WILEY JOHN & SONS INC
DEF 14A, 1998-08-07
BOOKS: PUBLISHING OR PUBLISHING & PRINTING
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                                                           605 Third Avenue
                                                           New York, NY 10158
                                                           (212)850-6000

John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

                                                           Bradford Wiley II
                                                           Chairman of the Board

                                                           August 7, 1998



TO OUR SHAREHOLDERS:

     We cordially  invite you to attend the 1998 Annual Meeting of  Shareholders
to be held Thursday, September 17, 1998 at 9:30 in the morning, at the Shelburne
Murray Hill Hotel,  Grand  Ballroom,  303 Lexington  Avenue at 37th Street,  New
York, New York. The official Notice of Meeting,  Proxy  Statement,  and separate
forms of proxy for  Class A and  Class B  Shareholders  are  enclosed  with this
letter.  The  matters  listed in the  Notice of  Meeting  are  described  in the
attached Proxy Statement.

     The Board of  Directors  welcomes and  appreciates  the interest of all our
shareholders in the Company's affairs,  and encourages those entitled to vote at
this  annual  meeting  to take the time to do so.  We hope you will  attend  the
meeting,  but whether or not you expect to be  personally  present,  please vote
your shares, either by signing, dating and promptly returning the enclosed proxy
card (or, if you own two classes of shares, both proxy cards)in the accompanying
post-paid  envelope,  or by  telephone,  using the  toll-free  telephone  number
printed on the proxy card.  This will assure that your shares are represented at
the  meeting.  Even though you execute  this proxy or use the  telephone  voting
service,  you may  revoke it at any time  before it is voted.  If you attend the
meeting  you will be able to vote in  person  if you wish to do so,  even if you
have previously returned your proxy card or used the telephone voting service.

     Your vote is important to us, and we  appreciate  your prompt  attention to
this matter.



                                             Sincerely,

                                             /s/ BRADFORD WILEY


                                             Chairman of the Board



<PAGE>



John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158  (212)850-6000



NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING
                                                             of Shareholders
                                                             to be held
                                                             September 17, 1998

To our Shareholders:


     The  Annual  Meeting  of  Shareholders  of John  Wiley &  Sons,  Inc.  (the
"Company")will be held at the Shelburne Murray Hill Hotel,  Grand Ballroom,  303
Lexington Avenue at 37th Street, New York, New York, on Thursday,  September 17,
1998 at 9:30 A.M., for the following purposes:

     1. To  elect a board  of ten  (10)directors,  of whom  three  (3)are  to be
elected  by the  holders  of Class A Common  Stock  voting  as a class and seven
(7)are to be elected by the holders of Class B Common Stock voting as a class.

     2. To  consider  and act upon a proposal  to amend the  Company's  Restated
Certificate of  Incorporation to authorize  90,000,000  shares of Class A Common
Stock and 36,000,000  shares of Class B Common Stock, as described more fully in
the attached Proxy Statement.

     3. To ratify the  appointment  by the Board of Directors  of the  Company's
independent public accountants for the fiscal year ending April 30, 1999.

     4. To transact such other  business as may properly come before the meeting
or any adjournments thereof.

     Shareholders  of  record  at the  close of  business  on July 31,  1998 are
entitled  to notice of and to vote at the  Annual  Meeting  or any  adjournments
thereof.


                                             BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

                                                  JOSEPHINE A. BACCHI
                                                  Secretary
August 7, 1998
New York, New York


     Your vote is important to us.  Whether or not you plan to be present at the
Annual Meeting,  please vote your proxy, either by telephone, or by mail. If you
attend the Annual  Meeting in person,  you may withdraw your proxy and vote your
shares personally.


<PAGE>


PROXY STATEMENT

     This Proxy  Statement is furnished in connection  with the  solicitation by
the Board of Directors of John Wiley & Sons,  Inc. (the "Company") of proxies to
be used at the Annual Meeting of  Shareholders  to be held on September 17, 1998
at the time and place set forth in the accompanying Notice of Meeting and at any
and all adjournments  thereof.  This Proxy Statement and  accompanying  forms of
proxy relating to each class of Common Stock, together with the Company's Annual
Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended April 30, 1998 ("fiscal 1998"),
are being first sent or given to shareholders on August 7, 1998.

     The executive offices of the Company are at 605 Third Avenue, New York, New
York 10158.

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

     o    Voting Securities, Record Date, Principal Holders, page 1

     o    Certain Information Concerning the Board, page 4

     o    Election of Directors, page 5

     o    Executive Compensation, page 10

     o    Proposal to Amend the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, page 17

     o    Proposal to Ratify Appointment of Independent Public Accountants, page
          17

     o    Manner and Expenses of Solicitation of Proxies, page 18 

     o    Deadline for Submission of Shareholder Proposals, page 19


I.   Voting Securities--Record Date--Principal Holders

     Only  shareholders  of record at the close of business on July 31, 1998 are
entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of  Shareholders  on the matters that may
come before the Annual Meeting.

   
     At the  close  of  business  on July 31,  1998,  there  were  approximately
12,922,009 shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share (the "Class
A Stock"),  and 3,084,158  shares of Class B Common  Stock,  par value $1.00 per
share (the "Class B Stock"), issued and outstanding and entitled to vote, except
for 48,919  shares of Class A Stock which are  restricted  shares and may not be
voted until  restrictions  lapse (see  Summary  Compensation  Table on page 12).
There were no shares of Preferred  Stock issued and  outstanding at the close of
business on July 31, 1998.
    

     The  holders of Class A Stock,  voting as a class,  are  entitled  to elect
three (3) directors,  and the holders of Class B Stock,  voting as a class,  are
entitled to elect seven (7)  directors.  Each  outstanding  share of Class A and
Class B Stock is  entitled  to one vote  for each  Class A or Class B  director,
respectively.  The  presence  in  person  or  by  proxy  of a  majority  of  the
outstanding  shares of Class A or Class  BStock  entitled to vote for  directors
designated as Class A or Class B directors,  as the case may be, will constitute
a quorum  for the  purpose  of  voting to elect  that  class of  directors.  All
elections  shall be  determined  by a  plurality  of the class of shares  voting
thereon.  Only shares that are voted in favor of a  particular  nominee  will be
counted toward such nominee's achievement of a plurality.  Shares present at the
meeting that are not voted for a particular  nominee or shares  present by proxy
where the  shareholder  properly  withheld  authority  to vote for such  nominee
(including   broker  non-votes)  will  not  be  counted  toward  such  nominee's
achievement of a plurality.


                                        1
<PAGE>


     The  holders  of the Class A and Class B Stock  vote  together  as a single
class on all other business that properly comes before the Annual Meeting,  with
each outstanding share of Class A Stock entitled to one-tenth (1/10) of one vote
and each  outstanding  share of Class B Stock entitled to one vote.  Abstentions
and broker  non-votes are considered in determining the number of votes required
to attain a majority of the  outstanding  shares in connection with the proposal
to amend the Restated  Certificate of  Incorporation.  Because  abstentions  and
non-votes are not affirmative  votes for this proposal,  they will have the same
effect as votes against it.  Abstentions and broker non-votes are not counted in
determining  the votes cast in  connection  with the  ratification  of auditors,
which  requires  approval by a majority of votes cast, but do have the effect of
reducing the number of affirmative votes required to achieve a majority for such
matters  by  reducing  the total  number of shares  from which the  majority  is
calculated.

     The following  table and  footnotes set forth,  at the close of business on
July 31, 1998,  information concerning each person owning of record, or known to
the  Company to own  beneficially,  or who might be deemed to own, 5% or more of
its outstanding shares of Class A or Class B Stock. The table below was prepared
from the records of the Company and from information furnished to it.

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- - - -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              Class of            Common Stock             Percent of
          Name and Address                      Stock          Owned Beneficially             Class
- - - -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                               <C>               <C>                       <C>
Deborah E. Wiley                                  A                   349,522                   2.7%
  605 Third Avenue                                B                   694,417                  22.5%
  New York, New York(1)(2)(4)(5)(6)(7)

Peter Booth Wiley                                 A                   344,914                   2.7%
  605 Third Avenue                                B                   679,684                  22.0%
  New York, New York(1)(2)(3)(6)(7)

Bradford Wiley II                                 A                   338,885                   2.6%
  605 Third Avenue                                B                   679,695                  22.0%
  New York, New York(1)(3)(4)(6)(7)

The Bass Management Trust                         A                 1,524,132                  11.3%
and Certain Other Persons                         B                       400                     
and Entities
  201 Main Street
  Fort Worth, Texas(8)

Warburg Pincus Counsellors Inc.                   A                 1,255,640                   9.8%
  New York, NY                                    B                     4,600                   0.1%
  Investment Manager(9)

GeoCapital Corporation                            A                 1,253,040                   9.7%
  New York, NY
  Investment Manager(9)

United States Trust Company of                    A                 1,022,436                   8.0%
New York
  New York, NY
  Investment Manager(9)

Pioneering Management Corporation                 A                   873,600                   6.8%
  Boston, MA
  Investment Manager(9)

Theodore L. Cross and Certain                     A                   602,676                   4.7%
Other Persons and Entities                        B                   312,988                  10.1%
  200 West 57th Street
  New York, New York(10)
- - - -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
    


                                        2
<PAGE>



- - - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(l)  Includes  115,196  shares  of Class A Stock and  505,522  shares of Class B
     Stock  inherited  upon the death of W.  Bradford  Wiley.  Included in these
     totals are shares which were owned directly by W. Bradford  Wiley,  as well
     as shares held  previously  under various trusts and that were  distributed
     equally to Deborah E. Wiley, Bradford Wiley II, and Peter Booth Wiley.

(2)  Deborah E. Wiley and Peter Booth Wiley, as co-trustees, share voting and/or
     investment  power  with  respect  to  218,784  shares  of Class A Stock and
     145,856  shares of Class B Stock  under a trust for the benefit of Bradford
     Wiley  II.  For  purposes  of this  table,  each is shown  as the  owner of
     one-half of such shares.

(3)  Peter Booth  Wiley and  Bradford  Wiley II, as  co-trustees,  share  voting
     and/or investment power with respect to 218,784 shares of Class A Stock and
     145,856 shares of Class B Stock under a trust for the benefit of Deborah E.
     Wiley.  For purposes of this table,  each is shown as the owner of one-half
     of such shares.

