DES MOINES, IA (January 24, 2012) – Meredith Corporation (NYSE:MDP; www.meredith.com) and The Reader’s Digest Association, Inc. announced today that Meredith, the leading media and marketing company serving American women, has agreed to purchase Allrecipes.com, the world’s No. 1 digital food site.

“The acquisition of Allrecipes.com, the market leader in the digital food space, significantly enhances our leading consumer and advertiser proposition,” said Meredith Chairman and CEO Steve Lacy. “It more than doubles the scale of the Meredith Women’s Digital Network, and is expected to drive incremental revenue and profit growth, adding to our already strong free cash flow over time.”

The acquisition of a digital brand of scale aligns well with Meredith’s Total Shareholder Return (TSR) financial strategy, which was announced on October 25, 2011. The TSR strategy includes (1) An increase in its annual stock dividend by 50 percent to $1.53 per share; (2) A new $100 million share repurchase authorization; and (3) Strategic investments to drive incremental revenue and profit growth.

The transaction, valued at $175 million, is expected to close later this quarter. Meredith plans to invest in Allrecipes.com to optimize the site for today’s growing online and mobile audiences. This investment spending, along with normal business seasonality, is expected to make the acquisition slightly dilutive – approximately $0.10 per share, or less than 4 percent – to Meredith’s fiscal 2012 full year financial performance. Meredith expects the acquisition will be modestly accretive to earnings per share and free cash flow in fiscal 2013.

The addition of Allrecipes.com fits with Meredith’s previously stated strategic acquisition criteria: (1) National media brands that provide access to new audiences and advertising categories; and (2) Digital platforms that significantly increase scale. Specifically, the addition of Allrecipes.com to Meredith:

• Nearly doubles annual digital revenues for the Meredith Women’s Network.

• Gives Meredith the world’s No. 1 food website to pair with its expanding multi-platform food portfolio, enabling Meredith to offer advertisers access to more than 100 million unduplicated American women.

• More than doubles the audience of the Meredith Women’s Network to nearly 40 million unduplicated monthly unique visitors, making it the No. 1 premium owned and operated website in the important Women’s Lifestyle Category, according to the most recent comScore data.

• Provides Meredith access to a large and vibrant audience to market other products to, including print and tablet magazine subscriptions, as well as drive other E-Commerce opportunities.

• Enables Meredith to apply Allrecipes.com’s proprietary Search Engine Optimization (SEO) expertise across Meredith’s digital platforms, which will improve performance, and reduce Search Engine Marketing (SEM) spending.

• Introduces Meredith brands to new audiences, as Allrecipes.com has 17 sites in 22 countries.

“The acquisition of Allrecipes.com significantly enhances our digital platform and reinforces our leadership position in the food category,” said Meredith National Media Group President Tom Harty. “It increases our relevance with new, younger audiences, and offers advertisers an unmatched ability to now connect with an audience of more than 100 million consumers. We are excited to add Allrecipes.com, the world’s No. 1 food website, to our strong portfolio of digital media brands.”

Allrecipes.com currently has a database of over 500,000 recipes. Its U.S. audience is 70 percent female with a mean household income of $73,000, and it reaches nine out of 10 primary grocery decision makers. Allrecipes.com mobile apps have been downloaded by over 11 million consumers, and they are the No. 1 download on Android, iPhone, and iPad recipe applications. It is also the top food recipe channel on YouTube.

“Allrecipes.com is a dynamic, growing business and our sale process generated significant excitement,” said Robert Guth, Reader’s Digest Association president and CEO. “We are very pleased to have reached agreement with Meredith. We have worked well with them on a past transaction, so we know they will be a great home for this business and the team. For RDA, this is a significant step forward in our commitment to focus our resources on our core businesses, such as the Reader’s Digest brand.”

Added Lisa Sharples, President of Allrecipes.com, “Meredith is the perfect home for Allrecipes.com. Meredith’s laser focus on women, existing strength in food, strong relationship with advertisers and proven consumer marketing expertise are very attractive. Together, I’m confident we can grow the Allrecipes.com brand as well as the Meredith Women’s Network across digital, mobile and social media platforms.”
The acquisition of Allrecipes.com adds to actions Meredith has taken in the last year to strengthen its position as the leader in the digital and food content marketplace. These include the:

• Acquisition of Every Day with Rachael Ray magazine and its related digital media assets;

• Acquisition of FamilyFun magazine and its related digital applications;

• Acquisition of EatingWell, a multi-channel food brand focused on healthy eating and wellness;

• Launch of Recipe.com, a multi-channel food brand that pairs recipes with digital coupons and savings that is already attracting 2 million monthly unique visitors;

• Expansion of food and lifestyle content in its leading portfolio of brands across tablet products including the iPad, NOOKColor, Kindle Fire, and Samsung Galaxy.

• Introduction of 12 new apps resulting in more than 3 million downloads, including BHG.com’s highly successful Must Have Recipes; and

• Creation of six new Special Interest Media titles, bringing the total in the food space to nearly 40.
“We are constantly looking for strategic acquisitions and investment opportunities to expand our reach and increase shareholder value,” said Meredith Chief Development Officer John Zieser.

BDT & Company served as financial advisor to Meredith, and McDermott, Will & Emery served as its legal advisors. Morgan Stanley acted as lead financial advisor to Reader’s Digest. Evercore Partners acted as financial advisor to Reader’s Digest. Weil, Gotshal and Manges acted as legal advisor to Reader’s Digest.

ABOUT MEREDITH CORPORATION
Meredith Corporation (NYSE: MDP; 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, Ladies’ Home Journal, Fitness, More, American Baby, Every Day 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, online, 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 64 straight years, and increased its dividend for 18 consecutive years.

ABOUT THE READER’S DIGEST ASSOCIATION, INC.
Reader’s Digest Association is a global media and direct marketing company that educates, entertains and connects more than 145 million consumers around the world with products and services from trusted brands. With offices in 44 countries, the company reaches customers in 79 countries, publishes 86 magazines, including 50 editions of Reader’s Digest, the world’s largest-circulation magazine, operates 82 branded websites and sells nearly 40 million books, music and video products across the world each year. Further information about the company can be found at www.rda.com.

SAFE HARBOR
This release contains certain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. These statements are based on management’s current knowledge and estimates of factors affecting Meredith and its operations. Statements in this announcement that are forward-looking include, but are not limited to, the statements regarding advertising revenues and investment spending, along with Meredith’s revenue and earnings per share outlook for the third fiscal quarter and full year fiscal 2012 and fiscal 2013.

Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated. Factors that could adversely affect future results include, but are not limited to, downturns in national and/or local economies; a softening of the domestic advertising market; world, national or local events that could disrupt broadcast television; increased consolidation among major advertisers or other events depressing the level of advertising spending; the unexpected loss or insolvency of one or more major clients; the integration of acquired businesses; changes in consumer reading, purchasing and/or television viewing patterns; increases in paper, postage, printing, syndicated programming or other costs; changes in television network affiliation agreements; technological developments affecting products or methods of distribution; changes in government regulations affecting Meredith’s industries; unexpected changes in interest rates; and the consequences of acquisitions and/or dispositions. Meredith undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

MEREDITH CONTACTS:
Art Slusark (515) 284-3404 or (515) 360-2867; art.slusark@meredith.com
Patrick Taylor (212) 551-6984 or (917) 653-4785; patrick.taylor@meredith.com
RDA CONTACT:
Russell Weigandt (646) 747-7163; rweigandt@kwitco.com

RED BANK, N.J., Jan. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — HealthyWomen, the nation’s leading nonprofit health information source for women, and Allrecipes, the world’s #1 digital food brand, joined forces to survey home cooks about their healthy eating habits and, in particular, fast food consumption. Findings from the 1,563 persons polled, who were largely female, showed more than 56 percent ate at fast food restaurants at least several times a month. Among those, nearly 15 percent ate fast food two or more times a week. As consumers ponder their New Year’s resolutions, cutting back on fast food meals is one way to reduce weight and improve health.

“The majority of respondents, 75 percent, say they pay more attention to eating healthy now than they did five years ago,” said Elizabeth Battaglino Cahill, RN, executive director of HealthyWomen. “Unfortunately, the quick stops at fast food restaurants often sabotage their efforts.”

Indeed, the majority of respondents (54 percent) admitted they feel “a bit guilty” after eating fast food and another 16 percent say they just feel “bad.”

So why stop at the fast-food drive thru? Half of the survey’s respondents said convenience to accommodate busy schedules and faster meal availability were the top reasons for eating fast food instead of cooking at home. To skip a fast food meal and instead cook a healthy meal at home, 83 percent said it would have to be prepared in 30 minutes or less.

“We understand how pressed for time most women are these days,” said Lisa Sharples, president of Allrecipes. “That’s why we make sure Allrecipes’ sites and apps provide quick, easy access to thousands of fast, easy, affordable and great-tasting recipes that can be made in under 30 minutes.”

Nearly half of survey respondents (47 percent) report the most challenging aspect of eating healthy is finding recipes that are healthy, affordable and easy to make. Finding recipes that are flavorful and healthy is the biggest challenge cited by nearly one-third. Allrecipes provides nutritional data for recipes featured on the site. For those cooks looking for a more sophisticated set of tools, Allrecipes’ Supporting Membership provides access to a customized meal planner with detailed nutrition for thousands of menus; subscribers can also quickly and easily locate recipes to match exact dietary needs using the nutrition search tool.

For quick and healthy recipes, easy snacks, tips for losing weight and insights about foods to boost brainpower, consumers can visit www.HealthyWomen.org/healthyeating and www.Allrecipes.com/features/new-year-new-you.

The study was conducted from November 8 to 14, 2011, among 1,563 Allrecipes community members. Visit Allrecipes’ Fresh Bites blog to read a complete survey overview in the January issue of Allrecipes’ Measuring Cup Consumer Trends Report.

About HealthyWomen
HealthyWomen (HW) is the nation’s leading nonprofit health information source for women. For more than 20 years, women have been coming to HW for answers to their most pressing and personal health care questions. HW provides health information through a wide array of online content and print publications that are original, objective and reviewed and approved by medical experts. Its website, www.HealthyWomen.org®, was recognized by ForbesWoman as one of the “Top 100 Websites for Women” in 2010 and 2011 and was named the top women’s health website by Dr. Mehmet Oz in O, The Oprah Magazine. To learn more, visit www.HealthyWomen.org.

About Allrecipes
Allrecipes, the world’s largest digital food brand, receives 750 million annual visits from home cooks who discover and share food experiences through recipes, reviews, photos, videos, profiles, and blogs on the web and mobile devices. For 14 years, the brand has served as a dynamic, indispensable resource for cooks of all skill levels seeking everyday and holiday meal solutions. Allrecipes’ global, multi-platform brand is comprised of 17 websites, 10 apps, and 13 eBooks serving cooks in 22 countries and 11 languages. Allrecipes is part of The Reader’s Digest Association, Inc. For additional information regarding Allrecipes, please visit http://www.allrecipes.com.

Contact:
Marisa Bushee, HealthyWomen
mbushee@healthywomen.org
202-906-9188

Stephanie Robinett
Allrecipes
stephanier@allrecipes.com
206-708-9271
SOURCE HealthyWomen

• Expanded collaboration to target new business opportunities around the world

NEW YORK –– January 5, 2012 –– Chartis, an award-winning property-casualty and general insurance organization serving more than 70 million clients around the world, and Reader’s Digest, one of the world’s most recognizable brands, today announced they are expanding their global relationship to include new insurance solutions and new distribution channels around the world.

The joint collaboration will promote a suite of Accident & Health, specialized property and casualty and other insurance solutions. Reader’s Digest will provide custom-created content to plan members, and the programs will be marketed through the full range of Reader’s Digest online and offline channels. Chartis and Reader’s Digest Association will offer insurance solutions throughout the world. The two companies previously have worked cooperatively for the past 10 years to market Chartis’ insurance solutions in Europe, Asia and Latin America.

“The extension of our longstanding international relationship with Reader’s Digest enables us not only to penetrate new insurance markets, but also combines the best our two companies have to offer,” said Jeff Hayman, Chief Executive Officer, Global Consumer Insurance at Chartis. “Reader’s Digest’s consumer database and touch points, along with the Chartis insurers’ underwriting and distribution expertise, will combine to create a significant new business opportunity.”

“Reader’s Digest is a trusted source of information and advice that simplifies and enriches the lives of hundreds of millions of people around the world. Chartis is a world leading insurance organization. We are bringing the two together in new ways to offer solutions that will improve the lives of consumers,” said Dan Lagani, President, Reader’s Digest North America, and Executive Vice President, Reader’s Digest Association. “The expansion of our relationship with Chartis is an exciting new chapter for the Reader’s Digest brand.”

“Reader’s Digest International looks forward to using our expertise and understanding of markets around the world to work with Chartis to introduce these exciting new insurance solutions to consumers,” said Dawn Zier, President, International and Executive Vice President, Reader’s Digest Association.

About The Reader’s Digest Association, Inc.
Reader’s Digest Association is a global media and direct marketing company that educates, entertains and connects more than 145 million consumers around the world with products and services from trusted brands. With offices in 44 countries, the company reaches customers in 79 countries, publishes 86 magazines, including 50 editions of Reader’s Digest, the world’s largest-circulation magazine, operates 82 branded websites and sells nearly 40 million books, music and video products across the world each year. Further information about the company can be found at www.rda.com.

About Chartis
Chartis is a world leading property-casualty and general insurance organization serving more than 70 million clients around the world. With one of the industry’s most extensive ranges of products and services, deep claims expertise and excellent financial strength, Chartis enables its commercial and personal insurance clients alike to manage virtually any risk with confidence. Chartis is the marketing name for the worldwide property-casualty and general insurance operations of Chartis Inc. For additional information, please visit our website at http://www.chartisinsurance.com. All products are written by insurance company subsidiaries or affiliates of Chartis Inc. Coverage may not be
available in all jurisdictions and is subject to actual policy language. Non-insurance products and services may be provided by independent third parties. Certain coverage may be provided by a surplus lines insurer. Surplus lines insurers do not generally participate in state guaranty funds and insureds are therefore not protected by such funds.

Reader’s Digest contacts:
Media: Gary Davis, 646-293-6206, gary_davis@rd.com
Investors: Bryan Berndt, 646-293-6054

Chartis contacts:
Media: Marie Ali, 212-458-2536, marie.ali@chartisinsurance.com

Seattle, WA (PRWEB) December 13, 2011 — Allrecipes.com, the world’s #1 digital food brand, and The Hartman Group, a consumer insights consulting group, today released predictions for what—and how—America will be cooking in the new year. The report, Allrecipes Measuring Cup: What American Families are Eating and Cooking, 2012 Insights and Trends, available for free download from Allrecipes’ SlideShare account, finds that healthier and more informed eating habits are a common thread fueling the top 10 emerging trends for home cooks in 2012.

“It’s fun to look at what wacky foods or gourmet trends are predicted this time of year, but with nearly a billion annual visits from home cooks each year, Allrecipes really knows what most families will be cooking and eating in 2012,” said Lisa Sharples, president of Allrecipes. “We’re absolutely seeing a renewed appreciation for healthy home-cooked meals as consumers take a more sophisticated approach in their everyday cooking with an emphasis on simpler ingredients and fresher food.”

The concept of healthier eating ranges from eating less meat, and considering smaller portions, to knowing more about where your food comes from as well as what’s in the food itself. Following is a summary of anticipated 2012 trends:

Trend #1: Flexitarians: Allrecipes found more than one-third of households ate less meat in 2011, and the #1 reason they did was to “eat healthier” (80 percent). This doesn’t mean cutting out beef and poultry altogether, just adding a few more meatless meals to the menu. As this trend grows in 2012, meal inspiration will come from cultures where there is an inherent knowledge in vegetable preparation (e.g. Asia, Italy, France and India).

Trend #2: Back to Food Basics. From an interest in the Paleo Diet to consuming fewer carbohydrates, 2012 will be a year of “cleaner” eating. Consumer goals for the coming year include limiting highly processed foods, plus seeking foods and beverages that have antioxidants, probiotics, no hormones, and a list of ingredients they can recognize and pronounce. Consumers will also increasingly try to avoid MSG, trans fats, high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, and benzoate preservatives.

Trend #3: Label Listings: Fifty-seven percent of people reported they read labels more frequently in 2011, and this vigilance will grow even more in 2012. Consumers themselves say they read information on a product label for various reasons: Health, curiosity, and weight management are primary considerations, which research confirms is very often aspirational in nature. Calories are of the greatest interest as consumers scan each package and box.

Trend #4: Mini-Me: Miniature sweets were all the rage in 2011. Forty-six percent of home cooks reported eating a mini-dessert in the past year while 29% have tried making them at home. Allrecipes expects this trend to move out of the bakery and into the kitchens of home cooks as the enjoyment of eating these sweet, yet tiny, treats continues in 2012.

Trend #5: Home Economics: While consumers will continue shopping frugally in 2012, their values and demands will shift. They will not abandon their interest in having or creating a quality food experience for themselves, their families, and friends, and for cooking and eating will prioritize:

Quality = fresh, less processed, etc.

Experience = consumption enjoyment (indulgence) or transfer of knowledge (culinary know-how or product narratives)

Lack of waste = product right-sizing

Trend #6: You Inspire Me: Mom’s cooking, although inspiring to some, is having a hard time keeping up with the ability to search any time of day or night for a recipe idea online. Home cooks now tap a variety of sources for mealtime inspiration any time of day or night. Food websites such as Allrecipes.com are a resource for 68 percent of consumers, followed by food-focused TV programs, magazines, and email newsletters.

