Ownership Submission
FORM 4
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
ZIESER JOHN S
   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
MEREDITH CORP [MDP] 		5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
V.P.-Corp.Dev.,G.Counsel & Sec
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
1716 LOCUST STREET		 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
01/29/2005
(Street)

DES MOINES, IA 50309-3023		 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock (Restricted) ($1 par value) (1) 01/29/2005   A   413 A $ 0 4,177 D  
Common Stock (Restricted) ($1 par value) (1) 01/31/2005   D   2,255 D $ 0 1,922 D  
Common Stock ($1 par value) (2)               12,316 I by Managed Account
Common Stock ($1 par value) (3)               1,856 I by Spouse

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)		 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)		 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)		 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)		 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Restricted stock units (1) $ 0 01/31/2005   A   2,255   08/08/1988 08/08/1988 Common Stock ($1 par value) 2,255 $ 0 3,769 D  
Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy) (4) $ 28.0625             08/09/2008 08/08/2010 Common Stock ($1 par value) 12,000   12,000 D  
Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy) (5) $ 28.0625             08/09/2001 08/09/2010 Common Stock ($1 par value) 18,000   18,000 D  
Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy) (6) $ 33.1563             08/12/2000 08/10/2009 Common Stock ($1 par value) 6,000   6,000 D  
Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy) (5) $ 33.1563             08/11/2000 08/11/2009 Common Stock ($1 par value) 18,000   18,000 D  
Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy) (5) $ 34.8             08/08/2002 08/08/2011 Common Stock ($1 par value) 22,500   22,500 D  
Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy) (5) $ 37.1563             02/01/2000 02/01/2009 Common Stock ($1 par value) 18,000   18,000 D  
Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy) (5) $ 39.05             08/13/2003 08/13/2012 Common Stock ($1 par value) 25,000   25,000 D  
Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy) (7) $ 46.165             08/12/2006 08/12/2013 Common Stock ($1 par value) 30,000   30,000 D  
Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy) (8) $ 46.165             08/12/2011 08/13/2013 Common Stock ($1 par value) 30,000   30,000 D  
Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy) (7) $ 49.97             08/10/2007 08/10/2014 Common Stock ($1 par value) 40,000   40,000 D  
Stock equivalent units $ 0             08/08/1988 08/08/1988 Common Stock ($1 par value) (9) 3,177   3,177 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
ZIESER JOHN S
1716 LOCUST STREET
DES MOINES, IA 50309-3023		       V.P.-Corp.Dev.,G.Counsel & Sec  

Signatures

 John S. Zieser   01/31/2005
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Shares were awarded pursuant to the Meredith Corporation Stock Incentive Plans. The shares are subject to forfeiture and are nontransferable until vested, as specified in each award agreement.
(2) Shares held in reporting person's IRA account; Meredith Corp. Savings & Investment Plan account; and Employee Stock Purchase Plan account, upon all of which quarterly dividends are paid in the form of additional Common Stock ($1 par value).
(3) Shares purchased by spouse for her own account and the children's custodial accounts.
(4) This option was granted pursuant to the '96 Meredith Corp. Stock Incentive Plan and will become exercisable in full August 9, 2008. Graduated percentages of the option, however, will become exercisable August 13, 2003, if specified EPS growth targets set forth in Exhibit A to the Nonqualified Stock Option Award agreement are met.
(5) This option was granted pursuant to the '96 Meredith Corp. Stock Incentive Plan and becomes exercisable in three equal annual installments, commencing on the first anniversary of the date of grant.
(6) This option was granted pursuant to the '96 Meredith Corp. Stock Incentive Plan and will become exercisable in full February 12, 2007. Graduated percentages of the option, however, will become exercisable August 12, 2000, if specified EPS growth targets set forth in Exhibit A to the Nonqualified Stock Option Award agreement are met.
(7) This option was granted pursuant to the '96 Meredith Corp. Stock Incentive Plan and becomes exercisable in its entirety on the third anniversary of the date of grant.
(8) This option was granted pursuant to the '96 Meredith Corp. Stock Incentive Plan and will become exercisable in full on August 12, 2011. Graduated percentages of the option, however, will become exercisable on August 12, 2006, if specified EPS growth targets set forth in Exhibit A to the Nonqualified Stock Option Award agreement are met.
(9) Stock equivalents issued at fair market value (the average of the high and low selling price of Meredith Common Stock on the issue date), pursuant to Meredith Corp.'s deferred compensation plan which will be converted to Common Stock ($1 par value) on a one-for-one basis upon the reporting person's retirement from or termination of Meredith Corp. employment. Quarterly dividends are accrued in the form of additional stock equivalents. Data in this footnote would normally appear in the Title, Exercisable Date, and Price columns.

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