EXHIBIT 5
 
                                          May 4, 1998
 
PRIMEDIA Inc.
745 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10151
 
Dear Sirs:
 
    We have acted as counsel to PRIMEDIA Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), in connection with the preparation and filing by the Company with
the Securities and Exchange Commission of a Registration Statement on Form S-4
filed on the date hereof (as amended, the "Registration Statement") under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to (i) up to $250,000,000 in
aggregate principal amount of 7 5/8% Senior Notes due 2008 of the Company (the
"Notes") to be issued in exchange for the $250,000,000 aggregate principal
amount of the Company's outstanding 7 5/8% Senior Notes due 2008 (the "Old
Notes"), and the unconditional guarantees of such Notes (the "Guarantees") by
the subsidiaries of the Company listed on Schedule I hereto (the "Guarantors"),
(ii) up to 2,500,000 shares of $8.625 Series H Exchangeable Preferred Stock, par
value $.01 per share and liquidation value $100 per share, of the Company (the
"Preferred Stock") to be issued in exchange for the Company's $8.625 Series G
Exchangeable Preferred Stock (the "Old Preferred Stock"), and (iii) up to
$250,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of the Company's 8 5/8% Class H
Subordinated Debentures due 2010 (the "Subordinated Debentures") issuable, at
the Company's option, in exchange for the Preferred Stock, all as described in
the Registration Statement.
 
    The Notes will be issued under the Indenture dated as of February 17, 1998
(the "Note Indenture") among the Company, the Guarantors and The Bank of New
York, as Trustee (the "Note Trustee"), which has been filed as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement. The Preferred Stock will be issued pursuant to the
provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended, and
the certificate of designations for the Preferred Stock (the "Certificate of
Designations"), a form of which has been filed as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement. The Subordinated Debentures, if and when issued, will be issued under
an indenture (the "Subordinated Debenture Indenture") to be entered into between
the Company and The Bank of New York, as trustee (the "Subordinated Debenture
Trustee"), a form of which has been filed as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement.
 
    We have reviewed the corporate action of the Company and the Guarantors in
connection with the proposed issuance and exchange of the Notes for the Old
Notes (including the Guarantees thereof) and the Preferred Stock for the Old
Preferred Stock and have examined, and have relied as to matters of fact upon,
originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of
such corporate records, agreements, documents and other instruments and such
certificates or comparable documents of public officials and of officers and
representatives of the Company and the Guarantors, and have made such other and
further investigations, as we have deemed relevant and necessary as a basis for
the opinions hereinafter set forth.
 
    In such examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the
legal capacity of natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted
to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents
submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies, and the authenticity of the
originals of such latter documents.
 
    Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications and limitations
stated herein, we are of the opinion that:
 
        1. The Notes have been duly authorized by the Company and, upon due
    issuance and execution thereof by the Company, due authentication thereof by
    the Note Trustee and delivery of the Notes in exchange for the Old Notes in
    accordance with the terms of the prospectus included in the Registration
    Statement (the "Prospectus"), will constitute valid and legally binding
    obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance
    with their terms and entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.

        2. The Guarantees have been duly authorized by each Guarantor
    incorporated in the State of New York or the State of Delaware (each a "New
    York/Delaware Guarantor") and, assuming (i) due issuance and execution of
    the Guarantees by each New York/Delaware Guarantor, (ii) due authorization,
    issuance and execution of the Guarantees by each Guarantor other than the
    New York/Delaware Guarantors, (iii) due issuance and execution of the Notes
    by the Company, (iv) due authentication of the Notes by the Note Trustee and
    (v) delivery of the Notes in exchange for the Old Notes in accordance with
    the terms of the Prospectus, will constitute valid and legally binding
    obligations of each Guarantor, enforceable against each Guarantor in
    accordance with their terms and entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.
 
        3. The Preferred Stock has been duly authorized and, when the
    Certificate of Designations is filed with the Secretary of State of the
    State of Delaware in accordance with Section 103 of the Delaware General
    Corporation Law, and upon delivery of the Preferred Stock in exchange for
    the Old Preferred Stock in accordance with the terms of the Prospectus, will
    be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
 
        4. The Subordinated Debentures have been duly authorized and, upon due
    execution and delivery of the Subordinated Debenture Indenture by the
    Company and the Subordinated Debenture Trustee and due issuance and
    execution of the Subordinated Debentures by the Company, due authentication
    of the Subordinated Debentures by the Subordinated Debenture Trustee and
    delivery of the Subordinated Debentures against receipt of shares of
    Preferred Stock surrendered in exchange therefor in accordance with the
    terms of the Subordinated Debenture Indenture and the Certificate of
    Designations, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the
    Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms and
    entitled to the benefits of the Subordinated Debenture Indenture.
 
    Our opinions set forth in paragraphs 1, 2 and 4 above are subject to the
effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization,
moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights
generally, general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in
equity or at law) and an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.
 
    We are members of the Bar of the State of New York, and we do not express
any opinion herein concerning any law other than the law of the State of New
York and the Delaware General Corporation Law.
 
    We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the reference to this firm under the caption
"Legal Matters" in the Prospectus.
 
    This opinion letter is rendered to you in connection with the above
described transactions. This opinion letter may not be relied upon by you for
any other purpose, or relied upon by, or furnished to, any other person, firm or
corporation without our prior written consent.
 
                                          Very truly yours,
                                          /s/SIMPSON THACHER & BARTLETT
 
                                          SIMPSON THACHER & BARTLETT