Hoover's, Inc. Strengthens Organization

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AUSTIN, TEXAS - May 1, 2002 - Hoover's, Inc. (Nasdaq: HOOV), a leading provider of business information, today announced that John Lysinger has joined the company as vice president of enterprise subscription sales. Lysinger brings to Hoover's more than 20 years of experience with such companies as Ingram Micro, Sprint and AT&T. Much of his career has been focused on serving small and midsize businesses, an important target market for Hoover's.

Most recently, Lysinger served as general manager of sales with Birch Telecom, where he built and managed a sales division focused on the mid-market. Lysinger will report directly to Jeffrey R. Tarr, chairman and CEO.

Joe McWilliams, vice president of advertising sales, will now also report directly to Tarr. McWilliams has been with Hoover's for more than six years. He was instrumental in launching Hoover's Online advertising sales efforts, and has since successfully navigated a very difficult period in the market for online advertising. Previous to Hoover's, McWilliams sold advertising for Hart Publications, publishers in the energy industry, with information products serving the oil and gas sectors.

Russell Secker, previously senior vice president of product management, has been promoted to executive vice president of marketing with responsibility for product development, product management and marketing. Secker came to Hoover's with more than 25 years of experience, including 14 years with Dun & Bradstreet where he most recently served as head of marketing for D&B Europe. Prior to relocating to the company's Austin-based headquarters this past fall, Secker was director of operations and finance and chief operating officer of Hoover's European operations.

"I am confident that the Hoover's management team now has the depth of expertise and management strength necessary to take us to the next level," said Tarr.

Concurrent with these changes, the company announced today that after many years of dedicated service, Jani Farlow Spede will be leaving Hoover's in June for personal reasons. Spede will remain in Austin for an extended transition period.

"The company is grateful for Jani's many contributions to our business and we wish her well," Tarr added.

The company also announced the election of Chris Poleway to its board of directors. Poleway is a 20-year veteran of AOL Time Warner, and currently serves as president of The Fortune Group, which consists of Time Inc.'s business magazines: FORTUNE, FORTUNE Small Business and Business 2.0. Poleway fills the seat vacated by Ned Desmond, president of Business 2.0, one of The Fortune Group businesses.

"I wish to thank Ned for his dedicated service to our board," said Tarr. "We are pleased to welcome Chris as a director, and we believe his representation will enable us to build upon our long-standing relationship with AOL Time Warner."

Conference Call These moves will be addressed during the company's regularly scheduled conference call and simultaneous Webcast to discuss fiscal fourth-quarter financial results on Wednesday, May 1, 2002, at 10:00 a.m. Central (11:00 a.m. Eastern and 8:00 a.m. Pacific). The company welcomes investors, analysts and members of the press to listen to the call by dialing 1-973-628-9554. Please ask the operator to connect you to the Hoover's, Inc., earnings teleconference. To replay the call through the end of the business day Friday, May 10, 2002, please dial 1-973-341-3080 (Confirmation Code 3225487).

To listen to the live Webcast, please go to the Hoover's, Inc., Web site: www.hoovers.com. Access "About Hoover's" and click on "Investor Relations."

About Hoover's, Inc.
Hoover's, Inc. (Nasdaq: HOOV) is a leading provider of business information. Hoover's publishes authoritative information on public and private companies wo and provides industry and market intelligence. This information, along with advanced searching tools, is available through Hoover's Online (www.hoovers.com), the company's premier online service that helps sales, marketing, recruiting and business development professionals and senior-level executives get the global intelligence they need to grow their businesses. Hoover's business information is also available through corporate intranets and distribution agreements with licensees, as well as via print and CD-ROM products from Hoover's Business Press. Hoover's investors include AOL Time Warner (NYSE: AOL), Media General (NYSE: MEG), and Knowledge Universe. Hoover's is headquartered in Austin, Texas, and has offices in New York City and San Francisco.

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 This press release contains forward-looking statements relating to future events or results that involve risks and uncertainties, including statements regarding the expected benefits of executive changes. Among the important factors which could cause actual results of Hoover's, Inc. to differ materially from those contained herein include the effectiveness of new leadership and management, general economic and market conditions, and other factors detailed in the Hoover's, Inc., reports and documents filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its recent Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filings.

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