UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13G
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. 21)*
MEREDITH CORPORATION
(Name of Issuer)
COMMON STOCK
(Title of Class of Securities)
589433 10 1
(CUSIP Number)
*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and
for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed
to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act
but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the
Notes).
SCHEDULE 13G
CUSIP No. 589433 10 1 Page 2 of 4
___________________________________________________________________________
1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NUMBER OF REPORTING PERSON
Edwin T. Meredith III
480 38 4331
___________________________________________________________________________
2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* (a) / /
(b) / /
___________________________________________________________________________
3 SEC USE ONLY
___________________________________________________________________________
4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
U.S.A.
___________________________________________________________________________
5 SOLE VOTING POWER
NUMBER OF SHARES
BENEFICIALLY 9,206,481
OWNED BY 6 SHARED VOTING POWER
EACH
REPORTING 184,824
PERSON 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
WITH
9,206,481
8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
184,824
9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
9,391,305
10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES* / /
11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
20.3%
12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
IN
*SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!
CUSIP NO. 589433 10 1 Page 3 of 4
Item 1(a) Name of Issuer: Meredith Corporation
Item 1(b) Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:
1716 Locust Street
Des Moines, Iowa 50309
Item 2(a) Name of Person Filing: Edwin T. Meredith III
Item 2(b) Address of Principal Business Office:
1716 Locust Street
Des Moines, Iowa 50309
Item 2(c) Citizenship: The person filing this statement is a citizen of the
United States.
Item 2(d) Title of Class of Securities: COMMON STOCK
Item 2(e) CUSIP Number. 589433 10 1
Item 3. This statement is not being filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b) or 13d-
2(b). Not Applicable
Item 4. Ownership: Edwin T. Meredith III
(a) Amount Beneficially Owned as of 12/31/97: 9,391,305 (1)(2)
(b) Percent of Class: 20.3%
(c) Number of shares as to which such person has:
(i) sole power to vote or to direct the vote... 9,206,481 (1)(2)
(ii) shared power to vote or to direct the vote. 184,824 (1)(2)
(iii) sole power to dispose or to direct the
disposition of............................. 9,206,481 (1)(2)
(iv) shared power to dispose or to direct the
disposition of............................. 184,824 (1)(2)
__________
(1) Mr. Meredith disclaims that he is the beneficial owner for any other purpose
of all shares of which he would not, except for Rule 13d-3, be deemed to be
the beneficial owner.
(2) These shares include Common Stock which could be received upon conversion of
shares of Class B Common Stock of the corporation that are beneficially
owned by Edwin T. Meredith III. The Class B Common Stock is convertible,
share for share, at any time into fully transferable Common Stock without
the payment of any consideration. Edwin T. Meredith III is the beneficial
owner of 5,332,186 shares of Class B Common Stock.
CUSIP NO. 589433 10 1 Page 4 of 4
Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class. Not Applicable
Item 6. Ownership of More than Five Percent on behalf of Another Person.
Not Applicable
Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary which Acquired
the Security Being Reported on By the Parent Holding Company. Not
Applicable
Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group. Not
Applicable
Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group. Not Applicable
Item 10. Certification. Not Applicable
SIGNATURE
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and
belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is
true, complete and correct.
Dated: February 13, 1998
/s/ Edwin T. Meredith III
Edwin T. Meredith III