(4)  Bradford Wiley II and Deborah E. Wiley, as co-trustees, share voting and/or
     investment  power  with  respect  to  218,784  shares  of Class A Stock and
     145,856  shares  of Class B Stock  under a trust for the  benefit  of Peter
     Booth  Wiley.  For  purposes of this  table,  each is shown as the owner of
     one-half of such shares.

(5)  Includes 452 shares of Class A Stock which  Deborah E. Wiley has the option
     to purchase  under an option  granted  under the Company's  1987  Incentive
     Stock Option and Performance Stock Plan.

(6)  Bradford  Wiley II,  Deborah E.  Wiley and Peter  Booth  Wiley,  as general
     partners of a limited  partnership,  share voting and/or  investment  power
     with  respect to 74,420  shares of Class B Stock owned by the  partnership.
     For purposes of this table, each is shown as the owner of one-third of such
     shares.

(7)  Bradford Wiley II, Deborah E. Wiley and Peter Booth Wiley,  as co-trustees,
     share voting and/or investment power with respect to 13,768 shares of Class
     A Stock  and  9,180  shares  of Class B Stock  under the Trust of Esther B.
     Wiley. For purposes of this table,  each is shown as the owner of one-third
     of such shares.

(8)  Based on filings with the  Securities and Exchange  Commission  pursuant to
     Rule  13-D of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  includes  The  Bass
     Management  Trust,  Perry R. Bass, Nancy L. Bass, Lee M. Bass,  Portfolio I
     Investors, L.P., and certain other persons.

(9)  Based on filings with the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission,  including
     filings pursuant to Rule 13f-1 of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, and
     other information deemed reliable by the Company.

(l0) Based on filings with the  Securities and Exchange  Commission  pursuant to
     Rule 13-D of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  includes  Theodore L.
     Cross,  Mary S.  Cross,  Amanda B.  Cross,  Lisa W.  Pownall-Gray,  and the
     Louisville Charitable Remainder Unit Trust.
- - - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------



                                       3
<PAGE>


II.  Certain Information Concerning the Board

     The Board of Directors is currently composed of 15 members.  Bradford Wiley
II, Deborah E. Wiley, and Peter Booth Wiley are siblings.

     The Board met four  times  during  fiscal  1998,  and acted once by Written
Consent in Lieu of  Meeting.  Board  committees  met a total of 10 times  during
fiscal 1998.  No director  attended  fewer than 75% of the  aggregate  number of
meetings  of the Board and of the  committees  on which such  director  sat.  In
September  1997 the Board of Directors  reorganized  its committee  structure to
improve  effectiveness and efficiency.  The Finance Committee was eliminated and
its  responsibilities  were  apportioned  between  the full  Board and the Audit
Committee.   The  Executive  Compensation  and  Development  Committee  and  the
Committee  on  Directors  were merged to form the  Governance  and  Compensation
Committee.   The  Executive  and  Policy  Committee  was  eliminated,   and  its
responsibilities  were  transferred  to the full Board or to the  Governance and
Compensation Committee. Information regarding the current standing committees of
the Board is set forth below:

     Executive Committee.  The Executive Committee,  which currently consists of
Dr. Thomas as Chairman,  Dr. McKinnell,  Jr., Messrs.  Pesce and Taylor, and Ms.
Wiley,  exercises  the  powers of the  Board as  appropriate  in any case  where
immediate action is required and the matter is such that an emergency meeting of
the full Board is not deemed  necessary or possible.  The Committee did not meet
during fiscal 1998.

     Audit Committee. The Audit Committee, which currently consists of Dr. Baker
as Chairman, Messrs. Agnew, Fernandes, Franklin, Taylor, and Dr. Thomas, assists
the Board of Directors in fulfilling its fiduciary responsibilities with respect
to the accounting  policies,  internal  controls and reporting  practices of the
Company and its subsidiaries,  and the sufficiency of auditing relative thereto.
It recommends to the Board the firm of independent  public  accountants which is
to be engaged to audit the books and records of the  Company,  and reviews  with
management and the outside auditors the Company's  financial  statements and the
auditors' report thereon.  The Committee also maintains  financial  oversight of
the  Company's  employees'  retirement  and other  benefit  plans  (formerly the
responsibility of the Finance Committee), and makes recommendations to the Board
with respect to such matters. The Committee met twice during fiscal 1998.

     Governance and  Compensation  Committee.  The  Governance and  Compensation
Committee,  which  currently  consists of Dr.  Sutherland  as Chairman,  Messrs.
Fernald,  Herrington,  Macey, Dr. McKinnell,  Jr., and Mr. P. Wiley, assists the
Board in the selection of Board  members  (formerly  the  responsibility  of the
Committee  on  Directors),  and in making  the Board as  effective  as  possible
through  suggestions  and periodic  evaluations.  The  Committee  evaluates  the
performance of the chief executive officer  (formerly the  responsibility of the
Executive and Policy Committee),  and reports its  recommendations to the Board.
It reviews and approves the principles and policies for compensation and benefit
programs  company-wide,  and monitors the  implementation  and administration of
such programs;  oversees compliance with governmental regulations and accounting
standards  with  respect to  employee  compensation  and benefit  programs;  and
monitors  executive   development   practices  in  order  to  insure  succession
alternatives for the  organization.  The Committee also grants options and makes
awards  under the 1991 Key Employee  Stock Plan.  The  Committee  met four times
during fiscal 1998.

Director's Compensation

     Directors who are not employees of the Company  receive an annual  retainer
of $12,000 and  committee  chairmen  receive an  additional  annual  retainer of
$3,000. Non-employee directors receive $1,000 per meeting for attendance at each
Board or committee  meeting.  Directors also receive $1,000 per diem for special
assignments performed at the request of the Company. Directors who are employees
do not receive an annual  retainer or a fee for attendance at Board or committee
meetings.


                                       4
<PAGE>


     Pursuant to the Company's 1990 Director  Stock Plan (the "Director  Plan"),
non-employee  directors  receive an automatic  annual award of shares of Class A
Stock  equal in value to 50 percent of the total  cash  compensation,  excluding
expense  reimbursement,  received  by such  directors.  The shares are valued at
their  closing  price on the date of the annual  shareholders  meeting or, if no
shares were traded on such date, on the next  preceding date on which the shares
were so traded.  The total  number of shares  awarded  in fiscal  1998 was 4,171
Class A shares at the per share  market  value of  $37.8125.  Under the Director
Plan,  eligible  directors  may also elect to receive  all or a portion of their
cash compensation in the form of Class A Stock.  Eight directors  currently have
made this election.

     The Company has a Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors' Fees ("Deferred
Plan"),  in which  directors  who are not  employees of the Company,  or are not
otherwise  eligible to receive  director fees, are eligible to participate.  The
purpose of the Deferred Plan is to provide  eligible  directors with flexibility
in their tax planning. No directors currently participate in this plan.

Insurance with Respect to Indemnification of Directors and Officers

     The By-Laws of the Company  provide for  indemnification  of directors  and
officers in connection  with claims arising from service to the Company,  to the
extent permitted under the New York State Business  Corporation Law. The Company
carries  insurance in the amount of $20,000,000 with Chubb Insurance Company and
the National  Union  Insurance  Company at an annual  premium of  $106,000.  The
current  policy  expires on November 14, 2000. No sums have been paid under this
policy.

III. Election of Directors

   
     During fiscal 1998, the Board of Directors  reviewed its overall  structure
and determined that a smaller-sized Board will enable it to act more efficiently
and to better serve the interests of its shareholders.  The Board has decided to
reduce the number of directors of the Company to ten (10)  directors,  effective
upon the election of directors at the 1998 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.  As a
result, Franklin E. Agnew, a director since 1989, John S. Herrington, a director
since 1994,  Chester O. Macey, a director since 1994, Leo J. Thomas,  a director
since 1988,  and Deborah E. Wiley,  a director  since 1979, are not standing for
reelection.   Unless  contrary  instructions  are  indicated  or  the  proxy  is
previously  revoked,  it is the intention of management to vote proxies received
for the  election of the persons  named below as  directors.  Directors  of each
class are elected by a plurality of votes cast by that class. If you do not wish
your shares to be voted for particular nominees, please so indicate in the space
provided  on the proxy card,  or follow the  directions  given by the  telephone
voting  service.  THE HOLDERS OF CLASS A STOCK ARE  ENTITLED TO ELECT 30% OF THE
ENTIRE BOARD.  AS A  CONSEQUENCE,  THREE (3) DIRECTORS  WILL BE ELECTED BY CLASS
VOTE OF THE HOLDERS OF CLASS  ASTOCK.  THE HOLDERS OF CLASS B STOCK ARE ENTITLED
TO ELECT SEVEN (7) DIRECTORS.
    

     All the nominees are currently  directors of the Company,  and were elected
to their present terms of office at the Annual Meeting of  Shareholders  held in
September  1997,  except for  William J.  Pesce,  who was elected by the Class B
directors to fill the vacancy  created by the resignation of Charles R. Ellis on
May 1,  1998.  Except as  otherwise  indicated,  all of the  nominees  have been
engaged in their present principal  occupations or in executive  capacities with
the same employers for more than the past five years.

     Bradford  Wiley II, William J. Pesce and Josephine A. Bacchi have agreed to
represent  shareholders  submitting  properly  executed proxy cards or using the
telephone  voting  service,  and to vote for the election of the nominees listed
herein,  unless otherwise  directed by the authority  granted or withheld on the
proxy cards or by  telephone.  Although the Board of Directors  has no reason to
believe  that any of the  persons  named  below as  nominees  will be  unable or
decline to serve, if any such person is unable or declines to serve, the persons
named above may vote for another person at their discretion.



                                       5
<PAGE>


Directors to be Elected by Class A Shareholders
- - - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[PHOTO]

   
Larry Franklin, a director since 1994, is President, Chief Executive Officer and
Director of  Harte-Hanks,  Inc. He is Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors of
San Antonio  Economic  Development  Foundation;  a Director of United Way of San
Antonio and Bexar County, and Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research.  Age
56.
    

