EXHIBIT 12.1
BRILL MEDIA COMPANY, LLC
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGERS
($000s)
Historical
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Nine Months Nine Months
Ended Ended
Year Ended February 28 or 29, November 30, November 30,
1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1996 1997
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EARNINGS
Income (loss) before income taxes
and extraordinary item $(2,863) $ 952 $(3,753) $(5,186) $(2,486) $(1,259) $(2,938)
Fixed charges 4,523 4,682 5,882 7,200 7,514 5,631 6,594
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$ 1,660 $5,634 $ 2,129 $ 2,014 $ 5,028 $ 4,372 $ 3,656
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FIXED CHARGES
Interest expense $ 4,351 $4,466 $ 5,636 $ 6,633 $ 6,943 $ 5,150 $ 6,037
Portion of rent expense
representative of interest 39 37 40 70 82 66 75
Amortization of deferred
financing costs 133 179 206 497 489 415 482
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$ 4,523 $4,682 $ 5,882 $ 7,200 $ 7,514 $ 5,631 $ 6,594
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Ratio of earnings to fixed charges - 1.20 - - - - -
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Pro Forma
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Year Nine Months
Ended Ended
February 28, November 30,
1997 1997
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EARNINGS
Income (loss) before income taxes
and extraordinary item $(8,185) $(5,517)
Fixed charges 12,633 9,495
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$ 4,448 $ 3,978
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FIXED CHARGES
Interest expense $11,996 $ 9,007
Portion of rent expense
representative of interest 82 75
Amortization of deferred
financing costs 555 413
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$12,633 $ 9,495
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Ratio of earnings to fixed charges - -
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