will receive no special or additional compensation. In addition, the Company has retained D. F. King & Co. to assist in the solicitation of proxies for a basic fee of $9,000 plus reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses.

 

45


OTHER MATTERS

 

Management does not intend to present, nor, in accordance with the Company’s By-laws, has it received proper notice from any person who intends to present, any matter for action by Stockholders at the Annual Meeting, other than as stated in the accompanying Notice. However, the enclosed proxy confers discretionary authority with respect to the transaction of any other business which properly may come before the meeting, and it is the intention of the persons named in the enclosed proxy to vote the same in accordance with their best judgment.

 

As indicated on Pages 13 and 18, certain information is incorporated by reference from the Company’s 2010 Annual Report to Stockholders on Form 10-K.

 

Important Notice Regarding the Internet Availability of Proxy Materials for the Stockholder Meeting to be Held on April 28, 2011

 

The Notice of Annual Meeting, Proxy Statement and 2010 Annual Report are available at www.mediageneral.com.

 

Electronic Delivery of Notice of Internet Availability, Proxy Materials and Annual Report

 

Receiving a Notice of Internet Availability or other proxy materials online in place of paper copies helps to reduce the Company’s printing and mailing costs and provides Stockholders with a convenient, automatic link to the proxy vote site. Most Stockholders desiring to enroll in this electronic delivery service may do so by visiting www.proxyvote.com and following the prompts for email enrollment. “Street name” Stockholders can check the information in the proxy materials provided by their bank or broker.

 

Annual Report on Form 10-K

 

The Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 26, 2010, is available at www.mediageneral.com. The Company will provide, without charge, on the written request of any person solicited hereby, a copy of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the SEC for the year ended December 26, 2010. Written requests should be mailed to “George L. Mahoney, Corporate Secretary, Media General, Inc., P.O. Box 85333, Richmond, Virginia 23293-0001.”

 

By Order of the Board of Directors,

 

GEORGE L. MAHONEY, Secretary

 

Richmond, Virginia

March 11, 2011

 

Stockholders are requested to vote by the Internet, by telephone or, for those who have received paper copies of the proxy card, by completing and returning the proxy card in the envelope provided, whether or not they expect to attend the meeting in person. Internet and telephone voting facilities will close at 11:59 p.m. E.S.T. on April 27, 2011. A proxy may be revoked at any time before it is voted.

 

46


Appendix A

 

Media Industry Survey Referenced in Compensation Discussion and Analysis

U.S. CDB Media Database - 2010 Report

 

Participants

           

1105 Media

  Fisher Communications   MTV Networks   Sunflower Broadcasting

A.H. Belo

 

Forum Communications - WDAY

  Nation   SuperMedia

AAA of Science

  Fox Networks Group  

National Geographic Society

  Taunton Press

ABC

  Freedom Communications   Naylor   Technicolor

Active Interest Media

  Future US   NBC Universal   Thomas Publishing

Advanstar Communications

  Gannett   New York Times   Thomas Reuters

Allured Business Media

  Getty Images   NewsChannel 5 Network   Time

ALM

  Google   Nielsen Expositions   Time Warner

American Chemical Society

  Guideposts   Northstar Travel Media   Time Warner Cable

American Express Publishing

  Hammock Publishing  

Oklahoma Today Magazine

  Turner Broadcasting

America’s Test Kitchen

  Hanley Wood   Paramount   Twentieth Century Fox

Belo

 

Harpers’ Magazine Foundation

  Pearson  

Twin Cities Public Television - TPT

Bloomberg

  Harris Enterprises   PennWell   Vance Publishing

Boy Scouts of America

  HBO   Penton Media   Vaicom

Cablevision Systems

  Hearst   R.R. Donnelley   Walt Disney

Canon Communications

 

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing

  Razorfish   Warner Bros Entertainment

Capitol Broadcasting - WRAL

  Hubbard Broadcasting   Reader’s Digest   Washington Post

Case Interactive Media

  IAC/InterActive   Reed Business Information   WBNS - TV

CBS

  International Data   Reed Elsevier   Wolters Kluwer

Cedar Rapids TV

  Interweave Press   Reed Exhibitions   Wray Edwin - KTBS

Christian Science Publishing Society

  John Wiley & Sons   Rodale Press   Yahoo!