Trend #7: Devices: It doesn’t really matter whether a home cook is keying Smartphone apps in the supermarket aisle or setting up her laptop or tablet in the local café to plan Saturday’s dinner party, mobile technology is definitely the top trend for meal planning. As proof, visits to Allrecipes.com from a mobile device were up 218 percent year-over-year in November 2011, while downloads of the popular Allrecipes Dinner Spinner app surpassed 10 million.

Trend #8: What’s on Your Fridge Door: Ketchup has reigned as the U.S. condiment king for 125 years, but now salsa is nipping at its heels, and mayonnaise is enjoying a revival. A sampling of the most purchased condiments in the past six months also shows that international condiments such as hoisin sauce, wasabi sauce, and tahini will increasingly find their way into American fridges in 2012.

Trend #9: Anytime is a good time for a Snack: Turns out adults snack just as often as children, men and women snack about the same amount and, in general, snacking has become as culturally relevant to consumers as meal time. Research confirms snacking accounts for nearly half of all eating in the United States, so it’s only natural to conclude the consumer is interested in healthy snacks too. That said, when whole grain chips and toasted seeds, beans and nuts begin to gain in popularity – and kale chips are a polarizing discussion – it’s noteworthy.

Trend #10: Love the Sandwich: Higher quality ingredients from herb-infused bread to grass-fed pork and innovative ingredients (e.g. caramelized onions, watercress, and Sriracha sauce) will elevate the humble sandwich to one of the top comfort foods of the year. One of the reasons for this popularity is the roving food truck that will continue to introduce consumers to higher-quality sandwich options at decent prices.

Allrecipes also reviewed ingredients that were both waxing and waning in popularity for 2011:

On the rise:

1. Half and half
2. Quinoa
3. Chickpeas
4. Ground chicken
5. Mayonnaise
On the decline:
1. Scallops
2. Avocado
3. Phyllo
4. Blackberries
5. Caramel

Methodology

Data provided is from analysis of search and recipe viewing behaviors of more than 25 million home cooks who visit Allrecipes every month, plus data collected from an online survey of 1,391 Allrecipes community members fielded October 21 to 27, 2011. Additional perspective is provided through The Hartman Group’s intellectual property and consumer data.

About Allrecipes

Allrecipes, the world’s largest digital food brand, receives 750 million annual visits from home cooks who discover and share food experiences through recipes, reviews, photos, videos, profiles, and blogs on the web and mobile devices. For 14 years, the brand has served as a dynamic, indispensable resource for cooks of all skill levels seeking everyday and holiday meal solutions. Allrecipes’ global, multi-platform brand is comprised of 17 websites, 10 apps, and 13 eBooks serving cooks in 22 countries and 11 languages. Allrecipes is part of The Reader’s Digest Association, Inc. For additional information regarding Allrecipes, please visit http://www.allrecipes.com.

About the Hartman Group

The Hartman Group, located in Bellevue, Washington, is the predominant consumer culture consultancy in America today serving consumer packaged goods companies, retailers and organizations in foods and beverages, foodservice, personal care, shopper marketing and other businesses that comprise the consumer marketplace. Since 1989, The Hartman Group has blended primary qualitative, quantitative and trends research and consulting to understand the subtle complexities of consumer and shopper behavior. It specializes in understanding how consumer attitudes, lifestyle and behaviors lead to purchase. To learn more about how Hartman Group stays sharply focused on how consumers live, shop and use brands and products visit http://www.hartman-group.com.

ELECTION 2012 POLLING NEWS BULLETIN from IBOPE Zogby and Weekly Reader

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. and UTICA, N.Y., Dec. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Weekly Reader, one of the leading K-12 educational publishers, and IBOPE Zogby International, a global public opinion polling and market research firm, today announced the results of paired nation-wide surveys. The results show that children and adults agree on the top two issues facing the United States today — but feel very differently about our prospects for solving the country’s problems. The economy/jobs was cited by large majorities of adults (89 percent) and children (64 percent) as our country’s number one challenge in similar polls conducted by the two organizations. Health care was the clear second choice for both groups, but by a much larger percentage of kids (44 percent of children, 25 percent of adults). And unlike adults, children overwhelmingly indicated that the number one characteristic they are looking for in the country’s next president is honesty — even over intelligence.

Children and adults surveyed showed vastly different sentiments when asked how they felt about the future of the United States. Children overwhelmingly chose “I feel very hopeful that we will be able to fix our country’s problems” (58 percent), while 75 percent of adults responding to the same choices picked either “I do not feel hopeful” or “I feel somewhat hopeful” about the nation’s future.

“Children are very attuned to adult concerns, so we were not surprised to see a lot of agreement on the importance of the economy and jobs,” said Ira Wolfman, Senior Vice President, editorial, at Weekly Reader. “At the same time, the differences were revealing: Compared to adults, kids are strikingly more optimistic, far less concerned that the president agrees with them on all issues, and much more worried about war and the environment.”

Significant findings in the surveys included:
• What’s the most important quality a president should have? Kids say “honesty.” Adults are not as certain. Fifty-one percent of children said the number one attribute of a president should be his or her honesty. Adults, on the other hand, were evenly split between intelligence and honesty, both chosen by 31 percent of adults. Another big vote getter among adults was “Ideas I agree with,” coming in third with 19 percent, while only 9 percent of children made that choice.
• Children were much more concerned about war and the environment than adults were. Twenty-four percent of kids picked war as one of their top two issues, and 23 percent picked the environment. For adults, those issues were at the bottom of their lists (seven and five percent, respectively), while immigration (17 percent), energy (14 percent), and security (14 percent) came in much higher.
• Adults are far more likely to say they have discussed the election with their family. Eighty-six percent of adults responded that they have talked about the upcoming election with their family, while 43 percent of kids say they have had a family conversation on the election.

The polls used mostly identical questions but different techniques to survey their respective audiences. Weekly Reader’s unscientific poll was conducted via its website and included more than 2,100 student responses. Three-quarters of the students were in grades 3 – 6. IBOPE Zogby International surveyed 2,175 adults through its online panel, which is a statistically significant representation of the adult population of the U.S.
“Polling both adults and school kids and comparing results gives us valuable insight into how a broad constituency is relating to politics and the direction of our country,” said Kjell de Orr, Chief Executive Officer of IBOPE Zogby International. “As in this case, I often find the student responses to be both pure and thoughtful, and it indicates our future is in good hands with these bright young people.” De Orr added, “Partnering with the highly respected Weekly Reader on this project is an honor, and also great fun.”

