Document:

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                                                                EXECUTION COPY

                                    SHAREHOLDER AGREEMENT dated as of November
                           17, 1999 (this "AGREEMENT"), among WRC Media Inc., a
                           Delaware corporation (the "RIPPLEWOOD SHAREHOLDER"),
                           PRIMEDIA Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "PRIMEDIA
                           SHAREHOLDER" and, together with the Ripplewood
                           Shareholder and their respective Transferees, the
                           "SHAREHOLDERS"), and Weekly Reader Corporation, a
                           Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY").

                  WHEREAS each Shareholder owns the number of shares of
Common Stock, par value $.01 per share ("COMPANY COMMON STOCK"), of the
Company set forth opposite such Shareholder's name on Schedule I attached
hereto.

                  NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements
herein contained, and other good and valuable consideration the receipt and
adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as
follows:

                                        ARTICLE I

                                  DEFINITIONS AND USAGE

                  SECTION 1.01.  DEFINED TERMS.  The following terms shall
have the following meanings:

                  "AFFILIATE" means, with respect to any specified Person,
any other Person that directly or indirectly, through one or more
intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with,
such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, "control" (including,
with correlative meanings, the terms "controlled by" and "under common
control with"), as used with respect to any Person, means the direct or
indirect possession of the power to direct or cause the direction of the
management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of
voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

                  "AGREEMENT" has the meaning set forth in the preamble to
this Agreement.

                  "BOARD OF DIRECTORS" means the Board of Directors of the
Company.

                  "COMPANY" has the meaning set forth in the
preamble to this Agreement.

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                  "COMPANY COMMON STOCK" has the meaning set forth
in the recitals to this Agreement.

                  "DGCL" means the Delaware General Corporation Law (Title 8
of the Delaware Code Annotated), as amended from time to time and any
successor statute thereto.

                  "DIRECT TRANSFER" means a Transfer (without giving effect
to the second sentence of the definition of "Transfer").

                  "DRAG-ALONG NOTICE" has the meaning set forth in Section
2.01(f).

                  "EAC III" means EAC III L.L.C., a Delaware limited
liability company, and the holder of a majority of the WRC Media Shares.

                  "INVOLUNTARY TRANSFER" means any Transfer by any
Shareholder of any Shares, or of any beneficial ownership thereof, upon
death, appointment of a guardian, default, foreclosure, forfeit, bankruptcy
(voluntary or involuntary), court order, levy of attachment, execution or
otherwise than voluntarily by the Transferor; PROVIDED that a Transfer
required pursuant to Section 2.01(f) or (h) shall not be deemed an
Involuntary Transfer.

                  "FAIR MARKET VALUE" means the fair market value of a Share,
determined in accordance with Section 2.01(g).

                  "PERMITTED TRANSFEREE" means, (i) with respect to the
Ripplewood Shareholder or EAC III, (A) an Affiliate of Ripplewood, (B) a
shareholder, partner, member or employee of Ripplewood or any Affiliate of
Ripplewood or (C) an employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries and
(ii) with respect to the PRIMEDIA Shareholder, any wholly owned subsidiary of
the PRIMEDIA Shareholder (it being understood that, in the event such
subsidiary ceases to be wholly owned by the PRIMEDIA Shareholder, any Shares
held by such subsidiary shall be deemed to have been Transferred).

                  "PERSON" means any individual, corporation, partnership,
trust, association, limited liability company, joint venture, joint-stock
company or any other entity or organization, including a government or
governmental agency.

                  "PRIMEDIA PLEDGE AGREEMENT" means the Security and Pledge
Agreement dated as of the date hereof, as amended, waived or modified from time
to time, between the PRIMEDIA Shareholder and Bank of America, N.A., as
Administrative Agent (the "AGENT"). The PRIMEDIA Pledge Agreement shall

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provide that, if at any time all or any portion of the Ripplewood
Shareholder's Shares (including any beneficial ownership thereof) which are
pledged pursuant to the Ripplewood Pledge Agreement shall be released from
such pledge (other than in connection with a Transfer of Shares Transferred
to a Transferee following which such shares are immediately pledged by such
Transferee pursuant to the Ripplewood Pledge Agreement) then the same
proportion of the PRIMEDIA Shareholder's Shares shall be released from its
pledge pursuant to the PRIMEDIA Pledge Agreement. The PRIMEDIA Pledge
Agreement shall also provide for (i) the release of all the PRIMEDIA
Shareholder's Shares on the third anniversary of this Agreement and (ii) the
release of all Shares upon the termination of this Agreement pursuant to
Section 4.10.

                  "REGISTRATION EXPENSES" means all (a) registration and
filing fees of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and any securities exchanges, (b)
fees and expenses of complying with state securities or blue sky laws
(including fees and disbursements of counsel for any underwriters in
connection with blue sky qualifications), (c) printing, messenger and
delivery expenses, (d) fees and expenses incurred in connection with the
listing of Shares on any securities exchange, (e) fees and disbursements of
counsel for the Company and of its independent public accountants and (f)
fees and expenses of any special experts retained in connection with a
registration.

                  "RIPPLEWOOD" means Ripplewood Partners, L.P.

                  "RIPPLEWOOD PLEDGE AGREEMENT" means the Security and Pledge
Agreement dated as of the date hereof, as amended, waived or modified from
time to time, among the Ripplewood Shareholder, certain other subsidiaries of
the Ripplewood Shareholder and the Agent.

                  "RIPPLEWOOD SHAREHOLDER" has the meaning set forth in the
preamble to this Agreement.

                  "SECURITIES ACT" means the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.

                  "SHARES" means the shares of Company Common
Stock held by a Shareholder.

                  "SHAREHOLDERS" has the meaning set forth in the
preamble to this Agreement.

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                  "TAG-ALONG NOTICE" has the meaning set forth in Section
2.01(e).

                  "THIRD PARTY PURCHASER" means, with respect to any proposed
sale of Shares by a Shareholder, a Person, other than an Affiliate of such
Shareholder, who offers to purchase from such Shareholder such Shares
pursuant to a bona fide written offer.

                  "TRANSFER" means any transfer, sale, conveyance,
assignment, gift, hypothecation, pledge or other disposition, whether
voluntary or by operation of law, of a Share. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
any transfer, sale, conveyance, assignment, gift, hypothecation, pledge or
other disposition, whether voluntary or by operation of law, of any stock,
partnership interest, membership interest or any other ownership interest in
any entity that is a direct or indirect beneficial or record owner of any
Share (including any disposition by means of a merger, consolidation or
similar transaction) or any other transaction that has the economic effect of
a Transfer of a Share (including the designation of any beneficiary of any
trust that is a direct or indirect beneficial or record owner of any Share)
shall be deemed to be a Transfer of such Share by the Shareholder directly
owning such Share.

                  "TRANSFEREE" means the transferee in a Transfer.

                  "TRANSFEROR" means the transferor in a Transfer.

                  "WRC MEDIA SHARES" means shares of common stock, par value
$.01 per share, of the Ripplewood Shareholder.

                  SECTION 1.02. OTHER DEFINITION PROVISIONS. Capitalized
terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the
Redemption, Stock Purchase and Recapitalization Agreement, dated as of August
13, 1999, between the Ripplewood Shareholder and the PRIMEDIA Shareholder
(the "Purchase Agreement"). Wherever required by the context of this
Agreement, the singular shall include the plural, and vice versa, and the
masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter genders, and vice
versa, and references to any agreement, document or instrument shall be
deemed to refer to such agreement, document or instrument as amended,
supplemented or modified from time to time. When used herein, (i) the word
"or" is not exclusive and (ii) the words "including," "includes," "included"
and "include" are deemed to be followed by the words "without limitation."

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                                     ARTICLE II

                          TRANSFERS OF SHARES; TRANSACTIONS
                   BETWEEN RIPPLEWOOD SHAREHOLDER AND THE COMPANY

                  SECTION 2.01. TRANSFERS OF THE COMPANY SHARES. (a)
GENERALLY. (i) No Shareholder may Transfer all or any portion of its Shares
(or any beneficial ownership thereof) unless (A) such Transfer is in
accordance with this Section 2.01, (B) in the case of a Direct Transfer
(other than pursuant to Section 2.01(e), (f), (g) or (j)), the Transferee
executes and delivers a counterpart of the signature page of this Agreement
(or other appropriate assumption agreement) and (C) except for a Transfer in
accordance with Section 2.01(e), (f), (g), (i) or (j), the Transferee
executes and delivers any other agreements, documents or instruments
reasonably specified by the Board of Directors. Any Transfer made in
violation of this Section 2.01(a) shall be null and void and shall be subject
to Section 2.01(d).

                  (ii) Whenever a Transfer (other than pursuant to Section
2.01(g)) is to be consummated by any Person on a specified date under this
Section 2.01, such Transfer shall take place at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time, on
such date (or, if such date is not a business day, the next following
business day) at the New York offices of Cravath, Swaine & Moore, or at such
other time, date and place as the Company and the parties to such Transfer
may agree. Except for a Transfer in accordance with Section 2.01(e), (f),
(g), (i) or (j), such Transfer shall only be effective following due
execution and delivery of the agreements, documents and instruments specified
in Section 2.01(a)(i)(B) and of such other agreements, documents and
instruments as the Board of Directors or the parties to such Transfer may
reasonably require.

                  (iii) Upon compliance with the requirements of Section
2.01(a), in the case of a Direct Transfer (other than pursuant to Section
2.01(e), (f), (g), (i) or (j)), each Transferee shall have all of the
economic rights, and shall be subject to the restrictions and liabilities, of
its Transferor hereunder. Immediately following any Direct Transfer in which
the Transferor has Transferred all of its Shares pursuant to this Section
2.01, such Transferor shall cease to be a Shareholder.

                  (b) TRANSFERS BY THE RIPPLEWOOD SHAREHOLDER. Subject to
Section 2.01(a) and, with respect to a Transfer to any Person other than a
Permitted Transferee of the Ripplewood Shareholder, Section 2.01(e), the
Ripplewood

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Shareholder (and its Permitted Transferees) shall have the right to Transfer
at any time all or any portion of its Shares (including any beneficial
ownership thereof) to any Person without the prior consent of any Person.

                  (c) TRANSFERS BY THE PRIMEDIA SHAREHOLDER. (i) Subject to
Section 2.01(a), the PRIMEDIA Shareholder (and its Permitted Transferees)
shall have the right to Transfer at any time all or any portion of its Shares
(including any beneficial ownership thereof) to any of its Permitted
Transferees without the prior consent of any Person.

                  (ii) The PRIMEDIA Shareholder (and its Permitted
Transferees) shall not have the right to Transfer all or any portion of its
Shares (including any beneficial ownership thereof) to any Person other than
the Ripplewood Shareholder or the Company except in accordance with Section
2.01(a) and (A) pursuant to Section 2.01(c)(i), (e), (f), (g), (i) or (j) or
Section 2.03 or (B) with the prior written consent of the Board of Directors
(which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld).

                  (d)  INVOLUNTARY AND IMPERMISSIBLE TRANSFERS. If an
Involuntary Transfer or a Transfer in violation of this Agreement shall occur
with respect to the PRIMEDIA Shareholder and, in the case of a Transfer in
violation of this Agreement, such violation has not been cured within 30 days
after notice to the applicable Transferor or Transferee, the Company shall
give notice to the Ripplewood Shareholder offering the Ripplewood Shareholder
the right, exercisable by delivery of written notice to such Transferee
within 90 days following the day on which such notice is given, to purchase
all of the Shares acquired by such Transferee at a purchase price equal to,
in the case of an Involuntary Transfer, 100% or, in the case of a Transfer in
violation of this Agreement, 90% of the Fair Market Value thereof, determined
in good faith by the Board of Directors as of the date of such Transfer (or,
if lower, as of the date of such determination).  The closing date of any
purchase described in this Section 2.01(d) shall be on the date specified by
the Company that shall not be later than the 30th day after a determination
of the Fair Market Value of the Shares to be purchased is made.

                  (e) TAG-ALONG RIGHTS. If the Ripplewood Shareholder desires
to Transfer all (or any portion in excess of 35%) of its Shares to a
prospective Transferee (or Transferees) other than (x) to the Agent in a
Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Ripplewood Pledge Agreement or
(y) to a Permitted Transferee of the Ripplewood Shareholder, the Ripplewood
Shareholder shall, as a condition

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to such Transfer, (i) provide a notice to the PRIMEDIA Shareholder in writing
(a "TAG-ALONG NOTICE") of the material terms of the proposed Transfer at
least 10 days prior to such Transfer and (ii) permit the PRIMEDIA Shareholder
(or cause the PRIMEDIA Shareholder to be permitted) to sell (either to the
prospective Transferee of the Ripplewood Shareholder's Shares or to another
financially reputable Transferee reasonably acceptable to the PRIMEDIA
Shareholder) the same proportion of its Shares on the same terms and
conditions, subject to the same agreements and at the same price as the sale
by the Ripplewood Shareholder, which sale shall take place on the date the
Ripplewood Shareholder's Shares (or such portion) are Transferred to such
Transferee (or Transferees). The PRIMEDIA Shareholder shall have five days
from the date of receipt of a Tag-Along Notice to exercise its right to sell
pursuant to clause (ii) above by delivering written notice to the Ripplewood
Shareholder of its intent to exercise such right. The right of the PRIMEDIA
Shareholder to sell pursuant to the above shall terminate if not exercised
within such five-day period; PROVIDED that if the terms and conditions of the
proposed transfer materially differ from those set forth in the Tag-Along
Notice then the Ripplewood Shareholder shall notify the PRIMEDIA Shareholder
of such change and such five-day period shall be extended for a further five
days from the date of such notification. If the PRIMEDIA Shareholder elects
to exercise its right to sell pursuant to this Section 2.01(e), it shall
share, on a pro rata basis, the legal, investment banking and other expenses
of the Ripplewood Shareholder incurred in connection with such Transfer.