[PHOTO]

   
Henry A.  McKinnell,  Jr., a director  since 1996,  has been  President,  Pfizer
Pharmaceuticals  since  January  1996.  He has been  Executive  Vice  President,
Pfizer,  Inc.  responsible  for  Pfizer's  U.S.  Pharmaceuticals,  Consumer  and
Strategic  Planning  and Public  Policy  Groups  since July 1995.  These  groups
continue to report to him. Previously, he served as Executive Vice President and
Chief  Financial  Officer of Pfizer,  Inc.,  and President of Pfizer's  Hospital
Products  Group from 1992 to 1995.  He is a  Director  of  Aviall,  Inc.;  Dun &
Bradstreet,  Inc.;  Vice Chairman of the Committee for Economic  Development;  a
Trustee of the New York City Police Foundation, and the New York Public Library.
Age 55.
    

[PHOTO]

   
Thomas M. Taylor,  a director since 1994, has been President of Thomas M. Taylor
& Co. since 1985. He is a Director of Encal Energy Ltd.; Kirby Corp.;  MacMillan
Bloedel  Ltd.;  Moore   Corporation   Limited;   Agrium,   Inc.;  and  Meditrust
Corporation. Age 55.
    


Directors to be Elected by Class B Shareholders
- - - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[PHOTO]

Warren  J.  Baker,  a  director  since  1993,  has  been  President,  California
Polytechnic State University since 1979 and was a Member of the National Science
Board  from  1985  to  1994.  He  was a  Regent  of the  American  Architectural
Foundation  from 1995 to 1998,  and was Chair of the Board of  Directors  of the
ASCE Civil Engineering  Research Foundation from 1989 to 1991. He is a Fellow in
the American Society of Civil  Engineers;  a Member of the Board of Directors of
the California Council on Science and Technology; and Co-Chair of the California
Joint Policy on Agriculture and Higher Education. Age 60.

[PHOTO]

H. Allen  Fernald,  a director  since 1979,  is  President  and Chief  Executive
Officer of Down East  Enterprise,  Inc., a magazine and book publisher.  He is a
Director  of  Maine  Community  Foundation;  a  member  and  past  Chair  of the
University of Maine President's Council; a Director of United Publishing,  Inc.;
Foreside Company, Inc.; and University of Maine Press. Age 66.



                                       6
<PAGE>



Directors to be Elected by Class B Shareholders
- - - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[PHOTO]

Gary J.  Fernandes,  a director  since 1989,  is Vice  Chairman of EDS,  and was
Senior Vice  President  and Director  since 1981.  He is a Director of Southland
Corporation;  Chairman of the Board of A.T. Kearney, Inc.; Chairman of the Board
of Unigraphics  Solutions,  Inc.; and a Member of the Board of Governors of Boys
& Girls Clubs of America. Age 55.

[PHOTO]

   
William J. Pesce has been President and Chief  Executive  Officer and a director
since May 1, 1998. He was  previously  Chief  Operating  Officer since May 1997;
Executive  Vice  President-Educational  and  International  Group since February
1996; and before that Vice  President,  Educational  Publishing  since September
1989. He is a Member of the Board of Overseers,  The Stern School of Business at
New York University. Age 47.
    

[PHOTO]

William  R.  Sutherland,   a  director  since  1987,  is  Vice  President,   Sun
Microsystems,  Inc. and has been the Director of Sun  Microsystems  Laboratories
since July 1993. He was  previously  Deputy  Director  since March 1991, and was
Vice  President  and  Treasurer,  Sutherland  Sproull  &  Associates,  Inc.,  an
information  and  technology  consulting  firm.  He  is a  partner  in  Advanced
Technology  Ventures, a venture capital firm, and a former Director of Newmarket
Venture Capital, PLC. Age 62.

[PHOTO]

Bradford  Wiley II, a director  since 1979, has been Chairman of the Board since
January  1993,  and Editor in the College  Division  since  April  1989.  He was
previously a newspaper journalist, viticulturist and winery manager. Age 57.

[PHOTO]

   
Peter Booth Wiley, a director since 1984, is an author,  journalist and owner of
Points  West.  He is a Member of the Board of the  Friends of the San  Francisco
Public  Library,  and a member of the Board of the Data Center,  a social action
research library. Age 55.
    


                                       7
<PAGE>

Beneficial Ownership of Directors and Management

     Set forth below are the shares of the  Company's  Class A and Class B Stock
beneficially owned by the current directors, and the executive officers named in
the Summary Compensation Table on page 12 as of July 31, 1998.

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- - - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              Shares of
                                             Class A and         Additional
                                            Class B Stock          Shares                              Percent
                                            Beneficially        Beneficially                              of
                                              Owned(1)            Owned(2)             Totals          Class(1)
- - - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                          <C>   <C>          <C>   <C>            <C>   <C>          <C>
Franklin E. Agnew                            A      17,183                           A      17,183        0.1%
                                             B          --                           B          --        --
                                           
Warren J. Baker                              A       2,420                           A       2,420        --
                                             B          --                           B          --        --
                                           
Charles R. Ellis(3)(4)                       A     118,482      A     117,468        A     235,950        1.8%
                                             B          --                           B          --        --
                                           
H. Allen Fernald                             A       8,486                           A       8,486        --
                                             B       1,360                           B       1,360        --
                                           
Gary J. Fernandes                            A       6,185                           A       6,185        --
                                             B          --                           B          --        --
                                           
Larry Franklin                               A       3,853                           A       3,853        --
                                             B          --                           B          --        --
                                           
John S. Herrington                           A       1,106                           A       1,106        --
                                             B          --                           B          --        --
                                           
Stephen A. Kippur(3)(4)                      A      50,643      A      37,340        A      87,993        0.7%
                                             B          --      B          --        B          --        --
                                           
Chester O. Macey                             A       2,921                           A       2,921        --
                                             B          --                           B          --        --
                                           
Henry A. McKinnell, Jr.                      A         831                           A         831        --
                                             B          --                           B          --        --
                                           
William J. Pesce(3)(4)                       A      52,923      A      43,904        A      96,827        0.7%
                                             B          --      B          --        B          --        --
                                           
Richard S. Rudick(3)                         A      65,116      A      26,128        A      91,244        0.7%
                                             B      14,144      B          --        B      14,144        0.5%
                                           
William R. Sutherland                        A       7,294                           A       7,294        --
                                             B          --                           B          --        --
                                           
Thomas M. Taylor(12)                         A     118,200                           A     118,200        0.9%
                                             B          --                           B          --        --
                                           
Leo J. Thomas                                A      16,222                           A      16,222        0.1%
                                             B         800                           B         800        --
                                           
Robert D. Wilder(3)(4)                       A      47,344      A      27,352        A      74,696        0.6%
                                             B       1,600      B          --        B       1,600        --
                                         
Bradford Wiley II(5)(6)(8)(9)(10)(11)        A     338,885                           A     338,885        2.6%
                                             B     679,695                           B     679,695       22.0%

Deborah E. Wiley(5)(6)(7)(9)(10)(11)         A     349,522      A         452        A     349,974        2.7%
                                             B     694,417      B          --        B     694,417       22.5%

Peter Booth Wiley(5)(6)(7)(8)(10)(11)        A     344,914                           A     344,914        2.7%
                                             B     679,684                           B     679,684       22.0%
- - - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
    


                                       8
<PAGE>


   
(1)  All  directors,  nominees and  executive  officers as a group  (includes 22
     persons)  own  1,905,554  and  2,071,704  shares  of  Class A and B  Stock,
     including  exercisable  options and  restricted  shares  awarded to certain
     executive  officers (see Executive  Employment  Agreements,  page 14). This
     represents 24.4% of the Common Stock of the Company and 51.3% of the voting
     power represented by all such shares, excluding restricted shares which may
     not be voted until vested. In the table, percent of class was calculated on
     the basis of shares  beneficially  owned (including  exercisable  options),
     compared  with shares  issued and  outstanding  plus shares  which might be
     issued pursuant to the exercise of such options. This table is based on the
     information provided by the individual nominees or executives.
    

(2)  Options  exercisable  under the  Company's  stock option plans which may be
     acquired  on or before  October 1,  1998.  

(3)  Includes Class A shares of restricted  stock subject to forfeiture  awarded
     under the Company's  long-term  incentive  plans (see Summary  Compensation
     Table,  footnote (a), page 12) as follows:  Mr. Ellis - 17,485; Mr. Pesce -
     14,154  shares;  Mr. Kippur - 8,858;  Mr.  Wilder - 5,367  shares;  and Mr.
     Rudick - 3,565 shares.
     
(4)  Includes  restricted stock subject to forfeiture awarded under the terms of
     the Executive Employment Agreements,  described on page 14, as follows: Mr.
     Ellis - 30,000  shares;  Mr.  Pesce - 19,998  shares;  Mr.  Kippur - 19,998
     shares; and Mr. Wilder - 19,998 shares.

(5)  Includes  115,196  shares  of Class A Stock and  505,522  shares of Class B
     Stock  inherited  upon the death of W.  Bradford  Wiley.  Included in these
     totals are shares which were owned directly by W. Bradford  Wiley,  as well
     as shares held  previously  under various trusts and that were  distributed
     equally to Deborah E. Wiley, Bradford Wiley II, and Peter Booth Wiley.

(6)  The totals  shown for Bradford  Wiley II,  Deborah E. Wiley and Peter Booth
     Wiley do not  include  88,620  shares of Class B Stock  which they have the
     right to acquire in exchange  for Class A Stock from  certain  persons upon
     any  proposed  disposition  of such Class B Stock,  upon the deaths of such
     persons or upon termination of a trust.

(7)  Deborah E. Wiley and Peter Booth Wiley, as co-trustees, share voting and/or
     investment  power  with  respect  to  218,784  shares  of Class A Stock and
     145,856  shares of Class B Stock  under a trust for the benefit of Bradford
     Wiley  II.  For  purposes  of this  table,  each is shown  as the  owner of
     one-half of such shares.

(8)  Peter Booth  Wiley and  Bradford  Wiley II, as  co-trustees,  share  voting
     and/or  investment power with respect to 218,784 shares of Class AStock and
     145,856  shares of Class BStock under a trust for the benefit of Deborah E.
     Wiley.  For purposes of this table,  each is shown as the owner of one-half
     of such shares.

(9)  Bradford Wiley II and Deborah E. Wiley, as co-trustees, share voting and/or
     investment power with respect to 218,784 shares of Class AStock and 145,856
     shares of Class B Stock under a trust for the benefit of Peter Booth Wiley.
     For  purposes of this table,  eachis shown as the owner of one-half of such
     shares.

