Industry Veterans to Oversee Leading Enthusiast Automotive Publishing Groups

NEW YORK--April 21, 2004--PRIMEDIA Inc. today announced the appointment of industry veterans Steven Parr and John Rousseau to lead two newly created enthusiast automotive publishing groups within the company. These groups, Performance Automotive and International Automotive, are comprised of more than 50 magazines and their Web sites, along with numerous television programs and events--by far the most comprehensive portfolio of information products for the $500 billion automotive industry. The decision to separate the Enthusiast Automotive Group into two distinct business units reflects the company's strategy of increasing its operating focus to accelerate its growth.

Mr. Parr joins PRIMEDIA as the President of the Performance Automotive Group after having been the President and CEO of Harry N. Abrams Inc., the prestigious illustrated book publisher and President of EMAP USA prior to and through its acquisition by PRIMEDIA. He will oversee such brands as Hot Rod, Truckin', Motorcyclist and 4Wheel & Off-Road among others. Mr. Rousseau joins PRIMEDIA as President of the International Automotive Group from International Data Group, where he was President and CEO of IDG Entertainment since 1996. He will lead such brands as Super Street, Lowrider, Sport Compact Car, Import Tuner, and European Car among others.

With the decision to separate the Enthusiast Automotive Group into two more focused business units, Craig Nickerson, who was President of the Enthusiast Automotive Group, has elected to leave the company.

Kelly Conlin, President and CEO of PRIMEDIA, Inc., stated, "Steve Parr and John Rousseau are exciting additions to PRIMEDIA's executive team, and they bring with them a track record of innovation and success that will accelerate our growth. By any measure, we have the strongest collection of enthusiast automotive magazines in the industry, covering cars, trucks and motorcycles and serving millions of passionate consumers in print, on the web, with events and on television. Our decision to recruit Steve and John and to separate the division into two business units is evidence of our commitment to improve, expand and invest in the portfolio, serving our readers better with enhanced content, and building our business better by fully developing our brands through expanded licensing, marketing programs and multimedia delivery systems."

"I want to thank Craig for his many years of service to the company. We have appreciated his many contributions to the growth and development of our enthusiast automotive group," said Conlin.

Performance Automotive Group

Mr. Parr joins PRIMEDIA from Harry N. Abrams Inc., where he was President and CEO of this prestigious illustrated book publisher. Prior to joining Abrams, Parr was President of EMAP USA, which owned many of the titles that Parr will be managing in this new position for PRIMEDIA. Prior to EMAP, Parr had a 13-year career at Pearson PLC, the international media group. He began his career there as an accounting manager for Pearson's Penguin Canada unit, ultimately becoming President of the division. While there, he led a turnaround that brought the unit to profitability and record profits. He then moved to New York, where he was Executive Vice President of Penguin Books USA before becoming CEO of Pearson Business Services in London. He has a B.A., Commerce and Economics from the University of Toronto and has a C.A. from the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants.

His experience in optimizing and growing multi-title publishing organizations will be well-suited to the Performance Automotive Group, which consists of more than 40 magazines, and the associated Web sites, events and television programming. The titles span high-performance auto, such as Hot Rod and Car Craft, to trucks, such as Truckin' and 4Wheel & Off-Road, to motorcycles, such as Dirt Rider and Motorcyclist. "I am excited to return to PRIMEDIA and lead such a strong group of enthusiast properties," said Mr. Parr. "Having worked with many of these magazines while at EMAP USA, I know firsthand the power of the brands and the opportunities to grow these businesses. The opportunity to work with the combined group of titles is more compelling than either those from PRIMEDIA or those from EMAP would have been on their own. I look forward to collaborating with the editorial and publishing leadership in moving the group forward."

International Automotive Group

Mr. Rousseau joins PRIMEDIA from International Data Group, where he was President and CEO of IDG Entertainment since 1996. During his tenure as CEO, Rousseau led the group's flagship product, GamePro magazine, to over three million in male teen readership and to significant revenue growth and financial success. Over his 16-year career at IDG, Rousseau managed a number of brand extensions and new product introductions, including GamePro.com, The Industry White Paper, Code Vault magazine and the soon-to-be-launched Gamestar magazine--a track record for creative growth that contributed to his being named in 2003 as one of min magazine's "21 Most Intriguing People in Publishing." Prior to his tenure at IDG, he held senior sales and management positions at VNU Business publications and The Quaker Oats Company. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Magazine Publishers of America and has a B.A. from Northwood University.

His experience with media properties that target a young, male audience meshes well with the stable of properties in the International Automotive Group, which includes 13 magazines reaching millions of young men. "This is a great opportunity to bring my experience in brand building, product enhancement and revenue growth to this unique and powerful group of products. There is a very significant growth opportunity for these brands in the world of entertainment," said Rousseau.

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