                  (f) DRAG-ALONG RIGHTS. If at any time the Ripplewood
Shareholder desires to Transfer all (or any portion in excess of 35%) of its
Shares to any Third Party Purchaser (or Purchasers), the Ripplewood
Shareholder shall have the right to require that the PRIMEDIA Shareholder
Transfer the same proportion of its Shares to such Third Party Purchaser (or
Purchasers) on the same terms and conditions, subject to the same agreements
and at the same price as the sale by the Ripplewood Shareholder. The
Ripplewood Shareholder shall provide a notice to the PRIMEDIA Shareholder in
writing (a "DRAG-ALONG NOTICE") of such sale at least 10 days prior to such
Transfer, and the Drag-Along Notice shall identify such Third Party Purchaser
(or Purchasers), all material terms of the sale and the date of closing. Upon
the closing of any sale by the Ripplewood Shareholder of all (or such
portion) of its Shares as described in a Drag-Along Notice, such Third Party
Purchaser (or Purchasers) shall pay to the PRIMEDIA Shareholder the
consideration payable to the PRIMEDIA Shareholder in connection with such
sale of all (or such portion) of its

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Shares to such Purchaser (or Purchasers), net of the PRIMEDIA Shareholder's
proportionate share of the legal, investment banking and other expenses of
the Ripplewood Shareholder incurred in connection with such sale, and the
Shares (or such portion) of the PRIMEDIA Shareholder shall be deemed
Transferred to such Third Party Purchaser (or Purchasers).

                  (g) PIGGY-BACK REGISTRATION RIGHTS. If the Company proposes
to file a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to an
initial public offering by the Company that includes all or any portion of
the Ripplewood Shareholder's Shares, then the Company shall give written
notice of such proposed filing to the PRIMEDIA Shareholder at least 10 days
before the filing date, and such notice shall offer the PRIMEDIA Shareholder
the opportunity to register such number of Shares as the PRIMEDIA Shareholder
may request up to a proportionate amount of the PRIMEDIA Shareholder's
Shares. If such offer is accepted by written notice to the Company from the
PRIMEDIA Shareholder within 5 days of the giving of the written notice
provided for in the preceding sentence, the Company shall use its best
efforts to cause the managing underwriter or underwriters thereof to permit
the Shares the PRIMEDIA Shareholder requested to be included in such offering
to be included in such offering on the same terms and conditions as the
corresponding Shares of the Ripplewood Shareholder included therein; PROVIDED
that (i) if, at any time after giving written notice of its intention to
register any Shares and prior to the effective date of the registration
statement filed in connection with such registration, the Company shall
determine for any reason not to proceed with the proposed registration, the
Company may, at its election, give written notice of such determination to
the PRIMEDIA Shareholder and thereupon shall be relieved of its obligation to
register any Shares in connection with such registration and (ii) the
PRIMEDIA Shareholder must sell its Shares to underwriters who shall have been
selected by the Company on the same terms and conditions as apply to the
Ripplewood Shareholder. The PRIMEDIA Shareholder may elect in writing, prior
to the effective date of the registration statement filed in connection with
such registration, to withdraw its request and not to have its Shares
registered in connection with such registration. If the managing underwriter
or underwriters advise the Company in writing that, in their opinion, (i) the
number of Shares which the PRIMEDIA Shareholder intends to include in such
registration exceeds the largest number of such Shares which can be sold in
such offering without having an adverse effect on such offering (including,
but not limited to, the price at which such Shares can be sold) or (ii) the
inclusion of the Shares in such registration would have an adverse effect on
such offering, then the Company

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will include in such registration (A) first, 100% of the Shares proposed to
be sold by the Company and any other shareholder whose shares the Company is
obligated to include in such registration in priority to the Ripplewood
Shareholder and the PRIMEDIA Shareholder and (B) second, to the extent that
the number of Shares requested to be included in such registration can, in
the opinion of such managing underwriter, be sold without having the adverse
effect referred to above, the number of Shares which the Ripplewood
Shareholder and the PRIMEDIA Shareholder have requested to be included in
such registration, such amount to be allocated pro rata among the Ripplewood
Shareholder and the PRIMEDIA Shareholder on the basis of the relative number
of Shares the Ripplewood Shareholder and the PRIMEDIA Shareholder have
requested for registration. The Company may require the PRIMEDIA Shareholder
to furnish the Company with such information regarding the PRIMEDIA
Shareholder and pertinent to the disclosure requirements relating to the
registration and distribution of the PRIMEDIA Shareholder's Shares as the
Company may from time to time reasonably request in writing. The Company
shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection with registration of Shares
subject to this Section 2.01(g). The PRIMEDIA Shareholder shall pay all (x)
underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any, (y)
internal administrative and similar costs of the PRIMEDIA Shareholder and (z)
fees and disbursements of counsel for the PRIMEDIA Shareholder, in each case
relating to the registration, sale or disposition of the PRIMEDIA
Shareholder's Shares pursuant to a registration statement effected pursuant
to this Section 2.01(g).

                  (h) FAIR MARKET VALUE. In determining the "FAIR MARKET VALUE"
of any Shares (or any portion thereof) pursuant to this Section 2.01 or Section
2.03(b), the Board of Directors shall give due consideration to such factors as
it deems appropriate, including the earnings and certain other financial and
operating information of the Company and its subsidiaries in recent periods, its
potential value and that of its subsidiaries as a whole, its future prospects
and that of its subsidiaries and the industries in which they compete, its
history and management and that of its subsidiaries, the general condition of
the securities markets and the fair market value of securities of privately
owned companies (with transfer restrictions) engaged in businesses similar to
the Company and its subsidiaries. The Fair Market Value, as determined by the
Board of Directors in good faith shall be binding and conclusive upon all
parties hereto.

