<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE RADIO
AND NEWSPAPER BUSINESSES OF ALAN R. BRILL'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0001052567
<NAME> BRILL MEDIA CO. LLC
       
                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          FEB-28-1998             FEB-28-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             MAR-01-1997             MAR-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               NOV-30-1997             FEB-28-1997
<CASH>                                             109                     775
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                    4,026                   3,166
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0                       0
<INVENTORY>                                        483                     323
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                 5,031                   4,473
<PP&E>                                          17,384                  16,398
<DEPRECIATION>                                   8,561                   7,831
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  41,675                  26,442
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            3,173                   3,459
<BONDS>                                         80,360                  49,593
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<COMMON>                                             8                       5
<OTHER-SE>                                    (41,866)                (26,615)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    41,675                  26,442
<SALES>                                         22,975                  27,036
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                22,975                  27,036
<CGS>                                           19,343                  23,097
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   19,343                  23,097
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               6,519                   7,432
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (2,938)                 (2,486)
<INCOME-TAX>                                       103                      286
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (3,041)                 (2,772)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (3,041)                 (2,772)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0                       0
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