The company, owner of titles such as the Yorkshire Post and the Blackpool Gazette, said that all categories of advertising were ahead of expectations.
Circulations at the regional weekly titles were up, but it said there was a decline in overall circulation of its dailies.
Yesterday, the Advertising Association revealed figures showing a 4.8% rise in advertising spend in the UK for the first three months of the year, including a 5.9% rise in real terms in regional newspaper adspend, which stood at £796m for the quarter.
Johnston Press, which also owns the Sheffield Star, the Doncaster Star and Lancashire Evening News, said that it was confident about its prospects for the rest of the year.
In a statement, it said: "The board currently anticipates continued growth of advertising revenues in the second half, although the rate is likely to reflect the stronger comparatives in the second half of 2003."
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