                  (i) TRANSFERS TO THE AGENT. Subject to Section 2.01(a), each
Shareholder shall have the right to Transfer at any time all or any portion of
its Shares to the

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Agent in accordance with the terms of the Ripplewood Pledge Agreement or the
PRIMEDIA Pledge Agreement, as applicable, without the prior consent of any
Person.

                  (j) REGISTRATION ON REQUEST. (1) REQUEST BY THE PRIMEDIA
SHAREHOLDER. At any time after 180 days following an initial public offering
by the Company, upon the written request of the PRIMEDIA Shareholder
requesting that the Company effect the registration under the Securities Act
of all or part of the PRIMEDIA Shareholder's Shares and specifying the amount
and intended method of disposition thereof, the Company will, as
expeditiously as possible, use its reasonable best efforts to effect the
registration under the Securities Act of such Shares which the Company has
been so requested to register by the PRIMEDIA Shareholder to the extent
necessary to permit the disposition (in accordance with the intended method
thereof as aforesaid) of the Shares so to be registered; PROVIDED that the
Company shall not be obligated to effect more than one registration of Shares
under this subsection (j); PROVIDED, FURTHER, that the Company shall not be
obligated to effect any registration under this subsection (j) unless the
PRIMEDIA Shareholder requests that the Company register all of the Shares
then held by it; and PROVIDED, FURTHER, that the Company shall not be
obligated to file a registration statement relating to any registration
request under this subsection (j) if, with respect thereto, the managing
underwriter, the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder, or
the form on which the registration statement is to be filed would require the
conduct of an audit other than the regular audit conducted by the Company at
the end of its fiscal year, in which case the filing may be delayed until the
completion of such regular audit.

                  (2) EXPENSES. The Company will pay all Registration
Expenses in connection with the registration of Shares pursuant to this
subsection (j).

                  (3) EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT. A registration
requested pursuant to this subsection (j) will not be deemed to have been
effected unless it has become effective; PROVIDED that if, within 180 days
after it has become effective, the offering of Shares pursuant to such
registration is interfered with by any stop order, injunction or other order
or requirement of any governmental agency or court, such registration will be
deemed not to have been effected.

                  (4) SELECTION OF UNDERWRITERS. If a requested registration
pursuant to this subsection (j) involves an underwritten offering, the
Company shall have the right to

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select the investment banker or bankers and managers to administer the
offering; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such investment banker or bankers and
managers shall be reasonably satisfactory to the PRIMEDIA Shareholder.

                  (5)  PRIORITY IN REQUESTED REGISTRATIONS.  If a requested
registration pursuant to this subsection (j) involves an underwritten
offering and the managing underwriter or underwriters advises the Company in
writing that, in its opinion, the number of Shares requested to be included
in such registration (including Shares to be issued by the Company and Shares
held by the Ripplewood Shareholder) exceeds the number which can be sold in
such offering without having an adverse effect on the offering, the Company
will include in such registration (A) first, 100% of the Shares proposed to
be sold by the PRIMEDIA Shareholder and (B) second, Shares of other Persons
in accordance with their registration rights to the extent, in the opinion of
such managing underwriter or underwriters, such Shares can be sold without
having the adverse effect referred to above.

                  SECTION 2.02. AFFILIATE TRANSACTIONS. Except for the
transactions contemplated by the management consulting and financial advisory
services agreement to be dated as of the date hereof between the Company and
Ripplewood Holdings L.L.C. (the "MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT"), attached hereto as
Exhibit I, unless otherwise agreed by the PRIMEDIA Shareholder in writing,
the Ripplewood Shareholder will not enter into any agreement or engage in any
business transaction with the Company or its subsidiaries after the date
hereof which is not entered into on an arm's length commercially reasonable
basis. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the PRIMEDIA Shareholder explicitly
agrees that the Ripplewood Shareholder may at any time, in its sole
discretion, undertake a reorganization completed in connection with an
initial public offering pursuant to which the Ripplewood Shareholder shall
transfer, or cause to be transferred, all or substantially all its assets
(including all the capital stock and debt securities of the Company held by
the Ripplewood Shareholder) to the Company in exchange for the assumption by
the Company of all or substantially all the liabilities of the Ripplewood
Shareholder, the issuance to the Ripplewood Shareholder by the Company of new
securities (including common and preferred stock of the Company), and, at the
option of the Ripplewood Shareholder, the distribution of (x) the Company's
preferred stock to the holders of the Ripplewood Shareholder's preferred
stock in exchange for the Ripplewood Shareholder's preferred stock and/or (y)
an equivalent number of shares of the new common stock of the Company to
certain holders of the Ripplewood Shareholder's

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common stock in exchange for the shares of the Ripplewood Shareholder's
common stock held by such holders.

                  SECTION 2.03 SALE OF WRC MEDIA SHARES. (a) If EAC III
desires to Transfer all (or any portion in excess of 35%) of its WRC Media
Shares to a prospective Transferee (or Transferees) other than to a Permitted
Transferee of EAC III, the provisions of Section 2.01(e) and (f) shall apply
to such Transfer in accordance with their terms, except that the percentage
of the PRIMEDIA Shareholder's shares that it has the right or obligation, as
the case may be, to sell and the price to be paid therefor shall be
determined in good faith by the Board of Directors on a basis that shall, as
nearly as reasonably practicable, provide the PRIMEDIA Shareholder economic
treatment comparable to that which it would have been provided under Section
2.01(e) or (f), as the case may be, in the event of Transfer of an
economically equivalent portion of the Shares.

                  (b) If an initial public offering of WRC Media Shares shall
occur, then the PRIMEDIA Shareholder shall have the right to, and the
Ripplewood Shareholder shall, exchange all or any portion of the PRIMEDIA
Shareholder's Shares for WRC Media Shares having an aggregate fair market
value equal to the aggregate Fair Market Value of the exchanged Shares.

                                       ARTICLE III

                               STOCK REGISTRATION; LEGEND

                  SECTION 3.01.  STOCK REGISTRATION.  (a)  Each Shareholder
hereby represents and warrants to the other Shareholder and the Company that
such Shareholder understands that the Company Common Stock has not been
registered under the Securities Act.

                  (b) Each Shareholder agrees that such Shareholder will not
offer, sell, transfer, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of any shares
of Company Common Stock except:

                  (i) pursuant to an exemption from registration under the
         Securities Act and in accordance with any applicable laws of any state
         of the United States governing the offer and sale of securities; or

                  (ii) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the
         Securities Act (it being understood that the Company, the other
         Shareholder and their Affiliates are under no obligation to effect such

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         registration except, in the case of the Company, pursuant to Section
         2.01(g)) and in accordance with any applicable state laws; or

                  (iii) pursuant to the Ripplewood Pledge Agreement
         or the PRIMEDIA Pledge Agreement, as applicable.