In the Weekly Reader poll, children also were asked what the one piece of advice they would offer to the incoming president. Their heartfelt responses included:
• You need to cut gas prices now, please … for my mom.
• Four days of school would be nice, thanks. Oh, and lower taxes please.
• Always keep hope. Even if things don’t go the way you want, it’s ok. It’s just like drawing. The lines are never perfect but you keep hope and try it again.
• Please look at Congress’s salaries and make cuts there before you cut schools.
• Fix the stinking economy!
• Take robots out and make more jobs for people.
• Please stop bullying in schools and bullying online.

You can read more of students’ comments — and more data on the poll results at
(www.weeklyreader.com/pollresults).

These paired surveys mark a new chapter in the partnership between Weekly Reader and IBOPE Zogby. The educational publisher, which reaches more than 5 million students nationwide with its digital and print periodicals, has been conducting its National Student Presidential Poll since 1956. The millions of students who have voted in that poll have picked the winner 13 out of 14 times. Since the 2000 presidential race, the Zogby organization has tabulated and verified the results. The National Student Presidential Poll will be conducted and tabulated by IBOPE Zogby and Weekly Reader in September and October 2012, with results released shortly before the election.

ABOUT IBOPE ZOGBY INTERNATIONAL
IBOPE Zogby International is a non-partisan, premier global public opinion polling and market research firm that offers timely, accurate results and in-depth analysis and insights. IBOPE Zogby International works with issue experts in a vast array of fields including healthcare, technology, finance, insurance, energy, agriculture, public affairs, and media who offer insightful data analysis and exceptional service to clients in countries throughout the world. IBOPE Zogby International experts analyze data and work with clients to develop and implement new strategies, and offer customized and attractive solutions to challenges our clients face. IBOPE Zogby International was formed in January 2010 following the acquisition of Zogby International by IBOPE Inteligencia of Brazil, a subsidiary of IBOPE Group.Please visit www.ibopezogby.com for more information on IBOPE Zogby International.

ABOUT WEEKLY READER
Weekly Reader has been creating cutting-edge, curriculum-rich materials read by tens of millions of children since 1902. The company’s unique digital products and 11 award-winning classroom magazines provide teachers with tools that help them achieve their goals while inspiring, informing, and engaging students. Weekly Reader publications reach more than 100,000 teachers and 5 million students from Pre-K to grade 12. Its newest product, Weekly Reader Connect, is an online reading program for students in kindergarten through grade 6 that features interactive, whiteboard-ready multimedia news units paired with more than 500 reading comprehension lessons. Weekly Reader is part of the Reader’s Digest Association, Inc. For more information, visit www.wrconnect.com and www.weeklyreader.com.

Seattle, WA (PRWEB) December 01, 2011 –Today, two of the biggest names in home baking, Allrecipes.com and NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE®, kicked-off the second annual Cookies Across America campaign, a grass-roots program focused on leveraging the powerful reach of online community and social media channels to mobilize millions of home cooks to bake and share cookies with those in need this holiday season.

This year, cooks from the Allrecipes.com and NESTLÉ TOLL HOUSE communities are expected to bake more than 1 billion cookies in December alone—enough cookies to circle the globe twice! Similar to 2010, the year’s most popular Christmas cookies are expected to be sugar cookies, chocolate chip cookies, gingerbread cookies, and spice cookies. While many of these cookies will be consumed at home or shared at holiday parties, a good portion will be shared with those in need. According to Allrecipes’ 2011 Holiday Cooking Trends survey, 96 percent of home cooks believe sharing holiday cookies is a good way to show they care. Top recipients for holiday cookies include friends and family, co-workers, troops, first responders, church groups, and the postman.

All home bakers are invited to participate in Cookies Across America. To learn more about how to get involved, pledge, mobilize networks of friends, and share personal experiences, cooks can visit the Cookies Across America Facebook page. Program participation may include sharing home-baked cookies or cookie baking supplies with local food pantries, the homebound, emergency and homeless shelters, senior centers, lunch programs, first responders, elder living facilities, community agencies, and/or homebound neighbors. For those who would like to throw or attend a Cookies Across America-themed event such as a cookie exchange party, December 10th has been designated as the official 2011 Cookies Across America Bake a Difference Day. Home bakers can sign up to throw or attend a party on the Cookies Across America Meetup page.

“The Cookies Across America program embodies what our communities are all about: cooking, caring and, most importantly, sharing,” said Esmee Williams, VP of brand marketing at Allrecipes.com. “We encourage our passionate home cooks to give back to their communities this holiday season by sharing the comfort of simple home-baked cookies.”

“NESTLÉ TOLL HOUSE is excited to celebrate with Allrecipes.com for the Cookies Across America program,” said Jim Coyne, Director of Marketing, Nestlé Baking. “Sharing fresh-baked treats with loved ones is synonymous with the holiday season, and we could not be happier to help spread the love of cookies and baking to those in need this season.”

Allrecipes.com offers endless resources for home cooks looking for cookie inspiration this holiday season including thousands of top-rated cookie recipes, a Cookie Countdown beginning December 1 featuring holiday cookie recipes and baking tips for the 25 days leading up to Christmas, and Allrecipes’ Christmas – 100 Best Recipes from Allrecipes.com eCookbook featuring the best tried-and-true recipes for holiday meals, along with delicious cookie ideas perfect for giving and sharing. Participants can learn more about the program and share their stories on the Cookies Across America Facebook page.