(10) Deborah E. Wiley,  Bradford Wiley II and Peter Booth Wiley, as co-trustees,
     share voting and/or investment power with respect to 13,768 shares of Class
     A Stock  and  9,180  shares  of Class B Stock  under the Trust of Esther B.
     Wiley. For purposes of this table,  each is shown as the owner of one-third
     of these shares.

(11) Bradford Wiley II, Deborah E. Wiley and Peter B. Wiley, as general partners
     of a limited partnership, share voting and/or investment power with respect
     to 74,420 shares of Class B Stock owned by the partnership. For purposes of
     this table, each is shown as the owner of one-third of such shares.

(12) Portfolio I Investors, L.P. ("Portfolio I") is a direct beneficial owner of
     107,800 shares of Class A Stock reported herein, and Thomas M. Taylor & Co.
     ("Taylor & Co.") is the  beneficial  owner of 9,100 shares of Class A stock
     reported herein. Mr. Taylor may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the
     shares owned by Portfolio I because of his  position as the  President  and
     sole  stockholder of Trinity Capital  Management,  Inc.,  which is the sole
     general partner of Trinity I Fund,  L.P.,  which is the sole stockholder of
     Portfolio  Associates,  Inc.,  which in turn is the sole general partner of
     Portfolio  I. Mr.  Taylor may be deemed to be the  beneficial  owner of the
     shares owned by Taylor & Co.  because he is the President and a controlling
     person of Taylor & Co.
- - - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                       9
<PAGE>


Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

     Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Company's
officers  and  directors,  and  persons  who own  more  than  ten  percent  of a
registered  class  of the  Company's  equity  securities,  to  file  reports  of
ownership and changes in ownership with the  Securities and Exchange  Commission
and the New York  Stock  Exchange.  Officers,  directors  and  greater  than ten
percent  shareholders are required by SEC regulation to furnish the Company with
copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.

     Based on its review of the copies of such forms  received by it, or written
representations from certain reporting persons that no Forms 5 were required for
those  persons,  the  Company  believes  that  during  fiscal  1998,  all filing
requirements applicable to its officers,  directors and greater than ten percent
beneficial  owners  were  complied  with,  except that one report  covering  one
transaction for 400 Class B shares was filed late by Peter Booth Wiley,  and one
transaction for 400 Class B shares was filed late by Deborah E. Wiley.

IV.  Executive Compensation

Report of the Governance and Compensation Committee

Executive Compensation Policies. The Company's executive compensation program is
administered  by the  Governance  and  Compensation  Committee  of the  Board of
Directors  (the  "Committee")  composed  of  six  independent   directors.   The
objectives which guide the Committee in formulating its recommendations are to:

     o    Attract and retain  executives of the highest  caliber by compensating
          them at levels which are competitive in the market place.

     o    Motivate and reward such executives based on corporate,  business unit
          and individual  performance through  compensation systems and policies
          which include variable incentives.
 
     o    Align executives' and shareholders' interests through awards of equity
          components  dependent  upon the  performance  of the  Company  and the
          operating  divisions,  as well as the  individual  performance of each
          executive.

     Annually  the  Committee  reviews a  compensation  survey as a guidepost to
determine whether the Company's compensation levels and programs are competitive
and meet the Committee's stated  objectives.  The most recent survey compiled by
Towers Perrin includes those  publishing  companies  listed in the peer group in
the graph on page 12,  regarded as comparable and for which  comparable data are
available,  as well as other  companies more  comparable in size to the Company.
The Committee  recommends to the Board for its ultimate  determination the total
targeted  compensation  and the  proportion  of the  various  components  of the
compensation   program  including  salary  and  targeted  annual  and  long-term
incentives,  based  upon  each  executive's  role in the  Company  and  level of
responsibilities.

     It is the Committee's policy to maximize the effectiveness of the Company's
executive  compensation  programs.  With regard to future executive compensation
actions, the Committee's policy is to maintain flexibility to take actions which
it deems to be in the best  interests of the Company and its  shareholders,  but
which  may not  qualify  for tax  deductibility  under  Section  162(m) or other
sections of the Internal  Revenue Code.  

     Annual Executive  Compensation.  Annual executive compensation is comprised
of base salary and, if earned,  a variable cash incentive.  The annual incentive
is based on the achievement of quantitative financial performance goals, as well
as individual non-quantitative objectives. Targeted annual incentives for fiscal
1998  range  from 70% of  salary  for Mr.  Ellis  and from 40% to 65% for  other
executives.  At the beginning of each fiscal year,  the Committee  recommends to
the Board for approval the base salaries, the targeted incentives, the financial
performance measures, and goals on which incentives may be earned, including the
threshold or minimum  level of  performance  below which no  incentives  will be
paid.  Divisional  performance  measures  and  targets  are also set for certain
operating executives with divisional as well as corporate responsibilities.


                                       10
<PAGE>


     At the end of the fiscal year, the Committee evaluates  performance against
the financial goals and individual objectives, and submits to the full Board for
approval a recommended  annual payout, if any, for each executive.  No incentive
is payable,  regardless of whether  individual  objectives  are met or exceeded,
unless threshold is reached on at least one financial measure.  Payouts, if any,
can range from 25% to 175% of the targeted incentive depending upon the level of
the achievement of financial goals and individual  objectives  between threshold
and  outstanding  levels of  performance.  In fiscal 1998 on a weighted  average
basis,  performance against financial goals was slightly above target.

Long-Term Executive Compensation. The long-term component of the compensation is
comprised of (i) a targeted variable incentive payable in cash and/or restricted
performance  shares,  and (ii)  stock  option  grants  of Class A Stock.  At the
beginning  of each fiscal year a new  three-year  cycle  begins.  The  Committee
reviews  and  submits to the full Board for  approval  its  recommendations  for
participants  in the long-term  plan, the number of stock options to be granted,
the targeted  incentive,  the  financial  performance  measures  and goals,  and
threshold and  outstanding  levels of  performance  that must be achieved by the
Company  and,  where  relevant,  the  division  for  which  the  participant  is
responsible.

     At  the  end  of the  three  fiscal-year  cycle,  the  Committee  evaluates
performance  against the goals and recommends to the full Board for approval the
appropriate  payout for each executive and the portion to be paid in cash and/or
restricted  performance  shares.  No  long  term  incentive  is  payable  unless
threshold  is reached on at least one  financial  measure.  Payouts,  if any, to
individual  executives  can  range  from 25% to 200% of the  targeted  incentive
depending  upon the level of aggregate  achievement  between the  threshold  and
outstanding levels of financial performance.

     Option grants are generally  awarded on an annual basis,  have terms of ten
years and generally  vest as to 50% in the fourth year and 50% in the fifth year
from the date of grant.  All employees' stock options have exercise prices which
are equal to the current market price of Class A Stock as of the grant date. The
ultimate  value  of the  stock  option  grants  is  aligned  with  increases  in
shareholder  value and is dependent upon increases in the market price per share
over and above the grant price.  In fiscal 1998, all  executives,  including Mr.
Ellis, received approximately 70% of their targeted long term incentive in stock
option awards. Chief Executive Officer Compensation. Based on the Governance and
Compensation  Committee's  performance  evaluation  review  of  Mr.  Ellis,  the
Committee  recommended  and the Board approved a base salary increase for fiscal
1998 of 7%  ($450,000 to $480,000)  and an annual  incentive  award of $388,554,
representing 45% of the total annual compensation.

     The performance  review reflected the achievement of financial,  as well as
certain strategic goals, and Mr. Ellis' contribution to those achievements.

     Mr. Ellis also  received a long term  compensation  payout of $638,649,  of
which  $129,642 was paid in cash and the remainder in 9,192 shares of restricted
performance shares with the restrictions  lapsing as to 50% at the end of fiscal
1999 and 2000,  respectively.  This payout was based on performance  against net
income and cash flow goals.

     During fiscal 1998, Mr. Ellis, as part of his long-term  compensation plan,
received  a grant  of  options  to  purchase  37,400  shares  of  Class A Stock,
exercisable  as to 18,700 shares on and after April 30, 2001,  and 18,700 on and
after April 30, 2002,  at an option price of $34.50 per share,  the market price
at date of grant.

     In  approving  the  compensation  reflected  in the  tables on page 12, the
Committee considered the Company's financial  performance during fiscal 1998 and
Mr. Ellis's achievement of strategic objectives approved by the Board

     Governance and Compensation Committee

                         William R. Sutherland, Chairman

             H. Allen Fernald                     Chester O. Macey

            John S. Herrington                     Peter B. Wiley

          Henry A. McKinnell, Jr.


                                       11
<PAGE>


Performance Graph

 [THE FOLLOWING TABLE WAS REPRESENTED BY A LINE CHART IN THE PRINTED MATERIAL.]

                              Plot Points to Come.


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- - - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      1993        1994         1995         1996        1997       1998
                                    --------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                 <C>         <C>          <C>          <C>         <C>        <C>    
John Wiley &Sons, Inc. Class A      $100.00     $182.35      $240.74      $300.00     $265.54    $493.17
Publishing Peer Group                100.00      106.95       131.12       150.81      171.05     237.61
Russell 2000                         100.00      114.82       123.11       163.88      163.96     233.34
S&PMid-Cap Companies                 100.00      109.61       120.33       153.47      169.01     249.99
- - - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

The  above  graph  provides  an  indicator  of the  cumulative  total  return to
shareholders  of  the  Company's  Class  ACommon  Stock  as  compared  with  the
cumulative  total return on the Russell 2000,  S&P Mid-Cap  Companies and a peer
group index for the period from April 30,  1993 to April 30,  1998.  The Company
has  elected  to use the  Russell  2000  index in the future in place of the S&P
Mid-Cap index as the Company's stock is included in the Russell 2000 index.  The
peer group  consists  of the  following  five  publicly  traded  companies  with
significant  publishing  activities:Harcourt  General,  Inc.;  Houghton  Mifflin
Company; McGraw-Hill Companies; Plenum Publishing Corporation; and Waverly, Inc.
Peer  group  returns  have  been  weighted  to  reflect  relative  stock  market
capitalization  of each company at the beginning of each year.  Cumulative total
return  assumes $100  invested on April 30, 1993 and  reinvestment  of dividends
throughout the period.