                  SECTION 3.02.  LEGEND.  Each Shareholder agrees that any
and all certificates representing such Shareholder's Shares will have
inscribed conspicuously on the front or back of such certificates the
following legend:  "THE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK, PAR VALUE $.01 PER SHARE, OF
WEEKLY READER CORPORATION REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO ONE
OR MORE AGREEMENTS AMONG SHAREHOLDERS OR AGREEMENTS BETWEEN SHAREHOLDERS AND
WEEKLY READER CORPORATION, AND MAY NOT BE SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED
EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE THEREWITH.  COPIES OF ANY SUCH AGREEMENT MAY BE OBTAINED
AT THE PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES OF WEEKLY READER CORPORATION."

                  SECTION 3.03  OTHER REGISTRATION-RELATED MATTERS.  In the
event of a registration of Shares of the PRIMEDIA Shareholder pursuant to
Section 2.01(g):

                  (a) the Company will furnish to the PRIMEDIA Shareholder such
         number of copies of the applicable registration statement and of each
         amendment or supplement thereto (in each case including all exhibits),
         such number of copies of the prospectus included in such registration
         statement (including each preliminary prospectus and summary
         prospectus), in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act,
         and such other documents as may reasonably be requested in order to
         facilitate the disposition of Shares by the PRIMEDIA Shareholder;

                  (b) the Company will notify the PRIMEDIA Shareholder at any
         time when a prospectus relating to its Shares is required to be
         delivered under the Securities Act promptly after the Company becomes
         aware that the prospectus included in such registration statement, as
         then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or
         omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
         necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of
         the circumstances then existing, and at the request of the PRIMEDIA
         Shareholder, prepare and furnish to the PRIMEDIA Shareholder a
         reasonable number of copies of an amended or supplemental prospectus as
         may be necessary so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of
         such Shares, such prospectus will not

<PAGE>

                                                                             14

         include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
         material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
         statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances
         then existing; and

                  (c) the Company will make available for inspection by the
         PRIMEDIA Shareholder and by any attorney, accountant or other agent
         retained by the PRIMEDIA Shareholder, all pertinent financial and other
         records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company,
         and cause all of the Company's officers, directors and employees to
         supply all information reasonably requested by the PRIMEDIA
         Shareholder, or any such attorney, accountant or agent in connection
         with such registration statement.

                  In the event of a registration of Shares of the PRIMEDIA
Shareholder pursuant to subsection 2.01(j):

                           (V) the Company will comply with clauses (a) through
         (c) above;

                           (W) the Company will prepare and, in any event within
         120 days after the date on which the PRIMEDIA Shareholder gives a
         request for registration to the Company, file with the Securities and
         Exchange Commission (the "SEC") a registration statement with respect
         to such Shares and use its reasonable best efforts to cause such
         registration statement to become effective;

                           (X) the Company will prepare and file with the SEC
         such amendments and supplements to such registration statement and the
         prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep
         such registration statement effective until the earlier of (i) such
         time as all of the Shares registered thereby have been disposed of in
         accordance with the intended method of distribution and (ii) 180 days
         after the date such registration statement became effective and to
         comply with the provisions of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and
         the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder with respect to the
         disposition of all Shares covered by such registration statement during
         such period in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by
         the seller or sellers thereof set forth in such registration statement;
         PROVIDED that before filing a registration statement or prospectus, or
         any amendments or supplements thereto, the Company will

<PAGE>

                                                                             15

         furnish to counsel for the PRIMEDIA Shareholder copies of all
         documents proposed to be filed;

                           (Y) use its reasonable best efforts to register or
         qualify the Shares covered by such registration in such jurisdictions
         as the PRIMEDIA Shareholder shall reasonably request, and do any and
         all other acts and things which may be reasonably necessary or
         advisable to enable the PRIMEDIA Shareholder to consummate the
         disposition in such jurisdictions of its Shares, except that the
         Company shall not for any such purpose be required to qualify generally
         to do business as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction where, but
         for the requirements of this clause (Y), it would not be obligated to
         be so qualified, to subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction
         or to consent to general service of process in any such jurisdiction;
         and

                           (Z) use its reasonable best efforts to cause the
         Shares covered by such registration statement to be registered with or
         approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be
         necessary to enable the PRIMEDIA Shareholder to consummate the
         disposition of its Shares;

                  SECTION 3.04 INDEMNIFICATION. (a) INDEMNIFICATION BY THE
COMPANY. In the event of any registration of any Shares of the PRIMEDIA
Shareholder under the Securities Act pursuant to Section 2.01(g), the Company
hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold harmless, to the extent permitted by
law, the PRIMEDIA Shareholder, each Affiliate of the PRIMEDIA Shareholder and
their respective directors and officers or general and limited partners and
members (and the directors, officers, affiliates and controlling Persons
thereof) and each other Person, if any, who controls the PRIMEDIA Shareholder
within the meaning of the Securities Act (collectively, the "Indemnified
Parties"), against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint
or several, and expenses to which such Indemnified Party may become subject
under the Securities Act, common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses,
claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof,
whether or not such Indemnified Party is a party thereto) arise out of or are
based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any
material fact contained in any registration statement under which such
securities were registered under the Securities Act or any preliminary, final
or summary prospectus contained therein, or any amendment or supplement
thereto, or (ii) any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading in

<PAGE>

                                                                             16

the light of the circumstances then existing, and the Company will reimburse
such Indemnified Party for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by
it in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim,
liability, action or proceeding; PROVIDED that the Company will not be liable
to any Indemnified Party in any such case to the extent that any such loss,
claim, damage, liability (or action or proceeding in respect thereof) or
expense arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission made in such registration
statement, in any such preliminary, final or summary prospectus, or any
amendment or supplement thereto in reliance upon and in conformity with
written information with respect to such Indemnified Party furnished to the
Company by such Indemnified Party for use in the preparation thereof. Such
indemnity will remain in full force and effect regardless of any
investigation made by or on behalf of the PRIMEDIA Shareholder or any
Indemnified Party and will survive the Transfer of such securities by the
PRIMEDIA Shareholder.