About Allrecipes
Allrecipes, the world’s largest digital food brand, receives 750 million annual visits from home cooks who discover and share food experiences through recipes, reviews, photos, videos, profiles, and blogs on the web and mobile devices. For 14 years, the brand has served as a dynamic, indispensable resource for cooks of all skill levels seeking everyday and holiday meal solutions. Allrecipes’ global, multi-platform brand is comprised of 17 websites, 10 apps, and 13 eBooks serving cooks in 22 countries and 11 languages. Allrecipes is part of The Reader’s Digest Association, Inc. For additional information regarding Allrecipes, please visit Allrecipes.com.

About Nestlé USA
Named one of “The World’s Most Admired Food Companies” in Fortune magazine for fourteen consecutive years, Nestlé provides quality brands and products that bring flavor to life every day. From nutritious meals with LEAN CUISINE® to baking traditions with NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE®, Nestlé USA makes delicious, convenient, and nutritious food and beverage products that make good living possible. That’s what “Nestlé. Good Food, Good Life” is all about. Nestlé USA, with 2010 sales of $10.4 billion, is part of Nestlé S.A. in Vevey, Switzerland — the world’s largest food company with a commitment to Nutrition, Health & Wellness — with 2010 sales of $105 billion. For product news and information, visit Nestleusa.com or NestleNewsroom.com.

Failure of Congress to Address Deficit Reduction Turns Up Heat on Mayors

• Embattled Mayors look for help from programs like the Reader’s Digest We Hear You America campaign

NEW YORK, Nov. 22, 2011 — Americans can expect to dig deeper into their pockets in coming months as Mayors actively seek to raise municipal fees for the same or reduced level of municipal services in a desperate effort to find new revenues in a still struggling economy.

Even before the reported failure this weekend of the most recent effort in Congress to address deficit reduction through a special Congressional committee, Mayors already had been feeling the heat from local constituents as they dealt with issues associated with the poor economy: 48% of Mayors said they felt they were sometimes viewed as the bad guys while 12% were frustrated by the lack of appreciation for the tough decisions they had to make. However, the majority of Mayors polled still felt their jobs were worth doing.

A new online survey of 52 Mayors coast-to-coast commissioned for the second year in a row by Reader’s Digest and conducted in November 2011 by Harris Interactive, found the following:

• 90% of Mayors are anxiously seeking new revenue sources other than taxes.
• 65% percent of Mayors are looking at increasing municipal fees for services.
• At the same time they plan to raise fees, 52% of Mayors anticipated that in their next budgets they would be decreasing or cutting services to meet financial targets.
• Municipal services have taken a beating as the poor economy continues. 71% of Mayor’s indicated that they had already cut services in most areas, reducing maintenance at city parks, reducing hours at libraries and recreational facilities, and cutting staff and other services.

The survey findings were released to coincide with the launch of the second year of Reader’s Digest We Hear You America campaign, a popular national, grassroots initiative that serves as a catalyst to empower Americans to help their local communities by casting votes for their hometowns at ReadersDigest.com. We Hear You America provides funds and promotional support for quality-of-life projects for the communities that receive the most votes. More important, the stories of communities that participate are highlighted by Reader’s Digest in its magazine and on its digital and social media channels to bring them to the attention of people across the country.

An interesting finding in the survey was that 50% of Mayors said that in addition to creating jobs, the most help businesses could provide was to promote communities by bringing attention to what is good about them, a hallmark of the We Hear You America program.

Dan Lagani, President, Reader’s Digest North America, said, “The We Hear You America campaign is about giving back to the people and towns that have meant so much to Reader’s Digest over the years. Cities, towns, and villages across our country continue to face economic challenges. Reader’s Digest is bringing back We Hear You America to help these communities get the attention they deserve.”

The survey also found that:

• Asked what they were most proud about their community, the greatest single response from Mayors, 40%, was the involved people.
• 83% of Mayors said they thought their residents were very or somewhat motivated to volunteer in the community.
• 50% said encouraging employees to volunteer was another important thing businesses could do.
• Despite sometimes being put into the position of being the bad guy, 71% of Mayors polled said they loved their job because they loved their communities.
• Consistent with last year’s poll, Mayors said the rough economy had not diminished the optimism of local citizens, who remained hopeful that the future would be brighter.

The Reader’s Digest survey was conducted online from November 9 to 14 by Harris Interactive and commissioned by Reader’s Digest among a national sample of 52 mayors of towns and cities with populations of at least 20,000 residents, sampled from the U.S Conference of Mayors. A full methodology is available upon request.

About The Reader’s Digest Association, Inc.
Reader’s Digest Association is a global media and direct marketing company that educates, entertains, and connects more than 140 million consumers around the world with products and services from trusted brands. With offices in 44 countries, the company reaches customers in 79 countries, publishes 86 magazines, including 50 editions of Reader’s Digest, the world’s largest-circulation magazine, operates 82 branded websites, and sells nearly 40 million books, music, and video products across the world each year. Further information about the company can be found at www.rda.com.

About Harris Interactive
Harris Interactive is one of the world’s leading custom market research firms, leveraging research, technology, and business acumen to transform relevant insight into actionable foresight. Known widely for the Harris Poll and for pioneering innovative research methodologies, Harris offers expertise in a wide range of industries including healthcare, technology, public affairs, energy, telecommunications, financial services, insurance, media, retail, restaurant, and consumer package goods. Serving clients in over 215 countries and territories through our North American and European offices and a network of independent market research firms, Harris specializes in delivering research solutions that help us – and our clients – stay ahead of what’s next. For more information, please visit www.harrisinteractive.com.

RDA contacts:
Media: Gary Davis, 646-293-6206

Seattle, WA (PRWEB) November 17, 2011– Allrecipes.com, a Reader’s Digest Association (RDA) company and the world’s #1 digital food brand, today announced its mobile apps have surpassed 10 million downloads. #1 most downloaded food app, Allrecipes Dinner Spinner, generates over 90,000 spins per day and receives more traffic than Allrecipes’ closest competitor’s entire website. Thanksgiving planning is forever changed as smart phones soar to new heights with more than 54 percent year over year growth.*

Allrecipes’ apps surpass mobile industry growth with expected traffic surge of 150 percent the week leading up to Thanksgiving compared to the same week last year. Home cooks will view more than 26 million Allrecipes recipes from a mobile device the week of Thanksgiving.