Summary Compensation Table

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- - - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              Long Term Compensation
                                                                      --------------------------------------
                                      Annual Compensation                     Awards                Payouts
                             ---------------------------------------  ------------------------     ---------
                                                        Other Annual  Restricted   Securities                  All Other
Name and                                                  Compen-        Stock     Underlying        LTIP       Compen-
Principal Position            Year    Salary      Bonus   sation       Awards(a)   Option/SARs     Payouts(b)   sation(c)
- - - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                           <C>    <C>        <C>         <C>       <C>            <C>           <C>           <C>    
Charles R. Ellis              1998   $475,384   $388,554    $0        $509,007       37,400        $129,642      $13,908
President, Chief Executive    1997    443,388    398,494     0          87,922       36,223         176,109       13,301
Officer and Director(d)       1996    401,312    348,333     0         916,139       28,328         137,484       12,039
                                                                                                                 
William J. Pesce              1998    359,308    270,600     0         138,604       22,191          35,301        5,423
Chief Operating Officer(e)    1997    296,928    244,253     0          17,838       15,806          35,731        7,689
                              1996    251,082    131,052     0         581,648       29,052          33,345        7,262
                                                                                                                 
Stephen A. Kippur             1998    298,460    188,303     0         150,565       14,337          38,354        7,854
Executive Vice President      1997    286,004    107,366     0          27,164       14,884          54,411        7,540
and Group President,          1996    264,004    129,977     0         592,810       11,126          55,704        7,243
Professional, Reference                                                                                          
and Trade Group                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                 
Robert D. Wilder              1998    246,923    138,927     0         150,509        9,973          38,335        7,408
Executive Vice President      1997    228,923    140,654     0          25,263        9,549          50,803        6,868
and Chief Financial and       1996    221,308    120,435     0         589,024        8,376          48,119        6,639
Support Operations Officer                                                                                       
                                                                                                                 
Richard S. Rudick             1998    188,154     83,327     0          77,525        5,859          19,748        4,925
Senior Vice President         1997    176,769     83,541     0          14,243        5,650          28,528        4,583
and General Counsel           1996    168,462     81,100     0          12,910        4,314          25,858        4,604
- - - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

The above table sets forth, for the fiscal years indicated,  the compensation of
the CEO and the four other most  highly  compensated  executive  officers of the
Company.

(a)  When  awards  of  restricted  stock  are  made  pursuant  to the  Company's
     long-term  incentive  plans,  the  Committee  may establish a period during
     which the Class A shares of restricted stock shall be subject to forfeiture
     in whole or in part if specified  objectives or considerations are not met.
     Restricted stock awards were made for achievement of financial  performance
     objectives for the respective


                                       12
<PAGE>


     three-year periods ended April 30, 1998, April 30, 1997 and April 30, 1996.
     Other than stock issued for the period  ended April 30, 1998,  the stock is
     non-voting  and  not  eligible  for  dividends  until  restrictions  lapse.
     Restrictions  lapse as to 50% at the end of the  first  and  second  fiscal
     year,  respectively,  after the fiscal  year in which  awarded.  Restricted
     stock awards reflect the market value as of the fiscal year-end  indicated.
     In addition to the  aforementioned  stock awards,  this amount includes the
     value at the date of issuance of restricted stock, which have voting rights
     and  are  eligible  to  receive  dividends,   issued  pursuant  to  certain
     Employment  Agreements in fiscal 1996 as follows:  Mr.  Ellis-30,000 shares
     valued  at  $847,500;  Mr.  Pesce-20,000  shares  valued at  $565,000;  Mr.
     Kippur-20,000  shares  valued at  $565,000;  and Mr.  Wilder-20,000  shares
     valued at $565,000.  Aggregate  restricted  stock  holdings as of April 30,
     1998 were as follows:  Mr. Ellis - 67,485 shares valued at $3,736,982;  Mr.
     Pesce - 40,686 shares valued at $2,252,987; Mr. Kippur-40,090 shares valued
     at  $2,219,984;  Mr.  Wilder-38,216  shares valued at  $2,116,211;  and Mr.
     Rudick-2,715 shares valued at $150,343.

(b)  Under the Company's  long-term  incentive plans,  cash awards were made for
     the  achievement  of financial  performance  objectives  for the respective
     three year periods ended April 30, 1998, 1997 and 1996, as described in the
     report of the Governance and Compensation  Committee under the heading Long
     Term Executive Compensation on page 11.

(c)  Represents matching Company  contributions to the Employee Savings Plan and
     the Deferred Compensation Plan.

(d)  President,  Chief  Executive  Officer and  Director  until April 30,  1998;
     Senior Advisor from May 1, 1998.

(e)  President,  Chief  Executive  Officer and Director  effective  May 1, 1998;
     Executive  Vice-President-Educational  and International  Group until April
     30, 1997.

Options/SAR Grants in Last Fiscal Year

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             Individual Grants(a)
- - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                 Potential Realizable
                                        % of Total                                                 Value at Assumed
                       Number of       Options/SARs                                          Annual Rates of Stock Price
                      Securities        Granted to                                          Appreciation for Option Term
                  Underlying Options/    Employees     Exercise or           Expiration     ----------------------------
Name                 SARs Granted     in Fiscal Year   Base Price             Date (b)          5%                10%
- - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                    <C>                <C>            <C>                <C>               <C>            <C>       
Charles R. Ellis       37,400             25.0%          $34.50             June 18, 2007     $811,463       $2,056,406
William J. Pesce       22,191             14.8%           34.50             June 18, 2007      481,475        1,220,152
Stephen A. Kippur      14,337              9.6%           34.50             June 18, 2007      311,068          788,307
Robert D. Wilder        9,973              6.7%           34.50             June 18, 2007      216,383          548,357
Richard S. Rudick       5,859              3.9%           34.50             June 18, 2007      127,122          322,152
- - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

The above  table  shows  potential  realizable  value at  assumed  annual  stock
appreciation rates of 5% and 10%over the ten-year term of the options. The rates
of  appreciation  are as required to be stated by the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission and are not intended to forecast possible future actual appreciation,
if any, in the  Company's  stock price.  Future  gains,  if any,  will depend on
actual future appreciation in the market price.

(a)  The Company has in effect two  shareholder  approved  plans,  each of which
     relates to Class Ashares:  the 1987 Incentive  Stock Option and Performance
     Stock Plan, and the 1991 Key Employee Stock Plan. The exercise price of all
     stock  options is  determined by the Committee and may not be less than 100
     percent of the fair  market  value of the stock on the date of grant of the
     options.  The Committee also determines at the time of grant the period and
     conditions  for  vesting  of stock  options.  In the  event of a change  of
     control,  as defined  on page 16,  all  outstanding  options  shall  become
     immediately  exercisable  up to the full  number of shares  covered  by the
     option. No option grants have SARs associated with the grants,  and no SARs
     were granted during fiscal 1998.

(b)  Options are subject to earlier  termination in certain  events  relating to
     termination of employment.

Aggregated  Option/SAR  Exercises  in  Last  Fiscal  Year  and  Fiscal  Year-End
Option/SAR Values

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- - - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Number of Securities                Value of Unexercised
                                                               Underlying Unexercised            In-the-Money Options/SARs
                                                           Options/SARs at Fiscal Year-End         at Fiscal Year-End(b)
                    Shares Acquired        Value           -------------------------------     -----------------------------
Name                  on Exercise       Realized(a)         Exercisable     Unexercisable      Exercisable     Unexercisable
- - - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                      <C>              <C>                 <C>              <C>              <C>             <C>       
Charles R. Ellis         7,780            $206,143            117,468          117,451          $4,735,141      $2,947,853
William J. Pesce             0                   0             43,904           60,549           1,740,370       1,462,829
Stephen A. Kippur            0                   0             37,340           43,847           1,662,500       1,094,584
Robert D. Wilder             0                   0             27,352           31,195           1,209,223         788,504
Richard S. Rudick        4,409             100,994             26,128           17,623           1,169,029         443,011
- - - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

The above table  provides  information  as to options  exercised  by each of the
named  executive  officers  during  fiscal  1998 and the value of the  remaining
options held by each executive  officer at year end,  measured using the closing
price of $55.375 for the Company's Class A Stock on April 30, 1998.

(a)  Market value of underlying shares at exercise minus the option price.

(b)  Market  value of  underlying  shares at fiscal  year-end  minus the  option
     price. These values are presented pursuant to SECrules.  The actual amount,
     if any,  realized  upon  exercise  will depend upon the market price of the
     Class Ashares relative to the exercise price per share of the stock options
     at the time of exercise.



                                       13
<PAGE>


Long-Term Incentive Plans Awards in Last Fiscal Year

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- - - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                           Estimated Future Payouts  under 
                                                                          Non-Stock Priced-Based Plans (a)(b)
                    Number  of                Performance  or            -------------------------------------
                  Shares, Units or          Other Periods Until          Threshold      Target        Maximum
Name               Other Rights (#)         Maturation or Payout          (# or $)     (# or $)       (# or $)
- - - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                     <C>            <C>                                 <C>           <C>           <C>   
Charles R. Ellis        5,541          May 1, 1997 to April 30, 2000       1,385         5,541         11,082
                                                                                                     
William J. Pesce        3,286          May 1, 1997 to April 30, 2000         822         3,286          6,572
                                                                                                              
Stephen A, Kippur       2,123          May 1, 1997 to April 30, 2000         531         2,123          4,246
                                                                                                              
Robert D. Wilder        1,478          May 1, 1997 to April 30, 2000         370         1,478          2,956
                                                                                                              
Richard S. Rudick         868          May 1, 1997 to April 30, 2000         217           868          1,736
- - - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

Estimated future payments assuming  financial  performance  targets are achieved
under the 1998 long-term  incentive  compensation  plan for the named executives
are as indicated above. 

(a)  Financial  performance  targets and relative  weighting of each target,  as
     well as the threshold,  target and outstanding  levels of performance,  are
     set at the beginning of the three-year plan cycle and include  earnings per
     share,  income  and  cash  flow  targets,  as  defined,  for the end of the
     three-year period. For the fiscal 1998 long-term plan, the amount of shares
     earned will be based on financial  targets  established for fiscal 2000. If
     the threshold level is not attained, no payout will be made.

(b)  These awards consist of restricted  performance  shares. The Committee may,
     in its discretion, direct that the payout be made wholly or partly in cash.
     The  restricted  shares  would  vest as to 50% on  April  30,  2001 and the
     remaining 50% on April 30, 2002.

