American Media Names Alan Stiles as Publisher of Men's Fitness.

Business Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 22, 2003

Carolyn Bekkedahl, Executive Vice-President/Publishing Director for the Active Lifestyle Group of magazines at American Media, Inc., today named Alan Stiles to the position of publisher of Men's Fitness. The Active Lifestyle Group consists of Shape, Men's Fitness, Fit Pregnancy, Natural Health and Muscle & Fitness Hers.

"Alan's background at magazines like ESPN, Esquire and GQ make him the perfect publisher as we move Men's Fitness in a more lifestyle direction," said Ms. Bekkedahl. The magazine had previously named Peter Sikowitz as its new editor in chief in May, and at that time announced its intention to significantly expand the editorial focus.

Men's Fitness re-launches with its November issue, backed by a $5 million promotional campaign. Earlier in the year, AMI Chairman David J. Pecker made clear his expectations for the title when he said that he had Men's Health, Maxim and GQ squarely in his sights.

Commenting on Mr. Stiles being hired as publisher, Mr. Pecker said, "Men's Fitness isn't just about having the best abs; it's about having a better life, whether that involves being in great shape or understanding women or succeeding at work. Men's Fitness is why the best man wins. And Alan is the best man for the publisher's job."

In addition to ESPN, Esquire, GQ and Vanity Fair, Mr. Stiles was Associate Publisher of Red Herring and helped launch Automobile Magazine.

Mr. Stiles said, "The soon to be re-launched Men's Fitness represents a significant upgrade. Our reader is a bit more sophisticated than Maxim, but younger and less set in his ways than Men's Health. Men's Fitness fills a huge void by delivering the audience and a mindset many advertisers want to reach - the elusive 25 to 34-year-old guy."

American Media, Inc., is one of the largest media companies in the U.S. The company publishes six of the 14 best selling weekly magazines, including the Number 2 and Number 4 titles, The National Enquirer and Star. AMI recently acquired Weider Publications, the leading publisher of health and fitness magazines, including Shape, Men's Fitness, Muscle & Fitness, Muscle & Fitness Hers, Flex, Fit Pregnancy and Natural Health. The company also publishes the best selling country music magazine, Country Weekly; a Latino entertainment magazine, Mira!; two automotive magazines, AMI's Auto World and NOPI Street Performance Compact; and more than 200 Mini-Mags and Digests. AMI recently launched its own book division with 10 titles released to date. In addition to print properties, AMI owns Distribution Services, Inc., the country's Number 1 in-store magazine merchandising company.