EXHIBIT 99.1


The Reader's Digest Association, Inc.
Media: William Adler, (914) 244-7585  william.adler@rd.com
Investor Relations: Richard Clark, (914) 244-5425
richard.clark@rd.com


Reader's Digest Association Doubles Dividend to 10 Cents Per Share

      PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y., January 21, 2005 - The board of directors of The
Reader's Digest Association, Inc. (NYSE: RDA) today declared a quarterly
dividend of 10 cents on each share of the company's common stock. The dividend
represents an increase of 5 cents per share, or 100 percent, over the dividend
of 5 cents per share that had been in effect since October 9, 1998.

      "We are pleased to increase our dividend to shareholders to 10 cents per
share, or 40 cents per share on an annual basis," said Thomas O. Ryder, Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer. "The company's strong cash flow enables us to
increase the dividend while still providing for all routine cash needs, planned
investments and continued paydown of our long-term financing on or ahead of
schedule."

      The dividend is payable on February 15, 2005, to stockholders of record at
the close of business on February 1, 2005. This marks the 60th consecutive
quarterly dividend paid by RDA since the company's initial public offering in
1990.

      The Reader's Digest Association, Inc. is a global publisher and direct
marketer of products that inform, enrich, entertain and inspire people of all
ages and cultures around the world. Revenues were $2.4 billion for the fiscal
year ended on June 30, 2004. Global headquarters are located at Pleasantville,
New York. For more information, please visit www.rd.com.

           This release may include "forward-looking statements" within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking
statements inherently involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual
future results and occurrences to differ materially from the forward-looking
statements. The Reader's Digest Association, Inc.'s filings with the Securities
and Exchange Commission, including its reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K,
contain a discussion of additional factors that could affect future results and
occurrences. Reader's Digest does not undertake to update any forward-looking
statements.
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