Executive Employment Agreements

     In July 1994, the Company entered into  employment  agreements with Charles
R. Ellis,  President and Chief  Executive  Officer,  and three senior  officers,
Messrs.  Pesce, Kippur, and Wilder (collectively the "Executives").  Mr. Pesce's
contract was amended when he became President and Chief Executive Officer on May
1, 1998.  The  contracts  provide for base  salaries  (reflected  in the Summary
Compensation  Table on page 12),  which may be increased  by the Board,  and for
benefits and incentive  compensation as provided for senior officers  generally,
and as described in the Committee's  report above.  Mr. Pesce's contract expires
on May 1, 2001 and is renewable for successive  three-year  terms in the absence
of notice by either party.  The contracts with Messrs.  Kippur and Wilder expire
on April 30,  2000,  and are  renewable  for  successive  two-year  terms in the
absence  of notice by either  party to the  contrary.  If any such  contract  is
terminated  by the Company other than for cause,  as defined,  or if the Company
decides not to renew for a subsequent term, the Executive will be entitled to 36
months  severance  in the case of Mr.  Pesce,  and 24  months in the case of the
other Executives.  Severance includes salary, benefits, pro-rated cash incentive
payments at target  levels,  and  long-term  incentives  for plan cycles  ending
within one year after termination.  Mr. Ellis, pursuant to the provisions of his
contract,  requested  a  change  in his  employment  status  to that of a senior
advisor,  effective  May 1, 1998.  Under the  contract,  he is  entitled to base
salary and coverage under employee benefit plans until May 1, 2000.

     Except in the case of termination by the Company other than for cause,  the
Executive is  restricted  from working for a competitor  for twelve months after
termination.  However, if any of the Executives resigns for "good reason" within
18  months  following  a  "change  of  control,"  both as  defined  in the  1989
Supplemental  Executive  Retirement Plan ("SERP") (see page 16), the restriction
does not apply.

     In connection with these  agreements,  the above named Executives  received
certain  restricted  stock awards which vest one-third at the end of each of the
third,  fourth  and  fifth  years  after  the date of grant.  In  addition,  the
Executive is required to retain  ownership of the shares for an  additional  two
years after vesting except, in Mr. Ellis' case, upon retirement with the Board's
approval. If the Executive is terminated by the Company other than for cause, or
the contract is not renewed by the Company, or if there is a "change of control"
as defined in the 1991 Key Employee Stock Plan (see Stock  Options,  Performance
Stock and Restricted Stock,  page 16), all remaining  unvested shares will vest,
and any remaining restrictions on transfer of the shares will lapse.



                                       14
<PAGE>


     In January 1997, the Company  entered into  agreements  with certain senior
vice presidents  (the  "Participants"),  which provide for  continuation of base
salary for a period of between 12 and 18 months in the event of  termination  by
the  Company  other than for cause.  In the event of a "change of  control,"  as
defined in SERP, under certain circumstances the Participants may be entitled to
cash incentive payments at target level for the severance period.  Except in the
case of  termination  by the Company other than for cause,  or  termination  for
"good  reason,"  as  defined  in SERP,  following  a "change  of  control,"  the
Participants  are restricted  from working for a competitor for a period of four
to six months after termination.

Retirement Plan

The following table shows the estimated  annual  retirement  benefits payable at
normal retirement age to a covered participant who has attained the earnings and
years of service  classifications  indicated under the Company's  tax-qualified,
non-contributory  defined benefit  retirement plan (the  "Retirement  Plan") and
non-qualified supplemental retirement plan (the "Supplemental Retirement Plan"):

- - - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   Average                                Years of Service
   Highest           -----------------------------------------------------------
Compensation            10                20             30               35
- - - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   $100,000          $ 15,166         $ 30,332         $ 45,497        $ 53,080
    200,000            31,866           63,732           95,597         111,530
    300,000            48,566           97,132          145,697         169,980
    400,000            65,266          130,532          195,797         228,430
    500,000            81,966          163,932          245,897         286,880
    600,000            98,666          197,332          295,997         345,330
    700,000           115,366          230,732          346,097         403,780
    800,000           132,066          264,132          396,197         462,230
- - - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Benefits shown above are computed as a single life annuity beginning at age
65 and are not subject to any deduction for offset amounts.  The Retirement Plan
provides for annual normal  retirement  benefits equal to 1.17%of  average final
compensation, not in excess of covered compensation,  plus 1.67%of average final
compensation  in excess of covered  compensation,  times years of service not to
exceed 35.

     Average final compensation is the participant's average annual compensation
(taking into account 100% of the base pay plus 50% of incentive compensation and
overtime pay, but not including any other  compensation  included in the Summary
Compensation  Table) during the highest three  consecutive years ending December
31, 1994  (subject to certain  limitations  on  compensation  under the Internal
Revenue Code with respect to tax-qualified  plans).  The Company may, but is not
required to,  update from time to time the  three-year  period used to determine
average final compensation.

     Covered  compensation  under  the  Retirement  Plan is the  average  of the
taxable  wage base in  effect  under the  Social  Security  Act over the 35 year
period  ending with the year the  employee  reaches  his or her social  security
retirement  age (but  excluding  any  increases  in the taxable  wage base after
1994). The Supplemental  Retirement Plan provides  benefits that would otherwise
be denied participants by reason of certain Internal Revenue Code limitations on
tax-qualified plan benefits. Average final compensation and covered compensation
are  determined  under the  Supplemental  Retirement  Plan in the same manner as
under the  Retirement  Plan,  except that a  participant's  compensation  is not
subject to the  limitations  under the Internal  Revenue Code.  Years of service
under the Retirement  Plan and  Supplemental  Retirement  Plan are the number of
years  and  months,  limited  to 35  years,  worked  for  the  Company  and  its
subsidiaries after attaining age 21.

     The years of service for Messrs.  Ellis, Pesce,  Kippur,  Wilder and Rudick
under the Retirement Plan and Supplemental  Retirement Plan as of April 30, 1998
(rounded to the nearest year), are 10, 9, 19, 19, and 20, respectively.  Average
final compensation under the Retirement Plan for Messrs.  Ellis, Pesce,  Kippur,
Wilder  and  Rudick  as of April  30,  1998 was  $426,644,  $250,309,  $269,840,
$231,089, and $181,017, respectively.


                                       15
<PAGE>


1989 Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan

     The  participants  under the 1989  Supplemental  Executive  Retirement Plan
("SERP") are executives of the Company or its affiliates listed on a schedule to
the plan, as amended from time to time.

     The basic SERP  benefit  (the  "primary  benefit")  consists  of ten annual
payments commencing on retirement (at or after age 65) determined by multiplying
the participant's  base salary rate at retirement by 2.5, reducing the result by
$50,000 and  dividing  the  remainder  by five.  The plan also  provides  for an
alternative  early  retirement  benefit for participants who retire after age 55
with five years of service,  a reduced payment for participants whose employment
is  terminated  prior to age 65 other  than on  account of death (and who do not
qualify for early retirement), and a survivor benefit for the beneficiaries of a
participant  who dies  prior  to age 65  while  employed  by the  Company  or an
affiliate.

     The  estimated  annual  benefits  under  SERP  payable  over ten years upon
retirement at age 65 for Messrs.  Ellis,  Pesce,  Kippur,  Wilder and Rudick are
$435,900, $947,300, $346,500, $278,500, and $118,900, respectively.

     SERP provides the participants  with a guaranteed  total annual  retirement
benefit  beginning  at age 65 for ten  years  (taking  into  account  retirement
benefits  under  the  Company's   Retirement   Plan,   referred  to  above,  the
Supplemental  Retirement  Plan and the primary benefit under SERP) of 50% to 65%
(depending on the executive's position with the Company) of average compensation
over the  executive's  highest three  consecutive  years.  Under certain circum-
stances,  if a  participant  works for a competitor  within 24 months  following
termination of employment,  no further payments would be made to the participant
under SERP.

     SERP also provides that following a change of control  (defined in the same
manner as under the  Company's  stock  option  plans  discussed  below)  and the
termination  of the  participant's  employment  without  cause as defined,  or a
termination by the  participant  for good reason as defined,  the participant is
entitled to a lump sum payment of the then present  value of his benefits  under
SERP  computed  as if the  participant  had  attained  age 65 on the date of his
termination.

Stock Options, Performance Stock, and Restricted Stock

     Under the 1991 Key Employee  Stock Plan (the "Plan"),  qualified  employees
are eligible to receive awards that may include stock options, performance stock
awards and  restricted  stock awards as described in footnote (a) of the Summary
Compensation  Table.  The number of shares  available for stock options or stock
awards is  limited  to three  percent  of the total  number of shares of Class A
Stock of the Company  outstanding as of the first day of each fiscal year during
which the Plan is in effect.  No more than  2,000,000  shares may be issued over
the life of the  Plan,  and no  incentive  stock  option  may be  granted  after
December 31, 2000.

     Upon a "change of  control,"  as defined,  all  outstanding  options  shall
become  immediately  exercisable  up to the full number of shares covered by the
option. The Committee shall specify in a performance stock award whether, and to
what effect,  in the event of a change of control,  an employee  shall be issued
shares of common  stock with  regard to  performance  stock  awards held by such
employee.  Following a change of control,  all shares of restricted  stock which
would  otherwise   remain  subject  to  restrictions   shall  be  free  of  such
restrictions.  A change of control is defined as having  occurred  if either (a)
any "person" hereafter becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly,  of
25% or more of the Company's then outstanding  shares of Class B Stock (and such
person did not have such 25% or more  beneficial  ownership  on January 1, 1989)
and the number of shares of Class B Stock so owned is equal to or  greater  than
the  number of shares of Class B Stock then  owned by any other  person,  or (b)
individuals  who  constitute  the Board of  Directors  on  January  1, 1989 (the
"incumbent  board")  cease for any reason to constitute at least 64% of the full
board,  provided  that any person  becoming a director  subsequent  to such date
whose  election or  nomination  for election by the Company's  shareholders  was
approved by a vote of at least 64% of the  directors  comprising  the  incumbent
board shall be  considered  as though such person was a member of the  incumbent
board.  The term "person"  includes any  individual,  corporation,  partnership,
group, or association  other than the Company,  an affiliate of the Company,  or
any ESOP or other  employee  benefit plan sponsored or maintained by the Company
or any affiliate.


