NEW YORK, Sept. 14, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Meredith
Corporation (NYSE:MDP; www.meredith.com), the nation's leading
media and marketing company serving 102 million American women and
three out of four Millennial women, today hosted its first-ever
BrandFront presentation, previewing the company's 2017 video
content partnerships and original cross-platform programming
initiatives before more than 250 key advertisers and marketers at
the Prince George Ballroom in New
York.
In addition to announcing a slate of new digital video series
leveraging Millennial influencers and content leaders, Meredith unveiled its compelling new
"Partnerships That Will Change the World" platforms, which
span video, digital, print and experiential channels.
"Partnerships That Will Change the World" comprises four core
pillars – GIVE, PROTECT & CONNECT, STRIVE and LEAD –
that engage Meredith's Millennial
audience in influencing social change in measurable and meaningful
ways. The platforms are grounded in research on what motivates
Millennial women – and, in particular, their strong entrepreneurial
spirit; desire for self-expression; sense of purpose; and video-,
social- and mobile-centric media consumption habits.
As part of this initiative, Meredith has forged alliances with like-minded
organizations and notable influencers committed to making positive
impact on the lives of Millennial women and families to develop
programs that include cross-channel editorial, original video
series, live events and social media campaigns launching in
2017.
The "Partnerships That Will Change the World" platform elements
announced today include:
GIVE
Centered on creating a culture of generosity, GIVE mobilizes
women and families to pay it forward on a regular basis and makes
giving back an integral part of their lives. Rachael Ray, the Founder & Editorial
Director of Rachael Ray Every
Day, and Lauren
Purcell, Editor-in-Chief of Rachael Ray Every Day, took to the stage to
announce the Feed It Forward contest, which will identify
five emerging female "philanthropreneurs" to receive $5,000 in funding and guidance from Ray's mentor
dream team. The winners will be featured in cross-channel
Rachael Ray Every Day media
outlets, on The Rachael Ray Show and across social
media.
Meredith has also partnered
with the GOOD+ Foundation, which works with a national
network of leading organizations to break the cycle of family
poverty through the power of donated goods and services. GOOD+
Founder Jessica Seinfeld
appeared at the BrandFront alongside Dana Points, Parents Editor-in-Chief
and Meredith Parents Network Content Director, to announce the
content-led partnership designed to teach children the crucial
skills of humility, empathy and giving back to others. The
omni-channel platform will focus on ways parents can foster these
skills among their children to create a culture of generosity in
their family, community and the world.
Finally, Allrecipes Editor-in-Chief Cheryl Brown announced the brand's new
cross-channel We AR Community charitable initiative to
spotlight home cooks who care and inspire others to get involved.
Allrecipes will tap into its community of 1.3 billion users to
profile extraordinary families making a difference and showcase
unique food-centric charities in the pages of Allrecipes;
create a digital brand page on Allrecipes.com called "The Dish,"
which will feature original videos, articles, user-generated
content and recipe collections; and kick off a robust social media
campaign around #weARcommunity.
Allrecipes additionally will host volunteering and fundraising
events, and Meredith will offer
readers who share their stories a chance to win a $1,000 donation to a charity of their choice.
PROTECT & CONNECT
Centered on cultivating a smart and safe environment, PROTECT
& CONNECT empowers consumers with everyday tips and advice for
ensuring family safety and enjoying the benefits of a connected
home. During the BrandFront presentation, Meredith premiered a pilot for "Home Safe
Home," an original video series launching in 2017 featuring
Brit + Co Founder & CEO Brit
Morin's smart and chic tips for childproofing a home.
Morin was joined on stage by Better Homes and Gardens
Editor-in-Chief Stephen Orr
and Points to announce Meredith's
partnership with Safe Kids Worldwide, a global organization
dedicated to preventing childhood injuries and accidents. The
partnership will promote the Safe Kids message across Meredith's parenting- and family-focused media
channels, and mobilize families to participate in annual Safe Kids
Day events in their local communities across the nation.
STRIVE
Centered on making healthy happen, STRIVE motivates consumers to
keep their health in check by promoting smart food choices and an
active lifestyle. Meredith has
teamed up with Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA) on
a program to fight childhood obesity and promote healthy eating.
PHA CEO Larry Soler appeared on stage with
Linda Fears,
VP/Editor-in-Chief of Family Circle and Group Editor of
Martha Stewart Living and
Martha Stewart Weddings, to announce the multi-channel
public awareness initiative.
EatingWell Editor-in-Chief Jessie Price also appeared with
Gracie Cavnar, Chairman &
CEO of the Recipe for Success Foundation, which is dedicated
to changing the way children understand, appreciate and eat food
through educating and mobilizing communities to provide healthier
diets for children and their families. EatingWell will be
partnering with Recipe for Success on their VegOut! 30 Ways in
30 Days program to encourage users to eat more vegetables and
provide healthy eating inspiration.
In addition to exercise and nutrition, Meredith is supporting body-positive
initiatives that make an impact by partnering with Movemeant
Foundation, a nonprofit, community-powered organization that
empowers young women to be confident in their bodies by using
fitness as a platform for building self-worth and positive body
image. SHAPE Editor-in-Chief Elizabeth Goodman Artis shared the stage
with Movemeant Foundation Founder & CEO Jenny Gaither to highlight their ongoing
partnership on the SHAPE Body Shop series of events, which has
already raised more than $15,000 for the organization. The
presentation previewed SHAPE's grassroots movement that
encourages supporters to create or join teams to raise funds for
the Movemeant Foundation on their own. SHAPE will also be
supporting the effort through a series of SHAPE Body Shop
events at studios and gyms across the country.
