David Kurns Named Editorial Content Director Of Successful Farming

DES MOINES, Iowa, June 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Meredith Corporation (NYSE:MDP) announced today that David Kurns has been named Editorial Content Director of the Successful Farming brand, effective August 1.  He will replace Loren Kruse, who is retiring after 36 years with Meredith.

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"Dave brings impeccable journalism credentials and expansive experience in creating content across multiple platforms," said Successful Farming Group Publisher Scott Mortimer. "This is extremely important because today's farmers have led the charge in the adoption of digital, mobile and new media technologies.  The need for engaging information will grow even more in importance given the increasingly complex business decisions farmers face today."

Successful Farming magazine was founded in 1902 and has a circulation of 420,000 and 1.1 million readers. Its website, Agriculture.com, was established in 1995 as the first agricultural media website in America. The mobile version of the popular site launched in 2010.

Other properties include a weekly television show titled the Successful Farming Machinery Show; the Successful Farming Radio Magazine Network®; market research; custom publishing services; mobile commerce messaging; and e-mail solutions.

"I'm excited about this opportunity with Successful Farming, clearly the preferred media of choice for today's farmers," said Kurns.  "I plan to build upon the award-winning work of Loren Kruse and the entire editorial team.  We will look to engage our audience in new ways across multiple platforms, including print, digital, mobile and video and custom solutions."

Kurns, 51, is a leading digital content expert.  He was part of the founding team that launched www.agriculture.com. He later served as the first Editor-in-Chief of Meredith Interactive Media, which included oversight of the Better Homes and Gardens and Parents branded websites.

Kurns next took his editorial content expertise to the company's business-to-business marketing services agency, Meredith Xcelerated Marketing.  He was responsible for creating and directing custom marketing initiatives for major clients, including Kraft Foods, The Principal Financial Group, Chrysler, MetLife and Publix.

Kurns began his career as a newspaper journalist with stops at the Ames Tribune and the Quad-City Times.  A 1982 graduate of Iowa State University with a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communications, Kurns currently serves as Chair of the ISU Greenlee School of Journalism Advisory Council.  He is a past recipient of the James W. Schwartz Award for Distinguished Service to Journalism and Communication, the Greenlee School's highest honor.

A native of Joliet, IL, Kurns and his wife, Sharon, live in Johnston, IA.  They have two children, Daniel (24) and Anna (21).

ABOUT MEREDITH CORPORATION

Meredith Corporation (www.meredith.com) is the leading media and marketing company serving American women.  Meredith features multiple well-known national brands – including Better Homes and Gardens, Parents, Family Circle, Allrecipes.com, Ladies' Home Journal, Fitness, More, American Baby, Successful Farming, EveryDay with Rachael Ray and FamilyFun – along with local television brands in fast-growing markets.  Meredith is the industry leader in creating content in key consumer interest areas such as home, family, health and wellness and self-development. Meredith uses multiple distribution platforms – including print, television, digital, mobile, tablets, and video – to give consumers content they desire and to deliver the messages of its advertising and marketing partners.

Additionally, Meredith uses its many assets to create powerful custom marketing solutions for many of the nation's top brands and companies. Meredith Xcelerated Marketing has significantly added to its capabilities in recent years through the acquisition of cutting-edge companies in digital, mobile, social, healthcare, database, and international marketing.  Most recently, Meredith made a strategic investment in London-based Iris Worldwide, a leader in experiential marketing.

A hallmark of Meredith's business model and financial profile is its ability to consistently generate substantial free cash flow by leveraging the strength of its multi-platform portfolio.  Meredith is committed to increasing Total Shareholder Return through dividend payments, share repurchases and strategic business investments. Meredith has paid a dividend for 65 straight years and increased its dividend for 19 consecutive years.  Meredith currently pays an annual dividend of $1.53 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of approximately 5 percent.

SOURCE Meredith Corporation