<PAGE>   1

================================================================================


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION


                              WASHINGTON D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

[X]      QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
         EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


                For the Quarterly Period Ended September 29, 1997


                                       OR


[ ]      TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
         EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


                         Commission file number 1-11112



                         AMERICAN MEDIA OPERATIONS, INC.
           ----------------------------------------------------------
           (EXACT NAME OF THE REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)


               Delaware                               59-2094424
     (State or other jurisdiction of                 (IRS Employee
     incorporation or organization)                 Identification No.)


        600 East Coast Avenue, Lantana, Florida        33464-0002
        (Address of principal executive offices)       (Zip Code)


        Registrant's telephone number, including area code (561) 540-1000

American Media, Inc. (1) HAS FILED all reports required to be filed by Section
13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12
months, and (2) HAS BEEN subject to such filing requirements for the past 90
days.

   As of November 7, 1997 there were 7,507 shares of common stock outstanding.


================================================================================


<PAGE>   2



                AMERICAN MEDIA OPERATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                                INDEX TO FORM 10Q
                               SEPTEMBER 29, 1997



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                               PAGES(S)
                                                                                               --------
                          PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

<S>                                                                                            <C>
Item 1. Financial Statements -

Consolidated Balance Sheets .....................................................................  3
Consolidated Statements of Income ...............................................................  4
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows ...........................................................  5
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements ...................................................... 6-7

Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
        Condition and Results of Operations.................................... ................. 8-10

                          PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K ........................................................ 11

Signature........................................................................................ 12


</TABLE>



                                       2
<PAGE>   3



                AMERICAN MEDIA OPERATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                           CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                      AS OF SEPTEMBER 29 AND MARCH 31, 1997
                    (IN 000'S, EXCEPT PER SHARE INFORMATION)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                      SEPTEMBER 29          MARCH 31
                                                                                      ------------          ---------
                                                                                       (Unaudited)
<S>                                                                                     <C>                 <C>      
                                     ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
  Cash and cash equivalents                                                             $   7,227           $   8,230
  Receivables, net                                                                          5,672               8,191
  Inventories                                                                              11,304              13,391
  Prepaid expenses and other                                                                3,362               2,626
                                                                                        ---------           ---------
      Total current assets                                                                 27,565              32,438
                                                                                        ---------           ---------
DUE FROM PARENT COMPANY                                                                        --               1,048
                                                                                        ---------           ---------
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, at cost:
  Land and buildings                                                                        4,039               4,039
  Machinery, fixtures and equipment                                                        17,408              16,159
  Display racks                                                                            18,429              18,854
                                                                                        ---------           ---------
                                                                                           39,876              39,052
  Less - accumulated depreciation                                                         (16,002)            (14,819)
                                                                                        ---------           ---------
                                                                                           23,874              24,233
                                                                                        ---------           ---------
DEFERRED DEBT COSTS, net                                                                    9,630              11,011
                                                                                        ---------           ---------
GOODWILL, net of accumulated amortization of $118,862 and $111,285                        486,389             493,966
                                                                                        ---------           ---------
OTHER INTANGIBLES, net of accumulated amortization of $42,806 and $39,846                 105,194             108,154
                                                                                        ---------           ---------
                                                                                        $ 652,652           $ 670,850
                                                                                        =========           =========
                     LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY

CURRENT LIABILITIES:
  Current portion of term loan                                                          $  47,341           $  43,355
  10.09% Zero Coupon Notes Due 1997                                                            --              15,772
  Accounts payable                                                                         13,940              14,167
  Accrued expenses                                                                         17,915              18,119
  Due to Parent Company                                                                     2,199                  --
  Accrued interest                                                                         12,501              10,037
  Accrued and current deferred income taxes                                                10,046              11,022
  Deferred revenues                                                                        27,751              32,348
                                                                                        ---------           ---------
      Total current liabilities                                                           131,693             144,820
                                                                                        ---------           ---------

LONG TERM DEBT:
  Term Loan and Revolving Credit Commitment, net of current portion                       257,731             269,401
  11.63% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2004                                               200,000             200,000
  10.38% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2002                                                   134                 134
                                                                                        ---------           ---------
                                                                                          457,865             469,535
                                                                                        ---------           ---------
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES                                                                       7,725               8,038
                                                                                        ---------           ---------
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (NOTE 6)

STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY:
  Common stock, $.20 par value; 7,507 shares issued and outstanding                             2                   2
  Additional paid-in capital                                                               26,039              26,039
  Retained earnings                                                                        29,328              22,416
                                                                                        ---------           ---------
TOTAL STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY                                                                 55,369              48,457
                                                                                        ---------           ---------
                                                                                        $ 652,652           $ 670,850
                                                                                        =========           =========

</TABLE>

       The accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements are an
              integral part of these consolidated balance sheets.


                                       3
<PAGE>   4

                AMERICAN MEDIA OPERATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                   UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                    (IN 000'S, EXCEPT PER SHARE INFORMATION)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   FISCAL QUARTER ENDED              TWO FISCAL QUARTERS ENDED
                                                            --------------------------------     --------------------------------
                                                            SEPTEMBER 29,       SEPTEMBER 30,    SEPTEMBER 29,      SEPTEMBER 30,
                                                                1997                1996             1997               1996
                                                            -------------       ------------     -------------      -------------
<S>                                                           <C>                 <C>             <C>                 <C>      
                                                                                                  (26 Weeks)          (27 Weeks)
OPERATING REVENUES:
  Circulation                                                 $  68,236           $  67,717       $ 139,269           $ 136,840
  Advertising                                                     5,832               6,018          11,969              13,077
  Other                                                           5,541               4,382          10,487               8,049
                                                              ---------           ---------       ---------           ---------
                                                                 79,609              78,117         161,725             157,966
                                                              ---------           ---------       ---------           ---------
OPERATING EXPENSES:
  Editorial                                                       7,870               6,688          15,747              13,714
  Production                                                     20,798              19,770          41,806              42,398
  Distribution, circulation and other cost of sales              16,128              14,121          33,181              28,918
  Selling, general and administrative expenses                    6,284               7,817          13,221              14,660
  Television advertising                                            235                 323             703                 729
  Depreciation and amortization                                   7,489               7,183          14,939              14,376
                                                              ---------           ---------       ---------           ---------
                                                                 58,804              55,902         119,597             114,795
                                                              ---------           ---------       ---------           ---------

  Operating income                                               20,805              22,215          42,128              43,171

INTEREST EXPENSE                                                (12,712)            (14,029)        (25,734)            (29,204)
OTHER EXPENSE, net                                                 (561)               (577)           (859)             (1,008)
                                                              ---------           ---------       ---------           ---------
  Income before provision for income taxes                        7,532               7,609          15,535              12,959

PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES                                        4,170               4,330           8,623               7,844
                                                              ---------           ---------       ---------           ---------
    Net income                                                $   3,362           $   3,279       $   6,912           $   5,115
                                                              =========           =========       =========           =========

</TABLE>

 
         The accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements are an
                integral part of these consolidated statements.



                                       4
<PAGE>   5



                AMERICAN MEDIA OPERATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                 UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
   FOR THE TWO FISCAL QUARTERS ENDED SEPTEMBER 29, 1997 AND SEPTEMBER 30, 1996
                                   (IN 000'S)


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            SEPTEMBER 29, 1997   SEPTEMBER 30, 1996
                                                                            ------------------   ------------------
                                                                                 (26 Weeks)          (27 Weeks)
<S>                                                                              <C>                <C>     
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
  Net income                                                                     $  6,912             $  5,115
                                                                                 --------             --------
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided
from operating activities -
    Depreciation and amortization                                                  14,939               14,376
    Deferred debt cost amortization                                                 1,381                1,602
    Senior subordinated discount note accretion                                       190                  746
    Decrease (increase) in -
        Receivables, net                                                            3,567               (2,862)
        Inventories                                                                 2,087                3,157
        Prepaid expenses and other                                                   (736)               1,379
    Increase (decrease) in -
        Accounts payable                                                            1,972               (5,987)
        Accrued expenses                                                            2,260                2,971
        Accrued and current deferred income taxes                                  (1,289)               1,089
        Deferred revenues                                                          (4,597)              (4,466)
                                                                                 --------             --------
          Total adjustments                                                        19,774               12,005
                                                                                 --------             --------
        Net cash provided from operating activities                                26,686               17,120
                                                                                 --------             --------
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
    Capital expenditures                                                           (4,043)              (3,581)
    Acquisition of business                                                            --               (2,237)
                                                                                 --------             --------
        Net cash used in investing activities                                      (4,043)              (5,818)
                                                                                 --------             --------
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
    Term loan and revolving credit commitment principal repayments                (73,684)             (40,060)
    Proceeds from revolving credit commitment                                      66,000               30,000
    Repayment of senior subordinated indebtedness                                 (15,962)                  --
                                                                                 --------             --------
        Net cash used in financing activities                                     (23,646)             (10,060)
                                                                                 --------             --------

Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents                               (1,003)               1,242
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period                                    8,230                4,643
                                                                                 --------             --------
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period                                       $  7,227             $  5,885
                                                                                 ========             ========

Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information:
  Cash paid during the period for -
    Income taxes                                                                 $  9,636             $  5,429
    Interest                                                                       21,699               25,307


</TABLE>


          The accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements are an
                integral part of these consolidated statements.


                                       5
<PAGE>   6


                AMERICAN MEDIA OPERATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                               SEPTEMBER 29, 1997
                          (000'S OMITTED IN ALL TABLES)
                                   (UNAUDITED)

(1)  BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared
in accordance with generally accepted financial principles for interim financial
information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q. Except as disclosed herein,
there has been no material change in the information disclosed in the notes to
consolidated financial statements included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of
American Media Operations, Inc. (together with its wholly-owned subsidiaries,
the "Company") for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1997. In the opinion of
management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation have
been included. Operating results for the fiscal periods ended September 29, 1997
are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the
fiscal year ending March 30, 1998.

The two fiscal quarters ended September 29, 1997 includes 26 weeks as compared
to 27 weeks in the same prior year fiscal period which ended September 30, 1996.

(2) ACCOUNTING FOR DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

On occasion the Company enters into interest rate swap agreements and purchases
interest rate caps to reduce the interest rate exposure associated with a
portion of its variable rate indebtedness. The Company does not utilize
derivative financial instruments for trading or other speculative purposes. The
accounting policy for these derivative financial instruments, which are
designated as hedges of its interest rate risk, follows -

- Interest rate swap - Interest rate swap agreements modify the interest
characteristics of the Company's variable rate indebtedness by synthetically
converting a portion of the indebtedness to fixed rate. Interest earned
(payable) under the interest rate swap is credited (charged) to interest expense
using the accrual method. The related accrued receivable or payable is included
in accounts receivable or accrued interest payable. The fair market value of the
swap agreement is not reflected in the financial statements.

- Interest rate cap - Interest rate caps are used to limit the maximum rate
should interest rates rise. The cost of the interest rate cap is amortized to
interest expense using the straight-line method over the life of the cap.
Amounts receivable under the interest rate cap are credited against interest
expense using the accrual method. The unamortized cost of the interest rate cap
is included in deferred debt costs.

Derivative financial instruments terminated at a gain (loss) prior to maturity
are credited (charged) to interest expense over the remaining original life of
the derivative financial instrument.

(3) INVENTORIES

Inventories are generally stated at the lower of cost or market. The Company
uses the last-in, first-out (LIFO) cost method of valuing its inventories. If
the first-in, first-out (FIFO) cost method of valuation, which approximates
market value, had been used, inventories would have been approximately $369,000
and $810,000 lower, due to recent declines in paper costs, than the amounts
reported in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets for September 29 and
March 31, 1997, respectively. Paper inventory is stated in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles at LIFO cost as the use of such
inventory would result in normal historical gross margins. Inventories are
comprised of the following:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                     September 29       March 31
                                                     ------------       --------
<S>                                                     <C>              <C>    
Raw materials - paper                                   $ 7,267          $ 9,477
Finished product - paper, production
  and distribution costs of future issues                 4,037            3,914
                                                        -------          -------
                                                        $11,304          $13,391
                                                        =======          =======
</TABLE>

                                       6
<PAGE>   7


(4) INCOME TAXES

The Company files a consolidated Federal income tax return with its parent
company, American Media, Inc., and calculates its income taxes on a separate
return basis. Income taxes have been provided based upon the Company's
anticipated annual income tax rate.

(5) CREDIT AGREEMENT

As of September 29, 1997 the Company had $305.1 million in loans outstanding
with its bank syndicate led by The Chase Manhattan Corporation, as agent bank,
(the "Credit Agreement"). As of September 29, 1997, borrowings of $20 million
were outstanding under the Credit Agreement's $75 million revolving credit
commitment.

As of September 29, 1997 the Company's effective interest rate on borrowings
under the Credit Agreement was 7.8%. The effective rate for borrowings under the
Credit Agreement averaged 7.8% for the fiscal quarter ended September 29, 1997
as compared to 8.0% on borrowings for the fiscal quarter ended September 30,
1996. For the two fiscal quarters ended September 29, 1997, the effective rate
was 7.8% as compared to 7.9% for the same prior year period.

(6) LITIGATION

Various suits and claims arising in the ordinary course of business have been
instituted against the Company. The Company has various insurance policies
available to recover potential legal costs incurred by it. The Company
periodically evaluates and assesses the risks and uncertainties associated with
litigation independent from those associated with its potential claim for
recovery from third party insurance carriers. At present, in the opinion of
management, after consultation with legal counsel, the liability resulting from
litigation, if any, will not have a material effect on the Company's
consolidated financial statements.





                                       7
<PAGE>   8


ITEM 2.  MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
         FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

At September 29, 1997, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $7.2 million
compared to $8.2 million at March 31, 1997. The Company's primary sources of
liquidity are cash generated from operations, amounts available under the
Company's revolving credit commitment.

As of September 29, 1997, the Company had a working capital deficit of $104.1
million. The Company does not consider its working capital deficit as a true
measure of its liquidity position as its working capital needs are met by the
large amounts of cash generated by its business as well as amounts available
under the Credit Agreement's $75 million revolving credit commitment. A
substantial portion of the Company's cash is used to service its indebtedness,
including the payment of principal and interest. Temporary shortfalls in
available cash are covered by borrowings under the revolving credit commitment
which are reflected as long-term liabilities.

Management believes that cash provided by operations will be adequate to meet
its operating liquidity requirements, including all required payments of
principal and interest and is not aware of any commitment which would require
unusual amounts of cash or which would change or otherwise restrict the
Company's currently available capital resources. In addition, the Company does
not intend to pay any cash dividends on its common stock in the foreseeable
future. As of September 29, 1997, $55.0 million was available under the Credit
Agreement's revolving credit commitment.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

FISCAL QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 29, 1997 VS FISCAL QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,
1996. Total revenues were $79,609,000 for the current fiscal quarter, an
increase of $1,492,000 or 1.9% over the comparable prior year quarter.

Circulation revenues (which includes all single copy and subscription sales) of
$68,236,000 increased $519,000 or 0.8%. Single copy revenues generated by SOAP
OPERA NEWS, launched in March 1997, were offset by declines in single copy
circulation revenues of certain of the Company's other publications, primarily
STAR, and resulted in a decrease of $570,000. Declines in single copy unit sales
of 2.7% and 10.0% for NATIONAL ENQUIRER and STAR, respectively, were offset in
part by July 1996, $.10 cover price increases. Management believes the decline
in average weekly single copy unit sales for STAR, which is more celebrity
focused than NATIONAL ENQUIRER, is due to the increased attention given
celebrity news by all forms of media. In addition, management believes that STAR
and NATIONAL ENQUIRER single copy unit sales were negatively impacted as a
result of distribution problems and adverse publicity arising after the death of
Princess Diana. It is unknown what impact these matters may have on future
circulation, if any. Although SOAP OPERA MAGAZINE and COUNTRY WEEKLY average
weekly single copy unit sales declined 18.1% and increased 1.9%, respectively,
higher subscription unit sales resulted in a total average weekly unit sales
decrease of 1.4% for SOAP OPERA MAGAZINE and an increase of 11.1% for COUNTRY
WEEKLY. Management believes the decline in SOAP OPERA MAGAZINE single copy unit
sales was due, in part, to increased subscription unit sales (up 87.5%) and to
competition from other newsstand publications covering soap opera programming. A
WEEKLY WORLD NEWS cover price increase helped to reduce the impact on
circulation revenues of a 16.1% decline in single copy unit sales.

Subscription revenues, which represent approximately 15% of total circulation
revenues, increased $1,089,000 or 11.4% due largely to increases in average
weekly subscription unit sales of 87.5%, 23.0% and 6.7% for SOAP OPERA MAGAZINE,
COUNTRY WEEKLY and NATIONAL ENQUIRER, respectively. The Company continues to
promote discounted subscriptions for its magazines as a means of generating
future full-price subscription renewals. Subscription revenues generated by STAR
and WEEKLY WORLD NEWS were flat.

Advertising revenues of $5,832,000 declined $186,000 or 3.1% reflecting,
primarily, lower levels of national advertising in STAR offset partially by
higher national advertising revenues generated by COUNTRY WEEKLY. National
advertising has been adversely affected primarily by the loss of tobacco related
product advertising. Management believes that the tobacco industry, as a whole,
has curtailed its print media based advertising because of a lack of clear
legislative guidelines that will address the future of tobacco products
advertising in the United States. Until this issue is resolved, the Company's
tobacco related advertising revenues may continue to be adversely affected.


                                       8
<PAGE>   9

Advertising revenues were also negatively impacted by reductions in the average
revenue per page generated by direct mail order and classified advertising in
the current period.

Other revenues of $5,541,000 increased $1,159,000 or 26.4% primarily from
revenues generated by Frontline Marketing, Inc. ("Frontline"). Frontline,
acquired in September 1996, sells in-store advertising to various product
manufacturers and service providers. In addition, another subsidiary,
Distribution Services, Inc. ("DSI"), continues to expand the marketing,
merchandising and information gathering services it provides to various clients.

Operating expenses increased by $2,902,000 or 5.2% reflecting the expenses
associated with both SOAP OPERA NEWS and Frontline which were not included in
the comparable prior year period together with higher expenses associated with
subscription fulfillment and DSI's expanded marketing, merchandising and
information gathering services. Excluding production costs associated with SOAP
OPERA NEWS, overall production costs declined reflecting the benefit of lower
paper costs for all of the Company's publications.

Operating income was $20,805,000 a decrease of $1,410,000 primarily as a result
of the operating losses generated by SOAP OPERA NEWS totalling approximately
$1,723,000.

Interest expense decreased $1,317,000 to $12,712,000 from $14,029,000 reflecting
decreases in the average balance of outstanding indebtedness in the current
fiscal quarter.

The Company's effective income tax rates were 55.4% and 56.9% of income before
income taxes for the fiscal quarters ended September 29, 1997 and September 30,
1996, respectively, as compared to the federal statutory income tax rate of 35%.
The higher effective tax rates result primarily from goodwill amortization which
is not deductible for income tax reporting purposes.

TWO FISCAL QUARTERS ENDED SEPTEMBER 29, 1997 VS TWO FISCAL QUARTERS ENDED
SEPTEMBER 30, 1996. Total revenues were $161,725,000 for the current two fiscal
quarters an increase of $3,759,000 or 2.4% from the same prior year period. The
current two fiscal quarters includes 26 weeks as compared to 27 weeks in the
same prior year period.

Circulation revenues (which includes all single copy and subscription sales) of
$139,269,000 increased $2,429,000 or 1.8%. On an equivalent number of weeks
basis, current period single copy circulation revenues increased by
approximately $5,564,000 or 5.0% reflecting single copy revenue generated by
SOAP OPERA NEWS, which was not included in the prior year period, as well as
higher revenues from NATIONAL ENQUIRER as a result of both a July 1996 $.10
cover price increase and a slight increase in average weekly unit sales. These
additional revenues were partially offset by a decline in STAR'S average weekly
single copy unit sales of 8.3%. Management believes the decline in average
weekly single copy unit sales for STAR, which is more celebrity focused than
NATIONAL ENQUIRER, is due to the increased attention given celebrity news by all
forms of media. In addition, management believes that STAR and NATIONAL ENQUIRER
single copy unit sales were negatively impacted as a result of distribution
problems and adverse publicity arising after the death of Princess Diana. It is
unknown what impact these matters may have on future circulation, if any.
Although SOAP OPERA MAGAZINE'S weekly single copy unit sales declined 12.1%,
higher subscription unit sales resulted in a total average weekly unit sales
increase of 2.9%. Management believes the decline in SOAP OPERA MAGAZINE single
copy unit sales was due, in part, to increased subscription unit sales (up
78.7%) and to competition from other newsstand publications covering soap opera
programming. COUNTRY WEEKLY single copy unit sales remained flat however,
including higher subscription unit sales, total average weekly unit sales
increased by 16.4%. A WEEKLY WORLD NEWS cover price increase helped to reduce
the impact on circulation revenues of a 11.5% decline in single copy unit sales.

Subscription revenues increased $1,185,000 or 5.9%. Expressed on an equivalent
number of weeks basis, subscription revenues increased by approximately
$1,934,000 or 9.9% due largely to increases in average weekly subscription unit
sales of 78.7% and 38.6% for SOAP OPERA MAGAZINE and COUNTRY WEEKLY,
respectively. Subscription revenues generated by the Company's other
publications were flat.

Advertising revenues of $11,969,000 declined $1,108,000 or 8.5%. On an
equivalent number of weeks basis, advertising revenues decreased by
approximately $624,000 or 5.0% reflecting, primarily, lower levels of national
advertising in STAR offset partially by higher national advertising revenues
generated by COUNTRY WEEKLY. National advertising has been adversely affected
primarily by the loss of tobacco related product advertising. Management
believes that the tobacco industry, as a whole, has curtailed its print media
based advertising because of a lack of clear legislative guidelines that will
address the future of tobacco products advertising in the United States. Until
this issue is resolved, the Company's tobacco related advertising revenues may
continue to be adversely affected. 


                                       9
<PAGE>   10

Advertising revenues were also negatively impacted by reductions in the average
revenue per page generated by direct mail order and classsified advertising in
the current year period.

Other revenues of $10,487,000 increased $2,438,000 or 30.3% reflecting revenues
generated by Frontline and, to a lesser extent, DSI.

Operating expenses on an equivalent number of weeks basis (before deducting
depreciation and amortization) increased by $7,958,000 or 8.2% reflecting the
expenses associated with both SOAP OPERA NEWS and Frontline which were not
included in the comparable prior year period together with higher expenses
associated with subscription fulfillment and DSI's expanded marketing,
merchandising and information gathering services. Excluding production costs
associated with SOAP OPERA NEWS, on an equivalent number of issues basis overall
production costs declined reflecting the benefit of lower paper costs for all of
the Company's publications.

Operating income was $42,128,000 a decrease of $1,043,000 resulting from both
the operating losses generated by SOAP OPERA NEWS totalling approximately
$3,769,000 and one fewer week included in the current year period.

Interest expense decreased $3,470,000 to $25,734,000 from $29,204,000 reflecting
the effect of one fewer week's interest and decreases in the average balance of
outstanding indebtedness in the current fiscal period.

The Company's effective income tax rates were 55.5% and 60.5% of income before
income taxes for the two fiscal quarters ended September 29, 1997 and September
30, 1996, respectively, as compared to the federal statutory income tax rate of
35%. The higher effective tax rates result primarily from goodwill amortization
which is not deductible for income tax reporting purposes

INFORMATION RELATED TO FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain matters discussed in this Form 10-Q may include forward-looking
statements which reflect the Company's views with respect to future events and
financial performance. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain
risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially
from both historical or anticipated results and readers are cautioned not to
place undue reliance upon them. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly
update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise. Factors that, among others, could cause
actual results to differ materially from historical results or those anticipated
include: 1) market conditions for the Company's publications 2) competition 3)
market prices for the paper used in printing the Company's publications 4) the
Company's ability to develop new publications and services and 5) changes in
economic climate, including interest rate risk.




                                       10
<PAGE>   11


PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 6.  EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

         27 Financial Data Schedule (for SEC use only).

During the fiscal quarter ended September 29, 1997, the Company filed no reports
on Form 8-K.







                                       11
<PAGE>   12





                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed by the
undersigned, thereto duly authorized.

                                              AMERICAN MEDIA OPERATIONS, INC.
                                              -------------------------------
                                              Registrant

Date: November 7, 1997                        By /s/ RICHARD W. PICKERT
                                                 -------------------------
                                                 Richard W. Pickert
                                                 Senior Vice President
                                                 Chief Financial Officer





                                       12