UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D. C. 20549

                                   FORM 8-K







PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)       March 8, 2000


Commission file number     1-5128




                           Meredith Corporation
         (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                    Iowa                                42-0410230
      (State or other jurisdiction of                (I.R.S. Employer
       incorporation or organization)               Identification No.)

    1716 Locust Street, Des Moines, Iowa                50309-3023
  (Address of principal executive offices)              (ZIP Code)

                              515 - 284-3000
          (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)












                                     - 1 -
<PAGE>

Item 5. Other Events

On March 8, 2000, Meredith Corporation announced several strategic initiatives
designed to position the company for significant growth in a rapidly changing
business environment that stresses convergence, interactivity and greater
advertising accountability.  These initiatives include:

1. Creation of the Meredith Interactive and Integrated Marketing Group to
   complement Meredith's existing Publishing and Broadcasting Groups.

2. Expansion and acceleration of Internet-related efforts on a company-wide
   basis.

3. Implementation of a series of consumer marketing initiatives designed to
   grow the profit contribution of its circulation activities.

4. Closing certain operations that no longer fit its business objectives.

To move forward with these initiatives, Meredith is committing up to $100
million for investments in Internet and e-commerce activities, continued
development of its consumer database, and strategic alliances and partnerships.
Additionally, the company plans to provide at least $10 million annually in
marketing support to grow these businesses through advertising in its magazines
and at its television stations.  Meredith will also increase its investments in
circulation initiatives and write down certain assets.

Meredith anticipates that incremental spending related to its investments in
Internet and e-commerce activities, continued development of its consumer
database and strategic alliances and partnerships will impact fiscal 2000
fourth quarter earnings per share between 2 to 3 cents.  Investment spending
related to the circulation initiatives is expected to impact fiscal 2000 fourth
quarter earnings per share by 8 to 10 cents, due to accounting rules that
require expensing these costs at the time of mailing rather than over the term
of the subscription.  One-time charges for the write-off of nondeductible
intangibles, severance payments and other charges related to the magazine
closings will cost between 35 to 37 cents per share in the fiscal 2000 fourth
quarter.  The company believes the overall impact of these actions will be in
the 45 to 50 cents per share range for the fiscal 2000 fourth quarter.

Looking to fiscal 2001, the company expects incremental Internet investment to
be 10 to 15 cents per share for the year, while the incremental circulation
investments will be 8 to 10 cents per share.


Additional information regarding these initiatives is included in the news
release and conference call script which are attached as exhibits.







                                     - 2 -
<PAGE>

Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits

        (c) Exhibits

            99.1  News release issued by Meredith Corporation dated March 8,
                  2000 concerning new strategic initiatives and related
                  financial impact.

            99.2  Conference call script of conversation with analysts on
                  March 8, 2000 concerning news release of the same date.











































                                     - 3 -
<PAGE>






                                  SIGNATURE




Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.


                              MEREDITH CORPORATION
                              Registrant




                                 (Suku V. Radia)
                                  Suku V. Radia
                      Vice President - Chief Financial Officer
                              (Principal Financial and
                                 Accounting Officer)










Date: March 15, 2000
















                                     - 4 -
<PAGE>






                               Index to Exhibits




     Exhibit
     Number                                  Item
     -------      -----------------------------------------------------------


      99.1        News release issued by Meredith Corporation dated March 8,
                  2000 concerning new strategic initiatives and related
                  financial impact.

      99.2        Conference call script of conversation with analysts on
                  March 8, 2000 concerning news release of the same date.
































                                    E-1
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UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D. C. 20549

                                   FORM 8-K

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)       March 8, 2000

Commission file number     1-5128

                           Meredith Corporation
         (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                    Iowa                                42-0410230
      (State or other jurisdiction of                (I.R.S. Employer
       incorporation or organization)               Identification No.)

    1716 Locust Street, Des Moines, Iowa                50309-3023
  (Address of principal executive offices)              (ZIP Code)

                              515 - 284-3000
          (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

                                     - 1 -
Item 5. Other Events

On March 8, 2000, Meredith Corporation announced several strategic initiatives
designed to position the company for significant growth in a rapidly changing
business environment that stresses convergence, interactivity and greater
advertising accountability.  These initiatives include:

1. Creation of the Meredith Interactive and Integrated Marketing Group to
   complement Meredith's existing Publishing and Broadcasting Groups.

2. Expansion and acceleration of Internet-related efforts on a company-wide
   basis.

3. Implementation of a series of consumer marketing initiatives designed to
   grow the profit contribution of its circulation activities.

4. Closing certain operations that no longer fit its business objectives.

To move forward with these initiatives, Meredith is committing up to $100
million for investments in Internet and e-commerce activities, continued
development of its consumer database, and strategic alliances and partnerships.
Additionally, the company plans to provide at least $10 million annually in
marketing support to grow these businesses through advertising in its magazines
and at its television stations.  Meredith will also increase its investments in
circulation initiatives and write down certain assets.

Meredith anticipates that incremental spending related to its investments in
Internet and e-commerce activities, continued development of its consumer
database and strategic alliances and partnerships will impact fiscal 2000
fourth quarter earnings per share between 2 to 3 cents.  Investment spending
related to the circulation initiatives is expected to impact fiscal 2000 fourth
quarter earnings per share by 8 to 10 cents, due to accounting rules that
require expensing these costs at the time of mailing rather than over the term
of the subscription.  One-time charges for the write-off of nondeductible
intangibles, severance payments and other charges related to the magazine
closings will cost between 35 to 37 cents per share in the fiscal 2000 fourth
quarter.  The company believes the overall impact of these actions will be in
the 45 to 50 cents per share range for the fiscal 2000 fourth quarter.

Looking to fiscal 2001, the company expects incremental Internet investment to
be 10 to 15 cents per share for the year, while the incremental circulation
investments will be 8 to 10 cents per share.

Additional information regarding these initiatives is included in the news
release and conference call script which are attached as exhibits.

                                     - 2 -
Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits

        (c) Exhibits

            99.1  News release issued by Meredith Corporation dated March 8,
                  2000 concerning new strategic initiatives and related
                  financial impact.

            99.2  Conference call script of conversation with analysts on
                  March 8, 2000 concerning news release of the same date.

                                     - 3 -
SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

                              MEREDITH CORPORATION
                              Registrant

                                 (Suku V. Radia)
                                  Suku V. Radia
                      Vice President - Chief Financial Officer
                              (Principal Financial and
                                 Accounting Officer)

Date: March 15, 2000

                                     - 4 -
Index to Exhibits

     Exhibit
     Number                                  Item
     -------      -----------------------------------------------------------

      99.1        News release issued by Meredith Corporation dated March 8,
                  2000 concerning new strategic initiatives and related
                  financial impact.

      99.2        Conference call script of conversation with analysts on
                  March 8, 2000 concerning news release of the same date.

                                    E-1