U.S. Professional Publishing Market Growth Will Taper to 2.4% in 2004, But Electronic Growth Will Accelerate, According to New Simba Information Report.

New Simba Information report called Publishing for Professional Markets: Review, Trends & Forecast 2003-2004 delivers in-depth analysis of professional publishing and online services trends.

STAMFORD, CT: May 22, 2003 - Simba Information, the market intelligence and forecasting unit of PRIMEDIA, Inc., expects the U.S. professional publishing market to grow 2.4% to $15.90 billion in 2004, from an estimated $15.53 in 2003.

The professional publishing market includes the print and electronic content in the legal, medical, scientific/technical and business publishing segments.

The findings are revealed in Simbas Publishing for Professional Markets 2003-2004. The 404-page report is brimming with concise information and analysis on the professional publishing market, featuring new sections on society and association publishers, more data on electronic book and journal services, improved global content and highly detailed profiles of 33 professional information providers.

The report examines the impact of professional publishing acquisitions and alliances, and delivers targeted information on the top book, journal, newsletter, online and directory and database producers, including growth forecasts for 2003 and beyond.

Professional and scholarly content users may not be able to spend the kind of money they did in the last few years on information, but they certainly cannot stop altogether," said David Jastrow, senior analyst at Simba Information. Publishers have invested large amounts of time, money and expertise into developing new electronic tools and services for professionals, and the enhanced content and customization capabilities are becoming more and more attractive to them."

The report is available in print and online formats. Simba Information also publishes the weekly newsletter Professional Publishing Report.

David Jastrow and Phil Soto-Ortiz, associate editor of the newsletter, are available to comment on professional publishing and information trends and forecasts.

About Simba Information:
Simba Information Inc. is widely recognized as the leading authority for market intelligence and forecasts on the media, publishing and IT industries. Simba is a unit of PRIMEDIA and is headquartered in Stamford, CT.

About PRIMEDIA:
PRIMEDIA is the largest targeted media company with leading positions in consumer and business-to-business markets. Our properties deliver content via print, along with 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 $1.6 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, Ward's Auto World, and Registered Rep.

The company is also the #1 producer 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.