                                       16
<PAGE>


V.   Proposal to Amend the Restated Certificate of Incorporation to Increase the
     Number of Authorized Shares of Capital Stock

     Subject to  shareholder  approval,  the Board of  Directors  of the Company
approved an amendment to Article THIRD of the Company's Restated  Certificate of
Incorporation  (the "Certificate of Incorporation") to increase the total number
of  authorized  shares of capital  stock of the  Company  from 44 million to 128
million, to increase the number of shares of Class A Stock from 30 million to 90
million,  and to increase the number of authorized  shares of Class B Stock from
12 million to 36 million.  The Company is also  authorized by the Certificate of
Incorporation  to issue 2,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock on such terms as the
directors  may from  time to time  approve.  If the  proposed  amendment  to the
Certificate  of  Incorporation  is adopted,  the number of authorized  shares of
Class A Stock and Class B Stock will be increased as  described  above,  and the
authorized number of shares of Preferred Stock will be unchanged.

     The Board of Directors  believes it is in the best interests of the Company
and its  shareholders  to have the  flexibility  to issue more Class A Stock and
Class B Stock than the Certificate of Incorporation currently authorizes without
incurring  the  expense or delay  incident  to calling a special  meeting of the
shareholders or waiting until the next annual meeting.  The additional shares to
be authorized  are not subject to preemptive  rights.  If such shares are issued
other than pro rata to all  existing  shareholders,  the  voting  and  ownership
interest  of  existing  shareholders  to whom such shares are not issued will be
diluted.  The Board of  Directors  may  determine  to  utilize  such  additional
authorized  shares for general  corporate  purposes,  such as stock dividends or
splits, future financial transactions,  acquisitions, employee benefit plans, or
the issuance of Class A Stock upon the conversion of Class B Stock. The Board of
Directors has not, at this time,  determined to use such shares for any specific
purpose.

   
     As of July 31, 1998, the Company had issued and  outstanding  approximately
12,922,009  shares of Class A Stock and 3,084,158  shares of Class B Stock,  and
3,873,254  shares of Class A Stock and  871,024  shares of Class B Stock held in
treasury. An additional 4,941,123 shares of Class A Stock have been reserved for
issuance in connection  with the Company's  1991 Key Employee Stock Plan and the
conversion rights of the Class B Stock.
    

     Upon adoption of the proposed  amendment,  the Board of Directors  would be
authorized  to reserve and issue  additional  shares of Class A Stock or Class B
Stock at such time or times, to such persons,  for such  consideration as it may
determine, and without any further shareholder approval, except as otherwise may
be required by law or any stock  exchange  on which the  Company's  stock may be
listed

     Unless contrary  instructions are noted thereon, the proxy will be voted in
favor of the following resolution which shall be submitted at the meeting:

     "RESOLVED,  that the Amendment to Article THIRD of the Restated Certificate
     of  Incorporation  to increase the number of  authorized  shares of Capital
     Stock, set forth in the Company's Proxy Statement dated August 7, 1998, be,
     and it hereby is, approved."

     The affirmative vote of the shares representing a majority of the number of
votes  accorded to all  outstanding  common shares of the Company (each share of
Class A Stock  being  accorded  one-tenth  of one vote and each share of Class B
Stock being accorded one vote) is necessary for the adoption of the proposal.

     The Board of  Directors  recommends  a vote "FOR"  approval of the proposed
amendment of the Company's Certificate of Incorporation.

VI.  Proposal to Ratify Appointment of Independent Public Accountants

     A proposal  will be presented at the meeting to ratify the  appointment  by
the Board of Directors,  on the recommendation of its Audit Committee, of Arthur
Andersen LLP ("Arthur  Andersen")  as  independent  public  accountants  for the
Company for the fiscal year ending April 30,  1999.  Although it is not required
to do so, the Board of Directors is  submitting  the  selection of that firm for
ratification  by the  shareholders  to ascertain  their views on such selection.
Arthur Andersen has audited the Company's  accounts since 1967.  Arthur Andersen
has advised the Company that during such period neither that firm nor any of its
members has or has had any direct or any materially  indirect financial interest
in the Company or any of its  subsidiaries.  A representative of Arthur Andersen
is expected to be present at the Annual  Meeting with the  opportunity to make a
statement  if he desires to do so, and such  representative  is  expected  to be
available to respond to appropriate questions.


                                       17
<PAGE>


     Unless contrary  instructions are noted thereon,  the proxies will be voted
in favor of the following resolution, which will be submitted at the meeting:

     "RESOLVED,  that the  appointment  by the  Board  of  Directors  of  Arthur
     Andersen  LLP as  independent  public  accountants  for the Company for the
     fiscal year ending April 30, 1999, be and it hereby is ratified,  confirmed
     and approved."

      The affirmative  vote of the shares  representing a majority of the number
of votes accorded to all outstanding  shares of the Company (each share of Class
A Stock  being  accorded  one-tenth  of one vote and each share of Class B Stock
being accorded one vote) present in person or by proxy at the meeting and voting
on the proposal is necessary for the adoption of the proposal. In the event that
the  foregoing  proposal is defeated,  the adverse vote will be  considered as a
direction to the Board of Directors to select other  auditors for the  following
year. However,  because of the difficulty and expense of making any substitution
of  auditors  so long after the  beginning  of the current  fiscal  year,  it is
contemplated that the appointment for the fiscal year ending April 30, 1999 will
be permitted to stand unless the Board of Directors  finds other good reason for
making a change.

     The Board of Directors  recommends that you vote "FOR" the  ratification of
the appointment of independent public accountants.

VII. Manner and Expenses of Solicitation

     Since many of our shareholders are unable to attend the Annual Meeting, the
Board of Directors solicits proxies so that each shareholder has the opportunity
to vote on the proposals to be considered at the Annual Meeting.

   
     This year,  shareholders of record can vote and save the Company expense by
calling the  toll-free  telephone  number  printed on the proxy card.  Telephone
voting instructions are provided on the proxy card. A Control Number, located in
the lower right hand corner of the proxy card,  will identify  shareholders  and
allow them to vote their shares and confirm that their voting  instructions have
been properly recorded.
    

     If your shares are held in the name of a bank or broker,  follow the voting
instructions on the form you receive from such record holder.  The  availability
of telephone voting will depend on their voting procedures.

     If you do vote by telephone,  it will not be necessary to return your proxy
card. If you do not choose to vote by telephone, you may return your proxy card,
properly  signed,  and  the  shares  will  be  voted  in  accordance  with  your
directions.  Shareholders  are  urged to mark the  boxes  on the  proxy  card to
indicate  how their  shares are to be voted.  If no choices are  specified,  the
shares  represented by that proxy card will be voted as recommended by the Board
of Directors.

   
     If a shareholder  does not return a signed proxy card, vote by telephone or
attend the Annual  Meeting  and vote in  person,  his or her shares  will not be
voted. Any shareholder giving a proxy (including one given by telephone) has the
right to  revoke  it at any time  before it is  exercised  by  giving  notice in
writing to the Secretary of the Company,  by  delivering a duly  executed  proxy
bearing  a  later  date  to the  Secretary  (or  by  subsequently  completing  a
telephonic  proxy)prior to the Annual Meeting of  Shareholders,  or by attending
the Annual  Meeting and voting in person.  Attendance at the annual meeting will
not in and of itself constitute revocation of a proxy.
    

     The Company will bear the costs of soliciting  proxies.  In addition to the
solicitation of proxies by use of the mails, some of the officers, directors and
other employees of the Company may also solicit  proxies  personally or by mail,
telephone or telegraph,  but they will not receive  additional  compensation for
such services.  Brokerage firms, custodians,  banks, trustees, nominees or other
fiduciaries holding shares of common stock in their names will be reimbursed for
their  reasonable  out-of-pocket  expenses in forwarding proxy material to their
principals.


                                       18
<PAGE>


VIII. Deadline for Submission of Shareholders Proposals

     The By-Laws  provide that if a shareholder  intends to nominate a candidate
for election as a director,  to submit a proposal for inclusion in the Company's
proxy  statement,  or to bring other  business  before the Annual  Meeting,  the
shareholder must deliver written notice of his or her intention to the Secretary
of the  Company (or if notice is mailed,  it must be received by the  Secretary)
not less than 120 calendar  days in advance of the date in the then current year
corresponding  to the  date  the  Company's  Proxy  Statement  was  released  to
shareholders in connection with the previous year's annual meeting.  If the date
of the annual  meeting has been changed by more than 30 days, the notice must be
received a  reasonable  time  before  such new date.  The notice  must state the
shareholder's name,  address,  and number of Class A or Class B shares held, and
fully  describe the business to be brought  before the meeting.  The notice must
include  all other  information  that  would be  required  to be filed  with the
Securities and Exchange  Commission,  if with respect to the proposed  business,
the shareholder was a participant in a solicitation subject to Section 14 of the
Securities  Exchange Act of 1934. If the notice  pertains to the nomination of a
candidate for election as a director, it must include the consent of the nominee
to serve as a director of the Company if elected.

     Proposals  of  shareholders  intended  to be  presented  at the 1999 Annual
Meeting must be received by the Secretary of the Company (at the address  listed
at the beginning of this Statement) no later than April 8, 1999.

IX.  Other Matters

     The Company has not received  notice from any  shareholder of its intention
to  bring a  matter  before  the  Annual  Meeting.  At the  date  of this  Proxy
Statement,  the Board of  Directors  does not know of any  other  matter to come
before the  meeting  other than the  matters set forth in the Notice of Meeting.
However, if any other matter, not now known,  properly comes before the meeting,
the persons named on the enclosed proxy will vote said proxy in accordance  with
their best  judgment on such  matter.  Shares  represented  by any proxy will be
voted with  respect  to the  proposals  outlined  above in  accordance  with the
choices  specified  therein or in favor of any proposal as to which no choice is
specified.

     The  Annual  Report to  Shareholders  was mailed  together  with this Proxy
Statement to shareholders beginning August 7, 1998.

     The  Company  will  provide,  without  charge,  a copy of its Report to the
Securities and Exchange  Commission on Form 10-K for fiscal 1998,  including the
financial  statements  and the schedules  thereto.  All such requests  should be
directed to Josephine A. Bacchi,  Secretary,  John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 605 Third
Avenue, New York, New York 10158.