“Allrecipes is thrilled that our mobile apps have reached 10 million downloads and honored that home cooks around the world are using the apps so frequently to help solve the ‘what’s for dinner’ challenge and plan important family meals such as Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner,” said Scott Scazafavo, vice president of product at Allrecipes.com. “Allrecipes is committed to making fun, innovative, user friendly apps that help home cooks on the go quickly access recipes, shopping lists, nutrition information and more. We could not be happier to have such a vibrant community to share these apps with.”

Allrecipes app owners can access the sites complete collection of recipes to match their interests or needs by selecting a main ingredient, dish type and cook time. Cooks looking for inspiration using Dinner Spinner can shake their device to activate the Dinner Spinner’s slot-machine-style action for surprise dish ideas. All recipes have photos, ingredient lists, step-by-step directions, nutrition and reviews featuring cooking variations from Allrecipes’ active and creative community of more than 25 million home cooks. The apps also feature sharing capabilities for social networks including Facebook and Twitter.

Allrecipes’ global app collection is comprised of Allrecipes.com Dinner Spinner in the U.S. for iPhone, Android, Window’s Phone 7 devices, and the newest optimized for Kindle Fire, Allrecipes.com Dinner Spinner Pro for iPhone and Android, Allrecipes Dinner Spinner for six international iPhone versions serving 123 countries in six languages, Allrecipes.com Your Kitchen Inspiration free and Pro for iPad and Allrecipes TV for Google TV’s Android platform.

For more information on Allrecipes full app collection, visit: http://allrecipes.com/features/applications/default.aspx?prop24=PN_6.2.2_SN.Mobile-Applicat

*Growth according to comScore Data Mine reported Sep. 26 2011.

About Allrecipes

Allrecipes, the world’s largest digital food brand, receives 750 million annual visits from home cooks who discover and share food experiences through recipes, reviews, photos, videos, profiles, and blogs on the web and mobile devices. For 14 years, the brand has served as a dynamic, indispensable resource for cooks of all skill levels seeking everyday and holiday meal solutions. Allrecipes’ global, multi-platform brand is comprised of 17 websites, 9 apps, and 13 eBooks serving cooks in 22 countries and 11 languages. Allrecipes is part of Lifestyle Communities @ RDA, a division of The Reader’s Digest Association, Inc. For additional information regarding Allrecipes, please visit http://www.allrecipes.com.

About Reader’s Digest Association

Reader’s Digest Association is a global media and direct marketing company that educates, entertains and connects more than 145 million consumers around the world with products and services from trusted brands. With offices in 44 countries, the company reaches customers in 79 countries, publishes 86 magazines, including 50 editions of Reader’s Digest, the world’s largest-circulation magazine, operates 82 branded websites and sells nearly 40 million books, music and video products across the world each year. Further information about the company can be found at http://www.rda.com.

* Reader’s Digest also launching the We Hear You America Foundation to set up ongoing support to help communities improve their quality of life

NEW YORK, Nov. 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Reader’s Digest today launched the second year of its We Hear You America campaign, the popular national, grassroots initiative that serves as a catalyst to empower Americans to help their local communities by casting votes at ReadersDigest.com on behalf of their hometowns. Last year’s program touched 50% of the cities, towns, and villages in the United States, 110 of which received funds and promotional support for needed community projects and civic initiatives.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111116/NY08323LOGO )

To date, the program has helped fund and promote quality-of-life projects ranging from building a new municipal pool in Genoa, Nebraska, to expanding a public library in Ainsworth, Nebraska, to replacing fire hydrants in Boley, Oklahoma, to developing a skate and bike park in Armada, Michigan, to repairing a city art gallery in Manchester, New Hampshire, to bringing back 4th of July fireworks in Jackson, Illinois. More important, the stories of these and other communities were highlighted by Reader’s Digest in its magazine and on its digital and social media channels to bring them to the attention of people across the country.

Dan Lagani, president of Reader’s Digest North America, says, “The We Hear You America campaign is about giving back to the people and towns that have meant so much to Reader’s Digest over the years. Cities, towns, and villages across our country continue to face economic challenges. Reader’s Digest is bringing back We Hear You America to help these communities get the attention they deserve. This year, we’re doing even more to stimulate local economies and improve communities all across the country with an even larger financial and promotional commitment to the campaign and the creation of the new Reader’s Digest We Hear You America Foundation.”

How to participate
It’s easy for people to vote for a town. Go online, log on to ReadersDigest.com, type in the name of the town, and click on the word “Vote.” People may cast as many votes as they like. While on the site, individuals are encouraged to upload photos of their towns, describe the needs of their communities, and talk about why where they live is the best place in America. The We Hear You America campaign will provide support to the towns receiving the most votes, including being featured in the Reader’s Digest annual Best of America issue and on ReadersDigest.com. Communities participating in the initiative may also be featured in Reader’s Digest and on ReadersDigest.com during 2012.

“People have always turned to Reader’s Digest for the best stories in America. We wanted to turn the tables and have America tell us what’s interesting and inspiring,” says Liz Vaccariello, Reader’s Digest chief content officer and editor-in-chief. “Who better than Reader’s Digest to cut through the bureaucracy and red tape to help towns fund projects and to enhance community pride while providing communities a platform to express what help they need to improve their lives.”

Reader’s Digest has joined forces with rocker and pop culture icon Bret Michaels to expand the reach of the We Hear You America campaign. Bret is the perfect partner for this campaign because he brings his experiences as a survivor, a rocker, a father, a philanthropist, and an American who has traveled this great land by tour bus from coast-to-coast. “As a musician and an artist, I wanted to get involved in the We Hear You America campaign because it’s not only about inspiring people to improve their lives and their communities, but about giving everyone a voice,” says Michaels. “It starts with all of you. Go to ReadersDigest.com every day to vote for your hometown. Your votes, joined with others in your community, could get your hometown funds and promotional support from the We Hear You America campaign.”

