TO BUSINESS EDITOR:

NEW YORK, Aug. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- PRIMEDIA Inc. (NYSE: PRM), the leading targeted media company, announced today that media industry veteran Martin E. Maleska, 59, has been appointed CEO of PRIMEDIA's B2B Group, which includes PRIMEDIA Business Magazines & Media, PRIMEDIA Workplace Learning and Federal Sources, Inc.

In his role as CEO of the PRIMEDIA B2B Group, Mr. Maleska will capitalize on his experience building successful B2B media brands across a number of business sectors, including marketing information systems, healthcare, educational and legal and will focus on creating growth opportunities, generating organic revenue and driving profitability across the company's portfolio of specialized media properties. Mr. Maleska will report to Charles G. McCurdy, who had been overseeing the B2B Group as well as serving as Interim CEO of PRIMEDIA.

"Martin has a deep understanding of how to negotiate the challenges that are unique to the business-to-business media environment," said Charles McCurdy, Interim CEO, PRIMEDIA. "While we were colleagues at Macmillan, I was impressed by his ability to build businesses and drive organic revenue growth. He has a keen ability to look both broadly at the market and focus on specific aspects of a business to achieve business objectives. I am even more convinced of those skills today and am confident of his ability to build the B2B business and expand its role in growth markets across the media spectrum."

Mr. McCurdy continued, "Without a doubt, today's economic climate has placed additional challenges in front of us. As we navigate through the middle of this business cycle and continue to focus our business, I am confident that Martin can capitalize on the many improvements we have already made and further accelerate our positioning as the leading provider of targeted business-to-business products and services."

Mr. Maleska added, "After a period of significant reorganization, the Primedia B2B Group is poised to achieve growth. The company has been able to retain a cadre of talented people. Now by putting customers first and innovatively meeting the needs of the markets it serves, I believe that each company can further build on their position as industry leaders."

Mr. Maleska joins PRIMEDIA from Veronis Suhler Stevenson (VSS), a leading independent merchant bank dedicated to the media, communications and information industries, where he was Managing Director, Business Information Services; Magazines & Exhibitions and a Principal, VS&A Communications Partners III, LPAs. Prior to his tenure at VSS, Mr. Maleska was President of Simon & Schuster's International and Business Professional Group where he helped the group realize a significant and positive impact on its international revenue and domestic profits. Mr. Maleska's notable career in publishing began at Macmillan Inc. where he held a number of positions and ultimately served as a Senior Vice President. While at Macmillan, he was tasked with overseeing all professional publishing activities and promoting the long-term health of its numerous trade publications, including the publications of Intertec Publishing, which are now part of PRIMEDIA Business Magazines and Media. He served as the Chairman of Intertec when it was owned by Macmillan, then privately held and ultimately acquired by PRIMEDIA. Mr. Maleska earned a BS in Chemistry from Fordham University and an MBA in Finance from New York University.

About PRIMEDIA

PRIMEDIA is the leading targeted media company in the United States, with positions in consumer and business-to-business markets. Our properties deliver content via print as well as video, the Internet and live events and offer highly effective advertising and marketing solutions in some of the most sought after niche markets. With 2002 sales from continuing businesses of $1.5 billion, PRIMEDIA is the #1 special interest magazine publisher in the U.S. with more than 250 titles. Our well known brands include Motor Trend, Automobile, New York, Fly Fisherman, Power & Motoryacht, Creating Keepsakes, Ward's Auto World, and Registered Rep. The company is also the #1 publisher and distributor of free consumer guides, including Apartment Guides. PRIMEDIA Television's leading brand is the Channel One Network and About is one of the largest sources of original content on the Internet. PRIMEDIA's stock symbol is: NYSE: PRM.

This release contains certain forward-looking statements concerning PRIMEDIA's operations, economic performance and financial condition. These statements are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates, which are inherently subject to uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of the company, and reflect future business decisions, which are subject to change. Some of these assumptions may not materialize, and unanticipated events will occur which can affect the company's results.

     Contacts:  Jim Magrone (investors):  
                Whit Clay (media):        

SOURCE  PRIMEDIA