Filed by The Mead Corporation
                         pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933
                                and deemed filed pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under
                                           the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                                        Subject Company:  The Mead Corporation
                                                    Commission File No. 1-2267



The following announcement was posted on Mead's Intranet:


October 16, 2001

Merger Update from the Chairman

Preparation to combine Mead and Westvaco into a dynamic new enterprise
continues at a rapid pace. Several teams have begun to meet to develop
plans to create the new MeadWestvaco. Last week, Human Resources and
Information Technology began this process, and this week Finance; Legal,
Public Affairs and Communications; Coated Papers; Research and Development;
Engineering; and Purchasing and Logistics teams will begin their work. The
process used by these teams is a good one, and team members have already
begun to identify significant operational synergies.

We passed one significant milestone late yesterday when we received word
that the U.S. Justice Department has completed its antitrust review of our
proposed merger. This positive development keeps us on schedule to launch
MeadWestvaco by the end of calendar 2001 and to implement the integration
plans now being developed by our joint teams.

Other regulatory reviews are also proceeding in a timely fashion. On
October 5, our two companies filed a draft registration statement with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The SEC has 30 days to comment
upon the filing. After we receive approval from the SEC, a prospectus and
proxy statement will be mailed to all Mead and Westvaco shareholders
seeking approval of the transaction.

We will keep you informed of other milestones through the Intranet and
location newsletters. Successfully bringing Mead and Westvaco together
requires the very best from our organization. Working together, we can
strongly position this new enterprise to benefit its customers,
shareholders and employees. I'm excited about the proposed merger and the
excellent progress we've achieved to date.

Jerry Tatar
Chairman, President and CEO



                           Additional Information

The Mead Corporation ("Mead") and Westvaco Corporation ("Westvaco") have
filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4 on behalf of MW
Holding Corporation containing a preliminary joint proxy statement/prospectus
and other relevant documents concerning the proposed transaction. INVESTORS
ARE URGED TO READ THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND ANY OTHER
RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT
INFORMATION ON THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. Investors may obtain the documents
free of charge at the SEC's website (www.sec.gov). In addition, documents
filed with the SEC by Mead or Westvaco with respect to the proposed
transaction may be obtained free of charge by contacting The Mead
Corporation, Mead World Headquarters, Courthouse Plaza Northeast, Dayton,
Ohio 45463, Attention: Mark Pomerleau, Director of Investor Relations
(tel.: (937) 495-3456), or Westvaco Corporation, One High Ridge Park,
Stamford, Connecticut 06905, Attention: John W. Hetherington (tel.: (203)
461-7500). INVESTORS SHOULD READ THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS
CAREFULLY BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING OR INVESTMENT DECISION.

Mead and its directors and executive officers may be deemed to be
participants in the solicitation of proxies from Mead shareholders. The
directors and executive officers of Mead include: John G. Breen, Duane E.
Collins, William E. Hoglund, James G. Kaiser, Robert J. Kohlhepp, John A.
Krol, Susan J. Kropf, Raymond W. Lane, Sue K. McDonnell, Timothy R.
McLevish, Ian Millar, Heidi G. Miller, Lee J. Styslinger, Jr., Jerome F.
Tatar and J. Lawrence Wilson. Collectively, as of January 31, 2001, the
directors and executive officers of Mead beneficially owned less than 1% of
the outstanding shares of Mead's common stock (excluding shares subject to
options). Shareholders may obtain additional information regarding the
interests of such participants by reading the joint proxy
statement/prospectus.

Westvaco and its directors and executive officers may be deemed to be
participants in the solicitation of proxies from Westvaco stockholders. The
directors and executive officers of Westvaco include: Michael E. Campbell,
Dr. Thomas W. Cole, Jr., David F. D'Alessandro, Richard B. Kelson, Douglas
S. Luke, James A. Buzzard, Jane L. Warner, Richard A. Zimmerman, John A.
Luke, Jr., Robert C. McCormack, David E. McIntyre, Karen R. Osar and
Wendell L. Willkie, II. Collectively, as of November 30, 2000, the
directors and executive officers of Westvaco beneficially owned less than
1% of the outstanding shares of Westvaco's common stock (excluding shares
subject to options). Stockholders may obtain additional information
regarding the interests of such participants by reading the joint proxy
statement/prospectus.

Certain statements in this document and elsewhere by management of the
company that are neither reported financial results nor other historical
information are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such information
includes, without limitation, the business outlook, assessment of market
conditions, anticipated financial and operating results, strategies, future
plans, contingencies and contemplated transactions of the company. Such
forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are
subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which
may cause or contribute to actual results of company operations, or the
performance or achievements of each company, or industry results, to differ
materially from those expressed, or implied by the forward-looking
statements. In addition to any such risks, uncertainties and other factors
discussed elsewhere herein, risks, uncertainties and other factors that
could cause or contribute to actual results differing materially from those
expressed or implied for the forward-looking statements include, but are
not limited to, events or circumstances which affect the ability of Mead
and Westvaco to integrate successfully and achieve the anticipated benefits
of the transaction; competitive pricing for each company's products;
changes in raw materials; energy and other costs; fluctuations in demand
and changes in production capacities; changes to economic growth in the
U.S. and international economies, especially in Asia and Brazil; government
policies and regulations, including, but not limited to those affecting the
environment and the tobacco industry; and currency movements. Mead and
Westvaco undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking
statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise. Investors are advised, however, to consult any further
disclosures made on related subjects in each company's reports filed with
the SEC.


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