                  (b) INDEMNIFICATION BY THE HOLDERS AND UNDERWRITERS. The
Company may require, as a condition to including any Shares of the PRIMEDIA
Shareholder in any registration statement filed in accordance with Section
2.01(g), that the Company shall have received an undertaking reasonably
satisfactory to it from the PRIMEDIA Shareholder to indemnify and hold
harmless (in the same manner and to the same extent as set forth in Section
3.04(a)) the Company, all other shareholders participating in such offering
or any prospective underwriter, as the case may be, and any of their
respective Affiliates, directors, officers, general and limited partners and
members (and the directors, officers, affiliates and controlling Persons
thereof) and controlling Persons, with respect to any statement or alleged
statement in or omission or alleged omission from such registration
statement, any preliminary, final or summary prospectus contained therein, or
any amendment or supplement, if such statement or alleged statement or
omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with
written information with respect to the PRIMEDIA Shareholder furnished to the
Company by the PRIMEDIA Shareholder expressly for use in the preparation of
such registration statement, preliminary, final or summary prospectus or
amendment or supplement, or a document incorporated by reference into any of
the foregoing. Such indemnity will remain in full force and effect regardless
of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Company or any of the
shareholders, or any of their respective affiliates, directors, officers,
general and limited partners (and the directors, officers, affiliates and

<PAGE>

                                                                             17

controlling Persons thereof) or controlling Persons and will survive the
Transfer of such securities by the PRIMEDIA Shareholder.

                  (c) PROCEDURES. The procedures governing any
indemnification pursuant to this Section 3.04 shall be as set forth in
Sections 7.04 and 7.05 of the Purchase Agreement.

                  (d) CONTRIBUTION. If recovery is not available under the
foregoing indemnification provisions of this Section 3.04 for any reason
other than as expressly specified therein, the parties required to provide
indemnification by the terms thereof will contribute to liabilities and
expenses of the indemnified party except to the extent that contribution is
not permitted under Section 11(f) of the Securities Act. In determining the
amount of contribution to which the respective parties are entitled,
consideration will be given to the relative benefits received by each party
from the offering of the Shares (taking into account the portion of the
proceeds realized by each), the parties' relative knowledge and access to
information concerning the matter with respect to which the claim was
asserted, the opportunity to correct and prevent any misstatement or omission
and any other equitable considerations appropriate under the circumstances.

                  (e) NON-EXCLUSIVITY. The obligations of the parties under this
Section 3.04 will be in addition to any liability which any party may otherwise
have to any other party.

                                       ARTICLE IV

                                MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

                  SECTION 4.01. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement sets forth
the entire understanding among the parties relating to the subject matter
contained herein and merges all prior discussions among them. This Agreement
is not intended to confer upon any person other than the parties hereto any
rights or remedies hereunder.

                  SECTION 4.02. AMENDMENTS. This Agreement may not be amended
except by an instrument in writing signed by each of the parties hereto.

                  SECTION 4.03. NOTICES. All notices and other communications
required or permitted by this Agreement shall be made in writing and any such
notice or communication shall be deemed delivered when delivered in person,
transmitted by telecopier, confirmation of transmission received, or one

<PAGE>

                                                                             18

business day after it has been sent by a nationally recognized overnight
courier, at the address or addresses for notices to the recipient designated
on Schedule II. Each Shareholder may from time to time change its address for
notices under this Section 4.03 by giving at least five days' notice of such
changed address to the other Shareholder.

                  SECTION 4.04.  INTERPRETATION.  When a reference is made in
this Agreement to Sections, such reference shall be to a Section to this
Agreement unless otherwise indicated.  The headings contained in this
Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the
meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

                  SECTION 4.05. SEVERABILITY. If any one or more of the
provisions contained in this Agreement or in any document executed in
connection herewith shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect
under any applicable law, the validity, legality and enforceability of the
remaining provisions contained herein shall not in any way be affected or
impaired; PROVIDED that in such case the parties hereto shall endeavor to
amend or modify this Agreement to achieve to the extent reasonably
practicable the purpose of the invalid provision.

                  SECTION 4.06. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement and all actions
contemplated hereby shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in
accordance with, the internal laws of the State of New York, except to the
extent that the provisions of the DGCL may be mandatorily applicable.

                  SECTION 4.07.  COUNTERPARTS.  This Agreement may be
executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one
and the same agreement.

                  SECTION 4.08. ASSIGNMENT. Except pursuant to Section
2.01(a), neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or
obligations under this Agreement shall be assigned, in whole or in part by
the Ripplewood Shareholder without the prior written consent of the PRIMEDIA
Shareholder or by the PRIMEDIA Shareholder without the prior written consent
of the Ripplewood Shareholder, and any purported assignment without such
consent shall be void. Subject to the preceding sentences, this Agreement
will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by the
parties and their respective successors and assigns.

                  SECTION 4.09. SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE. The parties hereby
declare that irreparable damage would occur as a result of the failure of any
party hereto to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement in
accordance with the

<PAGE>

                                                                             19

specific terms hereof. Therefore, all parties hereto shall have the right to
specific performance of the obligations of the other parties under this
Agreement and if any party hereto shall institute any action or proceeding to
enforce the provisions hereof, any Person against whom such action or
proceeding is brought hereby waives the claim or defense therein that such
party has an adequate remedy at law. The right to specific performance should
be in addition to any other remedy to which a party hereto may be entitled at
law or in equity.

                  SECTION 4.10. TERMINATION. This Agreement shall
automatically terminate upon the closing of an initial public offering of
shares of Company Common Stock or WRC Media Shares, except for the provisions
of Section 2.01(j), which shall terminate 180 days after a registration
deemed to have been effected pursuant to Section 2.01(j)(3) has become
effective.

<PAGE>

                                                                              20

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Agreement to be executed as of the date first above written.

                                                     WRC MEDIA INC.,

                                                     by  /s/ Charles Laurey
                                                       -------------------------
                                                        Name: /s/Charles Laurey
                                                        Title: Secretary

                                                     PRIMEDIA INC.,

                                                     by
                                                       -------------------------
                                                        Name:
                                                        Title:

                                                     WEEKLY READER CORPORATION,

                                                     by
                                                       -------------------------
                                                        Name:
                                                        Title:

<PAGE>

                                                                              21

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Agreement to be executed as of the date first above written.