Clear Channel Communications

  Journal Broadcast Group  

Sarkes Tarzian - KTVN

  Yankee Publishing

Comcast

  Kalmbach Publishing  

Sarkes Tarzian - WRCB

  Young Broadcasting - KRON
Consumers Union   Laurin Publishing  

Saturday Evening Post

 

Young Broadcasting - WBAY

Cox Enterprises   Lebhar-Friedman  

Scholastic

   
Crain Communications   LexisNexis  

Schurz - KYTV

   
Cygnus Business Media   Lions Gate Entertainment  

Schurz - WDBJ

   
Dex One   McClatchy  

Scott Publishing

   
Discovery Communications   McGraw-Hill  

Scripps Networks Interactive

   

Disney Publishing Worldwide

  Media General  

Showtime

   

Dow Jones

  MediaTec Publishing  

Sinclair Broadcast Group

   
DreamWorks Animation   Meister Media Worldwide  

Sirius XM Radio

   
E.W. Scripps   Meredith  

Sony Pictures Entertainment

   
Elsevier Science   Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer   SourceMedia    
EMI Music   Microsoft   Stamats Communications    
ESPN Publishing  

Morgan Murphy Stations - WISC

  String Letter Publishing    

Evening Post Publishing - KOAA

  Mother Jones   Summit Business Media    


 

LOGO

 

MEDIA GENERAL, INC.

P.O. BOX 85333

RICHMOND, VA 23293-0001

 

VOTE BY INTERNET - www.proxyvote.com

Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic delivery of information up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time on April 27, 2011. Have your proxy card in hand when you access the web site and follow the instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic voting instruction form.

 

ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF FUTURE PROXY MATERIALS

If you would like to reduce the costs incurred by our company in mailing proxy materials, you can consent to receiving all future proxy statements, proxy cards and annual reports electronically via e-mail or the Internet. To sign up for electronic delivery, please follow the instructions above to vote using the Internet and, when prompted, indicate that you agree to receive or access proxy materials electronically in future years.

 

VOTE BY PHONE - 1-800-690-6903

Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time on April 27, 2011. Have your proxy card in hand when you call and then follow the instructions.

 

VOTE BY MAIL

Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope we have provided or return it to Vote Processing, c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717.

 

 

 

TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS:   
            M30688-P07489            KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS

 

THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED.    DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY

 

MEDIA GENERAL, INC.

 

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR ALL NOMINEES LISTED BELOW.

  

For

All

  

Withhold

All

  

For All

Except

        To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark “For All Except” and write the number(s) of the nominee(s) on the line below.                     
   

 

Vote on Directors

    

¨

   ¨    ¨      

 

                
     

 

ELECTION OF CLASS A DIRECTORS:

 

                              
      NOMINEES:                                 
     

 

01)    Scott D. Anthony

                                
      02)    Dennis J. FitzSimons                                 
      03)    Carl S. Thigpen                                 
              
              
    RECEIPT OF NOTICE OF MEETING AND PROXY STATEMENT IS HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGED. THIS INSTRUCTION CARD REVOKES ALL PREVIOUS INSTRUCTIONS. UNLESS INDICATED TO THE CONTRARY, IT WILL BE VOTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.                
                            
                            
    Note: Please sign exactly as your name or names appear on this Instruction card. When shares are held jointly, each holder should sign. When signing as executor, administrator, attorney, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If the signer is a corporation, please sign full corporate name by duly authorized officer, giving full title as such. If signer is a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person.                               
                             
                                                  
                                                  
    Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX]   Date                        Signature (Joint Owners)        Date                 


The meeting address is

Richmond Newspapers Production Facility, 8460 Times-Dispatch Boulevard (a right turn off U.S. 301, just north of its intersection with I-295), Mechanicsville, Virginia

 

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting:

The Notice and Proxy Statement and Annual Report are available at www.proxyvote.com.

 

Please fold and detach card at perforation before mailing IF you are not voting via telephone or the Internet.

 

 

M30689-P07489        

 

   

 

CLASS A

  MEDIA GENERAL, INC.  

CLASS A

   
   

 

ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

April 28, 2011

 

PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

O. Reid Ashe, Jr., George L. Mahoney and Marshall N. Morton, or any of them, the proxies of the undersigned, with power of substitution, are hereby appointed to vote all Class A Common Stock which the undersigned is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on Thursday, April 28, 2011, and any adjournment thereof, as follows on the reverse side and upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting for the vote of such Stockholder.