LEAD
Centered on championing female entrepreneurs, LEAD encourages
and empowers more women to succeed in their own businesses by
providing inspiration and resources. Martha Stewart, Founder & Chief Creative
Officer of Martha Stewart
Living and Martha Stewart Weddings, delivered a
video message underlining her passion for entrepreneurs and makers
across the country. Stewart and Sequential Brands Group, Inc. will
celebrate the fifth anniversary of the American Made
Program, a nationally recognized awards program spotlighting
the maker; supporting the local; and celebrating the handmade, from
Oct. 21 to 23 in New York.
Meredith also announced a new
"Office Hours" video series hosted by Lilliana Vazquez, Founder and Creative Force
behind TheLVGuide.com and TODAY Contributor, who will
interview a different notable and influential female entrepreneur
in each episode. The series will launch on the reinvented
More.com, an original digital lifestyle destination designed
to serve as a companion for Millennial women that offers empowering
and inspirational advice and information shared in their voice.
Vazquez welcomed Alexis Maybank,
the founder of Gilt Groupe to the BrandFront stage for a live
edition of an "Office Hours" Q&A on her new business initiative
Project September, an app and website that features photos from
Instagram that users tag with product details to help product
discovery lead to purchases. The interview was livestreamed
on Facebook Live. Click here to watch on More.com's Facebook
page.
"We are excited to launch our Partnerships That Will Change the
World," said Jon Werther, Meredith
National Media Group President. "Giving back, promoting family
safety and connectivity, empowering women to lead healthier lives
and supporting female entrepreneurship are all key parts of
Meredith's heritage, and are
vitally important to the 26 million Millennial women and more than
100 million women whom we reach, engage and inspire each and
every month. As we head into 2017 and beyond, we look forward
to working with our platform partners and with our key brand
advertisers to create memorable, meaningful experiences for our
consumers that drive positive change in the world."
"Equally important, these are issues and opportunities that are
of critical importance to the 26 million Millennial women whom we
reach, engage and inspire each and every month," Werther continued.
"As we head into 2017 and beyond, we look forward to accomplishing
great things with our platform partners, and welcoming additional
partners in our collective pursuit to drive positive and meaningful
change in the world."
The BrandFront presentation culminated with Meredith Chief Brand
Officer Kim Martin
announcing Meredith's slate of
original video series launching in fall 2016 and throughout 2017 –
including Allrecipes' "Clueless in the Kitchen" with comedian
Greg Benson and Better Homes
and Gardens' "Make It Mini" featuring Morin of Brit + Co –
and several other recent initiatives that reinforce and increase
Meredith's reach against
Millennial women, including:
- The recently announced Dinner Spinner television series,
a new cooking competition inspired by the "Allrecipes Dinner
Spinner" app that will begin airing on The CW Network this
fall;
- A partnership with Joanna and Chip
Gaines on a new lifestyle magazine based on the Magnolia
brand;
- New brand licensing partnerships for the SHAPE Active
collection of women's activewear and EatingWell brand of
better-for-you frozen food; and
- The relaunch of More.com.
To read about these and other initiatives announced at
Meredith's BrandFront
presentation, click here.
BrandFront caps off another year of growth for Meredith, in which the company's multi-channel
reach among American women hit an all-time high of 102 million,
including 72 percent – or 26 million – of U.S. Millennial women,
and its consumer database increased to 125 million individuals,
representing 82 million households.
ABOUT MEREDITH
CORPORATION
Meredith Corporation (NYSE: MDP;
www.meredith.com) has been committed to service
journalism for 115 years. Today, Meredith uses multiple distribution platforms
– including broadcast television, print, digital, mobile and video
– to provide consumers with content they desire and to deliver the
messages of its advertising and marketing partners.
Meredith's National Media Group
reaches more than 100 million unduplicated women every month,
including nearly 75 percent of U.S. Millennial women. Meredith is the leader in creating and
distributing content across platforms in key consumer interest
areas such as food, home, parenting and health through well-known
brands such as Better Homes and Gardens, Allrecipes, Parents, Shape
and EatingWell.
Meredith also features robust
brand licensing activities, including more than 3,000 SKUs of
branded products at 4,000 Walmart stores across the U.S. Meredith
Xcelerated Marketing is an award-winning, strategic and creative
agency that provides fully integrated marketing solutions for many
of the world's top brands, including Kraft, Lowe's, TGI Friday's
and NBC Universal.
Meredith's Local Media Group
includes 17 owned or operated television stations reaching 11
percent of U.S. households. Meredith's portfolio is concentrated in large,
fast-growing markets, with seven stations in the nation's Top 25 –
including Atlanta, Phoenix, St.
Louis and Portland – and 13
in Top 50 markets. Meredith's
stations produce over 660 hours of local news and entertainment
content each week, and operate leading local digital
destinations.
Meredith's balanced portfolio
consistently generates substantial free cash flow, and the Company
is committed to growing Total Shareholder Return through dividend
payments, share repurchases and strategic business
investments. Meredith's
current annualized dividend of $1.98
per share yields approximately 4 percent. Meredith has paid a dividend for 69 straight
years and increased it for 23 consecutive years.
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SOURCE Meredith Corporation