KANSAS CITY, MO and SAN JOSE, CA (February 5, 2002)-Knight Ridder Digital, interactive information subsidiary of Knight Ridder and founder/operator of the Real Cities Network, and uclick, a division of Andrews McMeel Universal, today announced a strategic agreement whereby uclick will manage branded comic and puzzle content for Knight Ridder Digital's Real Cities local media network of Web sites.

Under the agreement, uclick will provide Knight Ridder Digital's Real Cities Network with a variety of popular comics and puzzles from Universal Press Syndicate, Tribune Media Services (TMS) and United Media, including such favorites as Garfield, Doonesbury, Dilbert, For Better or For Worse, Shoe, JUMBLE®, Crossword Puzzles, PlayFour!, and others. Over the next several weeks, uclick will begin delivering regionally-branded comics and puzzles in the Entertainment channels to 27 Real Cities Web sites in major media markets.

The agreement further calls for Knight Ridder Digital and uclick to cooperate in the exploration and development of new consumer-supported revenue sources, including future opportunities to generate growth through subscription-based content models.

"We believe that 2002 offers a new wave of opportunities for content presentation," says Ken Doctor, vice president/content services for Knight Ridder Digital. "Knight Ridder Digital is pleased to partner with uclick as we continue to innovate new business models for delivering premium content to consumers."

As a first step, Knight Ridder Digital will begin offering uclick's new puzzle subscription service, "The Puzzle Society," to its on-line readers starting in February. "The Puzzle Society" is a co-branded consumer subscription product, offering best-of class interactive puzzles and game content.

"Our companies have a long and successful history of cooperation and partnership on innovative projects, such as this one," adds Chris Pizey, Chief Operating Officer at uclick. "This agreement further strengthens our relationship."

In addition to the current interactive business, the relationship between the two companies includes print syndication and, in the past, has extended to businesses as diverse as instant book publishing.

About Knight Ridder Digital and Real Cities
Knight Ridder Digital, a leader in local information on the Web, creates innovative online services and comprehensive local content to help consumers make the most of their experiences on the Internet. Knight Ridder Digital develops and manages the Internet properties of Knight Ridder (NYSE:KRI), the nation's second-largest newspaper publisher. Knight Ridder Digital is a separate Internet subsidiary and is the founder and operator of Real Cities, a premier national network of city and regional Web sites nationwide.

Real Cities consists of a unique partnership network that brings together the best local strengths of leading U.S. media and Internet companies including properties of Belo Interactive, E.W. Scripps Co, Knight Ridder Digital, Media General, Gannett Co., Inc., The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and The Milwaukee Journal. The network allows media organizations to leverage their strong local content in a national network that brings to consumers news, sports, event happenings and community connections from locally-run information sources that are trusted to be the heart and soul of their locale. Among Real Cities' member Web sites are AZCentral.com, BayArea.com, Charlotte.com, Cincinow.com, DallasNews.com, Indy.com, JournalNow.com, KansasCity.com, Kentucky.com, Miami.com, NYDailyNews.com, NWSource.com, NYDailyNews.com, Post-Gazette.com, ProJo.com, TBO.com, TimesDispatch.com and TwinCities.com.

About uclick
uclick is an Andrews McMeel Universal company, a company which also includes Universal Press Syndicate and Andrews McMeel Publishing. As the largest packager and distributor of branded comics, word games and other content on the Web, uclick syndicates the highly sought-after work of more than 100 content creators to hundreds of Sites, including more than 200 Newspaper Web Sites. uclick content is also found on major portals such as AOL, Yahoo, MSNBC, and iWon. You'll recognize many of uclick's brands, including: Garfield, Doonesbury, Cathy, FoxTrot, Ziggy, Boondocks, Pat Oliphant, News of the Weird, Universal Crossword, Dear Abby and more. uclick is also building brands for the future, like Bizarro and Heart of the City. In addition, uclick develops and hosts Web sites of other key creators such as Garfield.com, Doonesbury.com, Ziggy.com >>>> and sites of other key creators.