 

To ensure timely receipt of your vote and to help the company reduce costs, you are encouraged to submit your voting instruction over the Internet or by telephone: simply follow the instructions on the reverse side of this card. Internet and telephone voting facilities will close at 11:59 p.m. E.D.T. on April 27, 2011.

 

If you choose to submit your voting instruction by mail, just mark, sign and date this proxy card on the reverse side and return it promptly in the envelope provided. Please date and sign this proxy as your name appears. Joint owners should each sign personally. Trustees and others signing in a representative capacity should indicate the capacity in which they sign.

 

PLEASE SIGN AND DATE ON THE REVERSE SIDE

 

(Continued on the reverse side)

 

   


 

LOGO

 

MEDIA GENERAL, INC.

P.O. BOX 85333

RICHMOND, VA 23293-0001

 

VOTE BY INTERNET - www.proxyvote.com

Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic delivery of information up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time on April 27, 2011. Have your proxy card in hand when you access the web site and follow the instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic voting instruction form.

 

ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF FUTURE PROXY MATERIALS

If you would like to reduce the costs incurred by our company in mailing proxy materials, you can consent to receiving all future proxy statements, proxy cards and annual reports electronically via e-mail or the Internet. To sign up for electronic delivery, please follow the instructions above to vote using the Internet and, when prompted, indicate that you agree to receive or access proxy materials electronically in future years.

 

VOTE BY PHONE - 1-800-690-6903

Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time on April 27, 2011. Have your proxy card in hand when you call and then follow the instructions.

 

VOTE BY MAIL

Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope we have provided or return it to Vote Processing, c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717.

 

 

 

TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS:   
            M30690-P07489    KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS

 

THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED.    DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY

 

MEDIA GENERAL, INC.       

For

All

  

Withhold

All

  

For All

Except

      To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark “For All Except” and write the number(s) of the nominee(s) on the line below.                    
    Item 1.  

ELECTION OF CLASS B DIRECTORS:

 

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR ALL NOMINEES LISTED BELOW:

                        
        

¨

   ¨    ¨    

 

             
     

 

NOMINEES:

                           
     

 

01)  O. Reid Ashe, Jr.

                             
      02)  J. Stewart Bryan III                              
      03)  Diana F. Cantor                              
      04)  Marshall N. Morton                              
      05)  Thompson L. Rankin                              
      06)  Rodney A. Smolla                              
      07)  Coleman Wortham III                              
                            For   Against   Abstain    
    Item 2.   THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR:            
     

 

Ratification of Deloitte & Touche, LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accountants for fiscal year 2011.

   

¨

  ¨   ¨    
   

 

Item 3.

 

 

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE TO APPROVE:

   

 

¨

 

 

¨

 

 

¨

   
     

 

The Board’s advisory resolution on executive compensation.

           
   

 

Item 4.

 

 

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR ONE YEAR:

  1 Year     2 Years   3 Years   Abstain    
     

 

To approve holding an advisory vote on executive compensation every year (as opposed to every two years or every three years).

  ¨      

¨

  ¨   ¨    
   

 

RECEIPT OF NOTICE OF MEETING AND PROXY STATEMENT IS HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGED. THIS INSTRUCTION CARD REVOKES ALL PREVIOUS INSTRUCTIONS. UNLESS INDICATED TO THE CONTRARY, IT WILL BE VOTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

           
                           
                           
    Note: Please sign exactly as your name or names appear on this Instruction card. When shares are held jointly, each holder should sign. When signing as executor, administrator, attorney, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If the signer is a corporation, please sign full corporate name by duly authorized officer, giving full title as such. If signer is a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person.                   
                                   
                                               
                                               
    Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX]   Date                      Signature (Joint Owners)        Date                


The meeting address is

Richmond Newspapers Production Facility, 8460 Times-Dispatch Boulevard (a right turn off U.S. 301, just north of its intersection with I-295), Mechanicsville, Virginia

 

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting:

The Notice and Proxy Statement and Annual Report are available at www.proxyvote.com.

 

Please fold and detach card at perforation before mailing IF you are not voting via telephone or the Internet.

 

 

M30691-P07489        

 

   

 

CLASS B

  MEDIA GENERAL, INC.   CLASS B    
   

 

ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

April 28, 2011

 

PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

O. Reid Ashe, Jr., George L. Mahoney and Marshall N. Morton, or any of them, the proxies of the undersigned, with power of substitution, are hereby appointed to vote all Class B Common Stock which the undersigned is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on Thursday, April 28, 2011, and any adjournment thereof, as follows on the reverse side and upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting for the vote of such Stockholder.

 

To ensure timely receipt of your vote and to help the company reduce costs, you are encouraged to submit your voting instruction over the Internet or by telephone: simply follow the instructions on the reverse side of this card. Internet and telephone voting facilities will close at 11:59 p.m. E.D.T. on April 27, 2011.

 

If you choose to submit your voting instruction by mail, just mark, sign and date this proxy card on the reverse side and return it promptly in the envelope provided. Please date and sign this proxy as your name appears. Joint owners should each sign personally. Trustees and others signing in a representative capacity should indicate the capacity in which they sign.

 

(Continued and to be dated and signed on the reverse side)

 

 

   


 

LOGO

 

MEDIA GENERAL, INC.

P.O. BOX 85333

RICHMOND, VA 23293-0001

 

VOTE BY INTERNET - www.proxyvote.com

Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic delivery of information up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time on April 26, 2011. Have your proxy card in hand when you access the web site and follow the instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic voting instruction form.

 

ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF FUTURE PROXY MATERIALS

If you would like to reduce the costs incurred by our company in mailing proxy materials, you can consent to receiving all future proxy statements, proxy cards and annual reports electronically via e-mail or the Internet. To sign up for electronic delivery, please follow the instructions above to vote using the Internet and, when prompted, indicate that you agree to receive or access proxy materials electronically in future years.

 

VOTE BY PHONE - 1-800-690-6903

Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time on April 26, 2011. Have your proxy card in hand when you call and then follow the instructions.

 

VOTE BY MAIL

Mark, sign and date your card and return it in the postage-paid envelope we have provided or return it to Vote Processing, c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717.

 

 

 

TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS:   
            M30692-Z54864            KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS

 

THIS INSTRUCTION CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED.    DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY

 

MEDIA GENERAL, INC.

 

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR ALL NOMINEES LISTED BELOW.

  

For

All

  

Withhold

All

  

For All

Except

        To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark “For All Except” and write the number(s) of the nominee(s) on the line below.                     
   

 

Vote on Directors

    

¨

   ¨    ¨      

 

                
     

 

ELECTION OF CLASS A DIRECTORS:

 

                              
      NOMINEES:                                 
     

 

01)    Scott D. Anthony

                                
      02)    Dennis J. FitzSimons                                 
      03)    Carl S. Thigpen                                 
              
              
    RECEIPT OF NOTICE OF MEETING AND PROXY STATEMENT IS HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGED. THIS INSTRUCTION CARD REVOKES ALL PREVIOUS INSTRUCTIONS. UNLESS INDICATED TO THE CONTRARY, IT WILL BE VOTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.                
                            
                            
    NOTE: Please sign exactly as your name appears on this instruction card.                               
                             
                                            
                                            
    Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX]   Date                                                   


The meeting address is

Richmond Newspapers Production Facility, 8460 Times-Dispatch Boulevard (a right turn off U.S. 301, just north of its intersection with I-295), Mechanicsville, Virginia

 

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting:

The Notice and Proxy Statement and Annual Report are available at www.proxyvote.com.

 

Please fold and detach card at perforation before mailing IF you are not voting via telephone or the Internet.

 

 

M30693-Z54864        

 

   

 

CLASS A

  MEDIA GENERAL, INC.   CLASS A    
   

MEDIA GENERAL, INC. SUPPLEMENTAL 401(K) PLAN

ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS - April 28, 2011

 

THIS INSTRUCTION CARD IS SOLICITED BY FIDELITY MANAGEMENT TRUST COMPANY

 

As a participant in the Media General, Inc. Supplemental 401(k) Plan, you have the right to direct Fidelity Management Trust Company, as Trustee, regarding how to vote the shares of Media General, Inc. Class A Common Stock credited to your account at the Annual Stockholders Meeting to be held on April 28, 2011, and any adjournment thereof, as follows on the reverse side and upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting for the vote of such Stockholder.

 

The shares credited to your account will be voted as directed. If your voting direction is not received by April 26, 2011, the shares credited to your account will be voted in the same proportion as directions received from participants.