                                                     WRC MEDIA INC.,

                                                     by
                                                       ------------------------
                                                        Name:
                                                        Title:

                                                     PRIMEDIA INC.,

                                                     by /s/Beverly C. Chell
                                                       ------------------------
                                                        Name:  Beverly C Chell
                                                        Title: Vice Chairman

                                                     WEEKLY READER CORPORATION,

                                                     by /s/ Beverly C. Chell
                                                       ------------------------
                                                        Name:  Beverly C Chell
                                                        Title: Vice Chairman

<PAGE>

                                      SCHEDULE I

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                          SHARES OF COMPANY
SHAREHOLDER                                                                 COMMON STOCK
<S>                                                                       <C>

WRC Media Inc.                                                                2,685,670
PRIMEDIA Inc.                                                                  144,330

</TABLE>

<PAGE>

                                                SCHEDULE II

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

SHAREHOLDER                                  ADDRESS
<C>                                          <S>
WRC Media Inc.                               c/o Ripplewood Holdings L.L.C.
                                             One Rockefeller Plaza, 32nd Floor
                                             New York, New York 10020

                                             Attn:  Mr. Timothy C. Collins
                                                    Mr. Charles L. Laurey
                                             Phone: (212) 218-2719
                                             Fax:   (212) 582-4110

                                             with a copy to:

                                             Cravath, Swaine & Moore
                                             Worldwide Plaza
                                             825 Eighth Avenue
                                             New York, New York  10019

                                             Attn:  Peter S. Wilson, Esq.
                                             Phone: (212) 474-1767
                                             Fax:   (212) 765-0978

PRIMEDIA Inc.                                745 Fifth Avenue
                                             New York, NY 10151

                                             Attn:  Mr. Mark Colodny
                                             Phone (212) 745-0100
                                             Fax:  (212) 745-0645

                                             with a copy to:

                                             745 Fifth Avenue
                                             New York, NY 10151

                                             Attn:  Ann M. Riposanu, Esq.
                                             Phone: (212) 745-0100
                                             Fax:   (212) 745-0131

</TABLE><PAGE>

                                                                              1

                                   This EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is
                          made and entered into as of the 17th day of November,
                          1999, among WRC MEDIA INC. (formerly named EAC II
                          INC.), a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), EAC
                          III L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company
                          ("EAC III"), JLC LEARNING CORPORATION, a Delaware
                          corporation ("JLC") and MARTIN E. KENNEY, JR., an
                          individual resident of the State of Pennsylvania (the
                          "Executive").

                  WHEREAS the Company wishes to employ Executive, and
Executive wishes to accept such employment, on the following terms and
conditions, effective as of the Closing Date (as defined in the Redemption,
Stock Purchase and Recapitalization Agreement dated as of August 13, 1999, as
amended, among PRIMEDIA Inc. a Delaware corporation and the Company (the
"Recapitalization Agreement"));

                  WHEREAS immediately after the Closing (as defined in the
Recapitalization Agreement), the Company will have four primary operating
subsidiaries: JLC Learning Corporation, The Weekly Reader Corporation,
American Guidance Services and World Almanac Reference.

                  NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants
contained herein and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereby
agree as follows:

                  SECTION 1.  EMPLOYMENT.  The Company hereby employs
Executive and Executive accepts employment by the Company, on the terms and
conditions contained in this Agreement.

                  SECTION 2. TERM. The employment of Executive pursuant
hereto shall commence on the Closing Date and shall remain in effect until
December 31, 2002, unless terminated by Executive upon 90 days prior written
notice to the Company or by the Company upon 90 days prior written notice to
Executive. The period of time between the Closing and the termination of this
Agreement pursuant to its terms is herein referred to as the "Term".

                  SECTION 3. DUTIES AND EXTENT OF SERVICE. Executive shall
serve the Company as Chief Executive Officer or in such other position as may
be mutually agreed upon by Executive and the Company and shall perform such
services and duties for the Company as are customarily performed by an
executive in Executive's position at a business such as the Company's
business and as the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board of
Directors") may assign or delegate to him from time to time as provided in
the By-laws of the Company. Executive shall devote his full business
knowledge, skill, time and effort exclusively to the performance of his
duties for the Company and the promotion of its interests. Executive's duties
hereunder shall be performed at such place or places as the interests, needs,
businesses or opportunities of the Company shall require. Executive shall
report to the Board of Directors of the Company.

                  SECTION 4. BASE SALARY. Executive shall be paid a base
salary (the "Base Salary") at a rate of $480,000 per annum (the "Initial
Salary") subject to annual review; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Executive's
Base Salary shall not be reduced below the Initial Salary.

                  SECTION 5.  ANNUAL BONUS.  Executive shall receive an
annual bonus ("Bonus") of up to 156% of Base Salary, based on the achievement
of specific objectives to be established

<PAGE>

                                                                               2

by the Board of Directors on an annual basis in connection with the
development of the Company's annual operating budget for earnings before
interest, depreciation, taxes and amortization and after deductions for any
annual bonus payments payable by the Company. The Bonus in respect of 1999
only will be tied to the 1999 Business Plan of JLC as previously adopted.
Executive shall receive a guaranteed bonus of $200,000 (the "Guaranteed
Bonus"). For achievement of 100%, 110%, 120%, 130%, 140% and 150% of budget,
an additional Bonus of $150,000, $175,000, $250,000, $375,000, $500,000 and
$650,000, respectively, will be paid to Executive. For subsequent years, it
is expected that the Bonus will be tied to the Company's annual operating
budget. All bonuses, except the Guaranteed Bonus, will be pro-rated for
partial year employment, if applicable. In addition, a transaction fee in the
amount of $375,000 will be paid to Executive by the Company upon Closing.

                  SECTION 6. FRINGE BENEFITS. Executive shall be entitled to
participate, to the extent eligible, in such medical, dental, disability, life
insurance, deferred compensation and other benefit plans (such as pension and
profit sharing plans) as the Company shall maintain for the benefit of employees
generally, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in such plans.

                  SECTION 7. EXPENSES. The Company shall reimburse Executive
promptly for all reasonable expenses incurred by Executive in accordance with
the Company's budget and policy in connection with his duties and
responsibilities hereunder, including, without limitation, expenses associated
with any relocation.

                  SECTION 8. EQUITY INVESTMENT. On the Closing Date Executive
will purchase a minimum of 16,128 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per
share ("Common Stock") of the Company at a price of $18.60065 per share in cash
(the "Per Share Purchase Price"). Executive will enter into a shareholder
agreement containing customary terms and granting an irrevocable proxy to EAC
III to vote Executive's shares of Common Stock.

                  SECTION 9.  STOCK OPTIONS.  (a) BASE STOCK OPTIONS.  Upon
the Closing, the Company shall grant Executive a nonqualified option to
purchase shares of Common Stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing
$3.6 million by $18.60065, rounded downward to the next lowest whole number
of shares, at an exercise price of $18.60065 per share.  Such option shall
vest 33% on the Closing Date, 33% on December 31, 2000 and the final 34% on
December 31, 2001; provided that such option shall terminate in its entirety
in the event that Executive's employment hereunder is terminated by the
Company for "Good Cause" (as defined in Section 13) and Executive shall have
no rights with respect to any portion thereof, whether or not vested.  If
Executive's employment hereunder is terminated by the Company for any reason
other than "Good Cause" or by Executive for any reason then the foregoing
vesting schedule shall apply.

