News Releases
Linda Fears Named Acting Editor-in-Chief NEW YORK (June 29, 2005) - Meredith Corporation (NYSE: MDP) announced today that James T. Carr has been named Publisher of Family Circle magazine, effective upon the anticipated July 1 closing of Meredith's acquisition of Parents, Child, Fitness, Family Circle and Ser Padres magazines. Additionally, magazine industry veteran Linda Fears has been named Acting Editor-in-Chief of Family Circle. Both Carr and Fears will report to Meredith Publishing Group Senior Vice President Tom Harty. Carr has been Publisher of Midwest Living for the past four years, a period of tremendous growth for the title in circulation and advertising. Since taking over as Publisher, Midwest Living's advertising pages have increased 42 percent from 650 to 925 according to the Publishers Information Bureau, and its rate base has improved from 815,000 to 925,000. "Jim has done a first-rate job building Midwest Living," says Jack Griffin, Meredith Publishing Group President. "He has demonstrated great leadership skills, and we feel confident that he will provide the vision necessary to take Family Circle to the next level." Carr joined Meredith in 1989 as an account executive at Country America magazine. In 1991 he moved to Better Homes and Gardens, where he spent three years including a term as New York Advertising Manager. He was promoted to Advertising Director at Midwest Living in 1995, a position he held until he became Publisher of Mature Outlook in 1999. He returned to Midwest Living as Publisher in 2001. Carr is a 1985 graduate of the University of Miami (Fla.) and resides on Long Island, N.Y., with his family. Fears most recently served as Editor-in-Chief, New Business Development for G + J USA. She joined G + J USA in 1999 as an articles editor for Parents magazine and became Deputy Editor of Parents a year later. She later served as Editor-in-Chief of YM magazine. She started her publishing career at Meredith, working for 11 years at Ladies' Home Journal, eventually becoming Senior Editor and Lifestyle Director. She is a graduate of Cornell University and resides in Chappaqua, N.Y. Carr and Fears will be based in Meredith's offices in New York City. About Meredith Corporation Meredith owns or operates 14 television stations including properties in top-25 markets such as Atlanta, Phoenix and Portland and an AM radio station. Meredith has approximately 350 books in print and has established marketing relationships with some of America's leading companies, including The Home Depot, DIRECTV, DaimlerChrysler, Wal-Mart and Carnival Cruise Lines. Meredith's consumer database, which contains approximately 80 million names, is one of the largest domestic database among media companies and enables magazine and television advertisers to target marketing campaigns precisely. Additionally, Meredith has an extensive Internet presence, including 26 Web sites, and strategic alliances with leading Internet destinations.
Meredith Corporation (www.meredith.com) is one of the nation's leading media and marketing companies with businesses centering on magazine and book publishing, television broadcasting, integrated marketing, and interactive media. The Meredith Publishing Group, the country's foremost home and family authority, features 20 magazine brands, including Better Homes and Gardens, Ladies' Home Journal and American Baby, and approximately 150 special interest publications. Additionally, Meredith has announced a definitive asset purchase agreement to acquire Parents, Child, Fitness, Family Circle and Ser Padres magazines from Gruner + Jahr with an anticipated closing date of July 1, 2005. Once completed, Meredith magazines will reach an industry best 135 million American women.