 

To ensure timely receipt of your vote and to help the company reduce costs, you are encouraged to submit your voting instruction over the Internet or by telephone: simply follow the instructions on the reverse side of this card. Internet and telephone voting facilities will close at 11:59 p.m. E.D.T. on April 26, 2011.

 

If you choose to submit your voting instruction by mail, just mark, sign and date this instruction card on the reverse side and return it promptly in the envelope provided. Please date and sign this instruction card as name appears.

 

 

   


 

LOGO

 

MEDIA GENERAL, INC.

P.O. BOX 85333

RICHMOND, VA 23293-0001

 

VOTE BY INTERNET - www.proxyvote.com

Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic delivery of information up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time on April 26, 2011. Have your proxy card in hand when you access the web site and follow the instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic voting instruction form.

 

ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF FUTURE PROXY MATERIALS

If you would like to reduce the costs incurred by our company in mailing proxy materials, you can consent to receiving all future proxy statements, proxy cards and annual reports electronically via e-mail or the Internet. To sign up for electronic delivery, please follow the instructions above to vote using the Internet and, when prompted, indicate that you agree to receive or access proxy materials electronically in future years.

 

VOTE BY PHONE - 1-800-690-6903

Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time on April 26, 2011. Have your proxy card in hand when you call and then follow the instructions.

 

VOTE BY MAIL

Mark, sign and date your card and return it in the postage-paid envelope we have provided or return it to Vote Processing, c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717.

 

 

 

TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS:   
            M30694-Z54864            KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS

 

THIS INSTRUCTION CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED.    DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY

 

MEDIA GENERAL, INC.

 

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR ALL NOMINEES LISTED BELOW.

  

For

All

  

Withhold

All

  

For All

Except

        To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark “For All Except” and write the number(s) of the nominee(s) on the line below.                     
   

 

Vote on Directors

    

¨

   ¨    ¨      

 

                
     

 

ELECTION OF CLASS A DIRECTORS:

 

                              
      NOMINEES:                                 
     

 

01)    Scott D. Anthony

                                
      02)    Dennis J. FitzSimons                                 
      03)    Carl S. Thigpen                                 
              
              
    RECEIPT OF NOTICE OF MEETING AND PROXY STATEMENT IS HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGED. THIS INSTRUCTION CARD REVOKES ALL PREVIOUS INSTRUCTIONS. UNLESS INDICATED TO THE CONTRARY, IT WILL BE VOTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.                
                            
                            
    NOTE: Please sign exactly as your name appears on this instruction card.                               
                             
                                            
                                            
    Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX]   Date                                                   


The meeting address is

Richmond Newspapers Production Facility, 8460 Times-Dispatch Boulevard (a right turn off U.S. 301, just north of its intersection with I-295), Mechanicsville, Virginia

 

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting:

The Notice and Proxy Statement and Annual Report are available at www.proxyvote.com.

 

Please fold and detach card at perforation before mailing IF you are not voting via telephone or the Internet.

 

 

M30695-Z54864        

 

   

 

CLASS A

  MEDIA GENERAL, INC.   CLASS A    
   

EMPLOYEES’ MG ADVANTAGE 401(K) PLAN

ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS - April 28, 2011

 

THIS INSTRUCTION CARD IS SOLICITED BY FIDELITY MANAGEMENT TRUST COMPANY

 

As a participant in the MG Advantage 401(k) Plan, you have the right to direct Fidelity Management Trust Company, as Trustee, regarding how to vote the shares of Media General, Inc. Class A Common Stock credited to your account at the Annual Stockholders Meeting to be held on April 28, 2011, and any adjournment thereof, as follows on the reverse side and upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting for the vote of such Stockholder.

 

The shares credited to your account will be voted as directed. If your voting direction is not received by April 26, 2011, the shares credited to your account will be voted in the same proportion as directions received from participants.

 

To ensure timely receipt of your vote and to help the company reduce costs, you are encouraged to submit your voting instruction over the Internet or by telephone: simply follow the instructions on the reverse side of this card. Internet and telephone voting facilities will close at 11:59 p.m. E.D.T. on April 26, 2011.

 

If you choose to submit your voting instruction by mail, just mark, sign and date this instruction card on the reverse side and return it promptly in the envelope provided. Please date and sign this instruction card as name appears.