<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF AMERICAN MEDIA OPERATIONS, INC. FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDED MARCH 29, 1999. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000853927 <NAME> AMERICAN MEDIA OPERATIONS INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-29-1999 <PERIOD-START> MAR-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> MAR-29-1999 <CASH> 3,823 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 7,977 <ALLOWANCES> 269 <INVENTORY> 9,830 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 24,280 <PP&E> 45,622 <DEPRECIATION> 18,762 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 616,838 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 99,406 <BONDS> 446,134 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 2 <OTHER-SE> 60,196 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 616,838 <SALES> 293,459 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 293,459 <CGS> 228,060 <TOTAL-COSTS> 228,060 <OTHER-EXPENSES> (2,943) <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 46,897 <INCOME-PRETAX> 21,445 <INCOME-TAX> 13,559 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 7,886 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> (2,161) <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 5,725 <EPS-BASIC> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0