We Hear You America Foundation
Last year’s We Hear You America campaign put the spotlight on communities and their needs so successfully that many Americans wanted to know how they could help towns like theirs beyond casting their votes online. To address that need, Reader’s Digest has formed the We Hear You America Foundation. The goal of the foundation, which is in the process of applying for 501(c)3 status, will be to help fund, through the generosity of Americans, community projects that will help local cities, towns, and villages enrich their quality of life. Reader’s Digest intends to contribute financially to the foundation and will cover administrative and fund-raising costs.

“There is a desire among people to take matters into our own hands and start working together to fix America,” says Lagani. “Reader’s Digest has been a trusted source of ideas, stories, experiences, and products for generations. We view creation of a 501(c)3 foundation by Reader’s Digest to support the We Hear You America campaign as another way we can be a catalyst to engage people across the country in helping to fix America.”

To help jump-start contributions, Reader’s Digest is offering anyone who contributes $10 via ReadersDigest.com a one-year subscription to Reader’s Digest magazine as a bonus. Americans can learn more about the Reader’s Digest We Hear You America Foundation and how to contribute at WeHearYouAmericaFoundation.org.

About The Reader’s Digest Association, Inc.
Reader’s Digest Association is a global media and direct marketing company that educates, entertains, and connects more than 145 million consumers around the world with products and services from trusted brands. With offices in 44 countries, the company reaches customers in 79 countries, publishes 86 magazines, including 50 editions of Reader’s Digest, the world’s largest-circulation magazine, operates 82 branded websites, and sells nearly 40 million books, music, and video products across the world each year. Further information about the company can be found at www.rda.com.

About Bret Michaels
Rocker and pop culture icon Bret Michaels has been making hits—whether solo, or with his legendary rock group, Poison—for 25 years. Poison’s record sales, in combination with those from Bret’s solo albums, exceed 31 million records and DVDs worldwide, with chart-topping hits such as “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” and “Something to Believe In,” among many others. Beyond his legendary work with Poison, as well as his acclaimed solo career, Michaels has gone on to enjoy a stunningly successful run in the realm of reality TV, including a first place finish on 2010′s “The Celebrity Apprentice,” and VH1 hits such as “Rock of Love” and “Life as I Know It.” An edgy rocker with a knack for originality, Michaels is also a skilled businessman and diehard philanthropist. A true pop culture icon, Michaels has earned an array of titles ranging from People Magazine’s Top 50 most intriguing people three years running, to Winner of the “Celebrity Apprentice,” to Maxim Magazine’s top 100 hottest people.

Michaels recently partnered with Dean Guitars, to design his first ever signature Bret Michaels series, which sold out on HSN within minutes of their debut. Michaels also partnered with retail giant PetSmart for a line of pet products due out in 2012 with PetSmart, and his Diet Snapple Trop-a-Rocka Tea remains one of the best-selling drinks in Snapple’s line-up. Philanthropy remains an important facet of Michaels’ career as well: a lifelong diabetic, Michaels partnered with the American Diabetes Association in 2010, acting as a spokesperson and sponsor. He gives generously to the cause, donating both his time, money, and support to a number of diabetes charities. Bret continues to evolve as an artist and as an entrepreneur, taking on new projects in music, business, and beyond. His “Get Your Rock On” solo tour will continue through New Year’s Eve.

RDA contacts:
Media: Gary Davis, 646-293-6206

Seattle, WA (PRWEB) November 08, 2011 –Allrecipes.com, a Reader’s Digest Association (RDA) company and the world’s #1 digital food brand, today announced a new app, Allrecipes TV, created exclusively for Google TV, offering a massive collection of videos and recipe content to millions of web enabled TV viewers. This expansion further supports Allrecipes’ commitment to making its award-winning content available to new audiences through expanded platforms, new formats, and innovative technologies.

The Allrecipes TV app for Google TV, available for free download in the Android Market, provides families with convenient access to the site’s vast collection of award-winning content. Just in time for the holiday rush, home cooks can learn how to cook on demand with Allrecipes’ high-quality, original video shows and how-to videos featuring recipes, tips and tricks, and deliciously entertaining content.

Viewers can locate recipes to match any craving by searching or browsing by cuisine, dish type, main ingredient, method, time or occasion. Recipes include photos, nutrition information, ratings, and reviews with helpful suggestions from Allrecipes’ engaged and creative community of home cooks. Favorite recipes can be shared via email, Facebook, Twitter or other social channels home cooks have installed on Google TV.

“Allrecipes is having tremendous success expanding the brand across new devices, markets, and platforms, ensuring our content is always available to our global community of 25 million monthly unique visitors whenever, and wherever they want it,” said Lisa Sharples, president of Allrecipes.com. “We’re excited about Allrecipes TV. Similar to Allrecipes.com Dinner Spinner and our other mobile apps, which have nearly 10 million downloads, this new app enables home cooks to experience premium food-related content in a fun new way—on demand from the big screen of their web-enabled TV.”

For more information on the Allrecipes TV app for Google TV, visit: https://market.android.com/details?id=com.allrecipes.googletv

About Allrecipes
Allrecipes, the world’s largest digital food brand, receives 700 million annual visits from home cooks who discover and share food experiences through recipes, reviews, photos, videos, profiles, and blogs on the web and mobile devices. For 14 years, the brand has served as a dynamic, indispensable resource for cooks of all skill levels seeking everyday and holiday meal solutions. Allrecipes’ global, multi-platform brand is comprised of 17 websites, 9 apps, and 13 eBooks serving cooks in 23 countries and 11 languages. Allrecipes is part of Lifestyle Communities @ RDA, a division of The Reader’s Digest Association, Inc. For additional information regarding Allrecipes, please visit http://www.allrecipes.com.

About Reader’s Digest Association
RDA is a global media and direct marketing company that educates, entertains and connects more than 140 million consumers around the world with products and services from trusted brands. With offices in 44 countries, the company reaches customers in 79 countries, publishes 87 magazines, including 50 editions of Reader’s Digest, the world’s largest-circulation magazine, operates 82 branded websites and sells nearly 40 million books, music and video products across the world each year. http://www.rda.com.