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 Elects
                    Eric W. Schrier to its Board of Directors

     PLEASANTVILLE,  N.Y.,  January 20, 2006 - The Reader's Digest  Association,
Inc.  (NYSE:  RDA)  today  elected  Eric W.  Schrier to the  company's  Board of
Directors. The appointment was made at the Board's regular January meeting.

     Schrier,  53,  was named  President  and  Chief  Executive  Officer  of RDA
effective January 1, 2006. At the time of his appointment, it was also announced
that he would join the Board.  He previously  was President of RD North America,
responsible for Reader's Digest magazine,  Reiman  Publications,  U.S. Books and
Home  Entertainment,  and RD  Canada.  Under his  leadership,  RD North  America
increased  its  operating  profits  while  launching  a number  of new  business
initiatives.

     He joined RDA in January  2000 as Global  Editor-in-Chief,  with  worldwide
responsibility  for the  editorial  content  and  quality  of all RDA  products.
Previously, he was President and CEO of Time Inc. Health, and Editor-in-Chief of
Time Inc.  Ventures.  Early in his  career he  launched  Science  80,  the first
science magazine for a consumer  audience,  and later founded  Hippocrates,  the
consumer  magazine that ultimately  became Health.  Schrier graduated from Brown
University with a B.A. degree in Human Biology, and he also holds an M.J. degree
from U.C. Berkeley.

     Lawrence  R.  Ricciardi,  a Board  member and  Chairman  of the  Governance
Committee, said of Schrier: "On behalf of the Board, I am delighted to welcome a
strong strategic thinker with an impressive track record of building  successful
publishing enterprises.  Eric has made significant  contributions to the company
in his previous roles,  and the Board will benefit from his insight,  creativity
and business acumen."

     Schrier  becomes the  eleventh  current  member of the Board.  He joins the
class of company  directors  that will stand for reelection at the November 2006
Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

     The Reader's  Digest  Association,  Inc. is a global  publisher  and direct
marketer of products that inform,  entertain and inspire  people of all ages and
cultures around the world. Revenues for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2005 were
$2.4 billion.  Corporate headquarters are located at Pleasantville,  NY. The RDA
Web site is www.rda.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. RDA does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements.