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                                     AMENDMENT 
                                        TO 
                               EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT 
                                       AND
                         NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENTS



       This AMENDMENT TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the "Amendment") 
is made September 15, 1998 by and between Valassis 
Communications, Inc. (the "Corporation") and Alan F. Schultz 
(the "Executive).

       WHEREAS, the Corporation and the Executive entered into 
that certain Employment Agreement effective March 18, 1992, as 
amended January 3, 1995 and December 19, 1995  (the "Employment 
Agreement"); and

       WHEREAS, the Corporation entered into a NON-QUALIFIED 
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT with the Executive effective March 18, 
1992, May 10, 1994 and December 8, 1997 (the "Option 
Agreements"); and 

       WHEREAS, the Corporation and the Executive desire to amend 
the Employment Agreement and the Option Agreements to extend the 
term of employment under the Employment Agreement and conform the 
Employment Agreement to certain revised terms as specifically 
amended herein.

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

       1. Section 1.(b) of the Employment Agreement shall be 
amended to read in its entirety as follows: 

          "The Employment Period shall commence as of the 
consummation date (the 	 "Effective Date") of the 
initial public offering of the common stock of the 
Corporation (the "IPO") and shall continue until the 
close of business on December 31, 2003."

       2. The first sentence of Section 3.(a) of the Employment 
Agreement shall be amended to read as follows:  

       "SALARY.  The Executive's Annual Base Salary 
("Annual Base Salary"), payable on a biweekly basis, 
shall be at the annual rate of not less than $550,000 
effective September 15, 1998."

       3. Section 3. of the Employment Agreement shall be amended 
to insert a new sub-section (h) to read in its entirety as 
follows:  



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         "The Executive shall be eligible to receive for Fiscal 
Year (calendar) 1999 and for each fiscal year thereafter during 
the Employment Period up to 15,000 shares of the Corporation's 
Common Stock (the "Performance Restricted Stock Award") under 
the Valassis Communications, Inc. Executive Restricted Stock Plan 
adopted July 10, 1995 (the "Executive Restricted Stock Plan") 
on the following basis:  (i) If the Compensation/Stock Option 
Committee (the "Committee") determines that eighty percent 
(80%) or more of the applicable performance targets set by the 
Board of Directors for such fiscal year have been met, the 
Executive shall receive 7,500 shares; and (ii) if the Committee 
determines that one hundred fifteen percent (115%) or more of the 
applicable performance targets set by the Board of Directors for 
such fiscal year have been met, the Executive shall receive an 
additional 7,500 shares.  The disposition of such shares by the 
Executive shall be restricted for a period of one year and no 
longer.  Each Performance Restricted Stock Award shall be awarded 
to the Executive promptly after the end of the applicable fiscal 
year as soon as the Committee has determined that the applicable 
targets have been met but in no event later than sixty (60) days 
after the end of the applicable fiscal year." 

       4. Section 8.(b) of the Employment Agreement shall be 
amended to read in its entirety as follows:

         "COVENANT NOT TO COMPETE OR SOLICIT.  During the 
Employment Period, the Executive shall not offer or sell any 
products or services, including without limitation a free-
standing insert business directly competitive in any market with 
the business of the Corporation, nor shall he render services to 
any firm, person or corporation so competing with the 
Corporation, nor shall he have any interest, direct or indirect, 
in any business that is so competing with the business of the 
Corporation; provided, however, that ownership of five percent 
(5%) or less of any class of debt or equity securities which are 
publicly-traded security shall not be a violation of this 
covenant.  The foregoing provisions of this Section 8.(b) shall 
apply during the Severance Period, if any, so long as the 
Corporation fulfills its obligations to the Executive Section 5. 
and shall extend for an additional period of seven years (the 
"Mandatory Non-Competition Period") after the expiration of the 
Employment Period or the Severance Period, as the case may be, 
and the Corporation shall pay an amount to the Executive equal to 
Annual Base Salary in biweekly installments during each of the 
first three years of such Mandatory Non-Competition Period and an 
amount equal to one-half of Annual Base Salary during each of the 
last four years of such Mandatory Non-Competition Period.  So 
long as the Executive is employed hereunder and for any 
additional period of time described in the preceding sentences, 
the Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, (i) solicit any 
employee of the Corporation with a view to inducing or 
encouraging such employee to leave the employ of the Corporation 
for the purpose of being hired by the Executive or any employer 
affiliated with the Executive; or (ii) solicit, take away, 


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attempt to take away, or otherwise interfere with the 
Corporation's business relationships with any of its respective 
customers."    

       5. Section 2.(a) of the Employment Agreement shall be 
amended to read in its entirety as follows: 

         "(a) POSITION; LOCATION.  During the Employment Period, 
the Executive shall serve as the President and Chief Executive 
Officer of the Corporation and shall continue to have such 
authority, duties and responsibilities which shall be at least 
commensurate in all material respects with those held and 
exercised as of September 15, 1998 with the Corporation.  During 
the Employment Period, the Executive shall, without compensation 
other than that herein provided, also serve and continue to 
serve, if and when elected and re-elected as an officer or 
director, or both, of any subsidiary, affiliate or division of 
the Corporation.  The Executive's services shall be performed at 
the location where the Executive is currently employed or any 
office which is the headquarters of the Corporation and is not 
more than twenty-five miles from such location unless such 
requirement is waived by the Executive."

       6. All other terms of the Employment Agreement and the 
Option Agreements shall remain in full force and effect.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive and the Corporation have caused 
this Agreement to be executed as of the day and year first above 
written.


                             VALASSIS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

                             By:\s\ Barry P. Hoffman
                             ________________________________
                             Name: Barry P. Hoffman
                             ______________________________
                             Title: Secretary
                             ______________________________


                             \s\Alan F. Schultz
                             ____________________________________
                             Alan F. Schultz




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