     It is important  that your proxy be returned  promptly,  whether by mail or
telephone.  Therefore,  whether or not you plan to attend the Annual  Meeting in
person, you are requested to return your proxy by dating, signing and mailing it
in the  enclosed  envelope to which no postage  need be affixed if mailed in the
United  States,  or by using the toll-free  telephone  number.  The proxy may be
revoked at any time by you before it is exercised.  If you attend the meeting in
person,  you may withdraw any proxy (including a telephonic  proxy)and vote your
own shares.

                                             BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
                                                  JOSEPHINE A. BACCHI
                                                  Secretary
New York, New York
August 7, 1998



                                       19
<PAGE>



           THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS


                             JOHN WILEY & SONS, INC.

                          PROXY/VOTING INSTRUCTION CARD

     The  signee  hereby  appoints  Bradford  Wiley  II,  William  J.  Pesce and
Josephine  A.  Bacchi,  as the  proxies  of  the  signee,  with  full  power  of
substitution to each of them, to vote the Class A Common Stock, which the signee
is entitiled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of John Wiley & Sons,
Inc. and any and all  adjournments  thereof,  to be held at the Shelburne Murray
Hill Hotel,  Grand Ballroom,  303 Lexington Avenue at 37th Street, New York, New
York, on September 17, 1998, 9:30 A.M., Eastern Daylight Savings Time.

                                 CLASS A SHARES



       (Continued, and to be marked, dated and signed, on the other side)

                              FOLD AND DETACH HERE
- - - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


          JOHN WILEY & SONS, INC. -- ANNUAL MEETING, SEPTEMBER 17, 1998

                             YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT!

                        You can vote in one of two ways:

1.   Call toll free  1-888-426-7022  on a Touch  Tone  telephone  and follow the
     instructions on the reverse side. There is NO CHARGE to you for this call.

                                       or
                                       --

2.   Mark,  sign and date your proxy card and return it promptly in the enclosed
     envelope.

                                   PLEASE VOTE


                                                [LOGO] Printed on recycled paper

<PAGE>


- - - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     The Board of  Directors  recommends  a vote  "FOR" all  nominees  and "FOR"
     Proposals 2 and 3.
- - - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please mark your votes as indicated in this example  |X|

1.   The   election  as   directors   of  all
     nominees  listed below,  exept as marked
     to the contrary.
                                                            With-     For All
                                                  For       hold      Except
                                                  |_|        |_|        |_|

INSTRUCTION: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, mark "For
All Except"and write that nominee's name in the space provided below.

     (01) Larry Franklin
     (02) Henry A. McKinnell, Jr.
     (03) Thomas M. Taylor

2.   Proposal to amend the Company's Restated
     Certificate of Incorporation.
                                                  For      Against    Abstain
                                                  |_|        |_|        |_|

3.   Proposal  to ratify the  appointment  of
     Arthur Andersen LLP as independent
     accountants.
                                                  For      Against    Abstain
                                                  |_|        |_|        |_|


- - - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                 CLASS A SHARES


                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Will attend Annual Meeting  |_|
                                                 -------------------------------

     The Proxies are directed to vote as specified,  and in their  discretion on
all other matters which may come before the meeting or any adjournments thereof.
If no direction is given, this proxy will be voted for the Election of Directors
and "FOR" Proposals 2 and 3.

PLEASE SIGN EXACTLY AS YOUR NAME(S)  APPEAR(S) ON THIS CARD.  When signing as an
attorney,  executor,  administrator,  trustee or guardian, please give your full
title. If shares are held jointly, each holder should sign.

                                             -----------------------------------
Please be sure to sign and date              Date
 this Proxy in the box below.
- - - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             

- - - ---Shareholder sign above-----------------Co-holder (if any) sign above---------

  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
  *** IF YOU WISH TO VOTE BY TELEPHONE, PLEASE READ THE INSTRUCTIONS BELOW ***
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

- - - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 FOLD AND DETACH HERE AND READ THE REVERSE SIDE

                 ----------------------------------------------
                                VOTE BY TELEPHONE
                        QUICK * * * EASY * * * IMMEDIATE
                 ----------------------------------------------


Your telephone vote authorizes the named proxies to vote your shares in the same
         manner as if you marked, signed and returned your proxy card.

  Please have this card handy when you call. You'll need it in front of you in
                      order to complete the voting process.

      You will be asked to enter the Control Number (look below at right).

OPTION A:      To vote as the Board of Directors  recommends  on ALL  proposals,
               press 1. Your vote will be confirmed.

OPTION B:      If you choose to vote on each proposal  separately,  press 0. You
               will hear these instructions:

               Item 1:   To vote FOR ALL nominees,  press 1; to WITHHOLD FOR ALL
                         nominees,  press  9.  To  WITHHOLD  FOR  AN  INDIVIDUAL
                         NOMINEE, PRESS 0 and listen to the instructions.       
                       
               Item 2:   To vote FOR, press 1; AGAINST,  press 9; ABSTAIN, press
                         0. The  instructions  are the  same  for all  remaining
                         proposals  to be voted.  When asked,  you must  confirm
                         your vote by pressing 1.                               
                       

             If you vote by telephone, DO NOT mail back your proxy.

                              THANK YOU FOR VOTING

                                                           FOR TELEPHONE VOTING:
Call * * * Toll Free * * * On a Touch Tone Telephone          CONTROL NUMBER
              1-888-426-7022 - ANYTIME                     =====================
       There is NOCHARGE to you for this call
                                                           =====================


<PAGE>



           THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS


                             JOHN WILEY & SONS, INC.

                          PROXY/VOTING INSTRUCTION CARD

     The  signee  hereby  appoints  Bradford  Wiley  II,  William  J.  Pesce and
Josephine  A.  Bacchi,  as the  proxies  of  the  signee,  with  full  power  of
substitution to each of them, to vote the Class A Common Stock, which the signee
is entitiled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of John Wiley & Sons,
Inc. and any and all  adjournments  thereof,  to be held at the Shelburne Murray
Hill Hotel,  Grand Ballroom,  303 Lexington Avenue at 37th Street, New York, New
York, on September 17, 1998, 9:30 A.M., Eastern Daylight Savings Time.

                                 CLASS B SHARES



       (Continued, and to be marked, dated and signed, on the other side)

                              FOLD AND DETACH HERE
- - - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


          JOHN WILEY & SONS, INC. -- ANNUAL MEETING, SEPTEMBER 17, 1998

                             YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT!

                        You can vote in one of two ways:

1.   Call toll free  1-888-426-7033  on a Touch  Tone  telephone  and follow the
     instructions on the reverse side. There is NO CHARGE to you for this call.

                                       or
                                       --

2.   Mark,  sign and date your proxy card and return it promptly in the enclosed
     envelope.

                                   PLEASE VOTE


                                                [LOGO] Printed on recycled paper

<PAGE>


- - - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     The Board of  Directors  recommends  a vote  "FOR" all  nominees  and "FOR"
     Proposals 2 and 3.
- - - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please mark your votes as indicated in this example  |X|

1.   The   election  as   directors   of  all
     nominees  listed below,  exept as marked
     to the contrary.
                                                            With-     For All
                                                  For       hold      Except
                                                  |_|        |_|        |_|
  
   (01) Warren J. Baker, (02) H. Allen Fernald,          
   (03) Gary J. Fernandes, (04) William J. Pesce,        
   (04) William R. Sutherland, (05) Bradford Wiley II and
   (06) Peter Booth Wiley                                

2.   Proposal to amend the Company's Restated
     Certificate of Incorporation.
                                                  For      Against    Abstain
                                                  |_|        |_|        |_|

3.   Proposal  to ratify the  appointment  of
     Arthur Andersen LLP as independent
     accountants.
                                                  For      Against    Abstain
                                                  |_|        |_|        |_|

INSTRUCTION: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, mark "For
All Except"and write that nominee's name in the space provided below.

- - - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                 CLASS B SHARES


                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Will attend Annual Meeting  |_|
                                                 -------------------------------

     The Proxies are directed to vote as specified,  and in their  discretion on
all other matters which may come before the meeting or any adjournments thereof.
If no direction is given, this proxy will be voted for the Election of Directors
and "FOR" Proposals 2 and 3.

PLEASE SIGN EXACTLY AS YOUR NAME(S)  APPEAR(S) ON THIS CARD.  When signing as an
attorney,  executor,  administrator,  trustee or guardian, please give your full
title. If shares are held jointly, each holder should sign.

                                             -----------------------------------
Please be sure to sign and date              Date
 this Proxy in the box below.
- - - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             

- - - ---Shareholder sign above-----------------Co-holder (if any) sign above---------

  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
  *** IF YOU WISH TO VOTE BY TELEPHONE, PLEASE READ THE INSTRUCTIONS BELOW ***
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

- - - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 FOLD AND DETACH HERE AND READ THE REVERSE SIDE

                 ----------------------------------------------
                                VOTE BY TELEPHONE
                        QUICK * * * EASY * * * IMMEDIATE
                 ----------------------------------------------


Your telephone vote authorizes the named proxies to vote your shares in the same
         manner as if you marked, signed and returned your proxy card.

  Please have this card handy when you call. You'll need it in front of you in
                      order to complete the voting process.

      You will be asked to enter the Control Number (look below at right).

OPTION A:      To vote as the Board of Directors  recommends  on ALL  proposals,
               press 1. Your vote will be confirmed.

OPTION B:      If you choose to vote on each proposal  separately,  press 0. You
               will hear these instructions:

               Item 1:   To vote FOR ALL nominees,  press 1; to WITHHOLD FOR ALL
                         nominees,  press  9.  To  WITHHOLD  FOR  AN  INDIVIDUAL
                         NOMINEE, PRESS 0 and listen to the instructions.       
                       
               Item 2:   To vote FOR, press 1; AGAINST,  press 9; ABSTAIN, press
                         0. The  instructions  are the  same  for all  remaining
                         proposals  to be voted.  When asked,  you must  confirm
                         your vote by pressing 1.                               
                       

             If you vote by telephone, DO NOT mail back your proxy.

                              THANK YOU FOR VOTING

                                                           FOR TELEPHONE VOTING:
Call * * * Toll Free * * * On a Touch Tone Telephone          CONTROL NUMBER
              1-888-426-7033 - ANYTIME                     =====================
       There is NOCHARGE to you for this call
                                                           =====================



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