<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0206</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2013-11-12</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000216539</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MEDIA GENERAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MEG</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001418202</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Kim Soohyung</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O STANDARD GENERAL L.P.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>767 FIFTH AVENUE, 12TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10153</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001465987</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Standard General Fund L.P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>767 FIFTH AVENUE, 12TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10153</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001409888</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Standard General L.P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>767 FIFTH AVENUE, 12TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10153</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001591884</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Standard General Communications LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>767 FIFTH AVENUE, 12TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10153</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Voting Common Stock, no par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On November 12, 2013, New Young Broadcasting Holding Co., Inc. (&quot;Young&quot;) merged with and into Media General, Inc. (the &quot;Issuer&quot;).  Upon the effectiveness of the merger, Mr. Kim became a Director of Media General, Inc.  At such time, Standard General Fund L.P. and Standard General Communications LLC (the &quot;Funds&quot;) acquired shares of the Issuer's Voting Stock in exchange for securities of Young.  The acquisition of such shares is being reported separately on Form 4.  The Funds are private investment vehicles for which Standard General L.P. (&quot;Standard General&quot;) serves as investment manager.  Standard General exercises voting and investment control over securities held for the accounts of the Funds.  Mr. Kim is a director of the general partner of the general partner of Standard General and Chief Investment Officer of Standard General, and in such capacities may be deemed to indirectly beneficially own such securities.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Standard General L.P., by Standard General Holdings L.P. its General Partner, by Standard General S Corp its General Partner, by Soohyung Kim as Director</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2013-11-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Standard General Fund L.P., by Standard General L.P. its Manager, by Standard General Holdings L.P. its General Partner, by Standard General S Corp its General Partner, by Soohyung Kim as Director</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2013-11-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Standard General Communications LLC, by Standard General L.P. its Manager, by Standard General Holdings L.P. its General Partner, by Standard General S Corp its General Partner, by Soohyung Kim as Director</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2013-11-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Soohyung Kim</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2013-11-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