                  If a Change of Control (as defined below) occurs, the
option shall be deemed to have fully vested as of the date of such Change of
Control. "CHANGE OF CONTROL" shall mean the acquisition of direct or indirect
Control (as defined below) of the Company by any Person (other than EAC III,
SGC Partners II LLC ("SGC") or any of their Affiliates (as defined below)) or
group other than any group including EAC III or SGC or any of their
Affiliates. "Affiliate" means, with respect to any specified Person, any
other Person that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries,
Controls, is Controlled by, or is under common Control with, such specified
Person. For purposes of this Section 9(a), "Control" (including, with
correlative meanings, the terms "Controlled by" and "under common Control
with"), as used with respect to any Person, means the direct or indirect
possession of the power to direct or cause the direction

<PAGE>

                                                                               3

of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership
of voting securities, by contract or otherwise. "Person" means any
individual, corporation, partnership, trust, association, limited liability
company, joint venture, joint-stock company or any other entity or
organization, including a government or governmental agency.

                  (b) BONUS STOCK OPTIONS. For achievement of 95%, 100%, 105%
and 110%, respectively, of the Company's EBITDA budget for 2000, the Company
shall grant Executive an additional nonqualified option to purchase shares of
Common Stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing $100,000, $200,000,
$300,000 or $400,000, respectively, by $18.60065, rounded downward to the
next lowest whole number of shares, at an exercise price of $18.60065 per
share. Such option shall be fully vested at the time granted.

                  (c) IPO STOCK OPTIONS. In the event of an initial public
offering of the Common Stock, Executive shall participate in a public company
stock option plan commensurate with industry standards and the nature of the
Company's ownership and capital structure as of the closing of such offering.

                  (d) EXERCISE OF STOCK OPTIONS. The Executive may exercise
the vested portion of options granted pursuant to Sections 9(a) and (b) by
notifying the Company of the number of shares of Common Stock to be purchased
under such option and delivering with such notice an amount equal to the
aggregate exercise price for such number of shares in cash. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, Executive may notify the Company that Executive desires to
make a cashless exercise of such option with respect to a specified number of
shares of Common Stock, in which case such option shall be deemed exercised
with respect to such specified number of shares but Executive shall only be
entitled to receive a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the product
of (A) such specified number multiplied by (B) the quotient of (1) the
aggregate Fair Market Value of such specified number of shares of Common
Stock (determined as of the date the Company receives such notice in
accordance with Section 14(b)) minus the aggregate exercise price for such
specified number of shares divided by (2) such aggregate Fair Market Value.

                  (e) TRANSFER, ADJUSTMENT OF STOCK OPTIONS. The options
granted hereby shall not be transferable or assignable by Executive,
otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and no such
option shall be subject to execution, attachment or other similar process. In
no event shall any such option be exercisable on or after the tenth
anniversary of the Closing. In the event of changes in the outstanding Common
Stock by reason of stock dividends, stock splits, reverse stock splits,
recapitalizations, reorganizations, mergers, consolidations, combinations or
other changes in capitalization occurring after the Closing, the number of
shares and exercise price under such option shall be equitably adjusted by
the Board of Directors of the Company. Any amount payable under such option
shall be subject to applicable withholding taxes.

                  SECTION 10.  Deliberately Omitted

                  SECTION 11.  NONCOMPETE AND NONSOLICITATION

                  During the Term and for two years thereafter, Executive
shall not directly or indirectly (other than as an employee of or consultant
to the Company):

                  (a) engage in activities or businesses within the United
States which are substantially in competition with the Company ("COMPETITIVE
ACTIVITIES"), including (i) selling

<PAGE>

                                                                               4

goods or services of the type sold by the Company or any of its subsidiaries;
(ii) soliciting or attempting to solicit any customer or client or
prospective customer or client of the Company (or any of its subsidiaries)
including, without limitation, actively sought prospective customers or
clients, to purchase any goods or services of the type sold by the Company or
any of its subsidiaries from anyone other than the Company or any of its
subsidiaries; and (iii) assisting any person in any way to do, or attempt to
do, anything prohibited by (i) or (ii) above;

                  (b) perform any action, activity or course of conduct which
is substantially detrimental to the business or business reputation of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries ("DETRIMENTAL ACTIVITIES"), including (i)
soliciting, recruiting or hiring any employees of the Company or persons who
have worked for Ripplewood Partners, L.P. ("Ripplewood"), the Company or any
of their respective affiliates; (ii) soliciting or encouraging any employee
of Ripplewood, the Company or any of their respective affiliates to leave the
employment of Ripplewood, the Company or any of their respective affiliates;
(iii) intentionally interfering with the relationship of Ripplewood, the
Company or any of their affiliates with any person or entity who or which is
employed by or otherwise engaged to perform services for Ripplewood, the
Company or any such affiliate; and (iv) disclosing or furnishing to anyone
any confidential information relating to Ripplewood, the Company or any of
their respective affiliates or otherwise using such confidential information
for its own benefit or the benefit of any other person; or

                  (c)  establish in the United States any new business which
engages in Competitive Activities.

                  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this
Agreement, the foregoing covenant shall not be deemed breached as a result of
the ownership by Executive of: (i) less than an aggregate of 5% of any class
of stock of a person engaged, directly or indirectly, in Competitive
Activities; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such stock is listed on a national
securities exchange or is quoted on the National Market System of NASDAQ;
(ii) less than an aggregate of 10% in value of any instrument of indebtedness
of a person engaged, directly or indirectly, in Competitive Activities; or
(iii) stock or other debt or equity interests in the Company, or the
participation by Executive in the activities and business conducted by the
Company or any of its subsidiaries; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that, for the lesser
of a period of two years from the Closing or so long as Executive owns stock
or other debt or equity interests in the Company or participates in the
activities or business conducted by the Company or any of its subsidiaries,
Executive shall not engage in any Competitive Activities except to the extent
Executive engages in such Competitive Activities as of the date hereof.

                  If a judicial determination is made that any of the
provisions of this Section 11 constitutes an unreasonable or otherwise
unenforceable restriction against Executive, the provisions of this Section
II shall be rendered void only to the extent that such judicial determination
finds such provisions to be unreasonable or otherwise unenforceable.
Moreover, notwithstanding the fact that any provisions of this Section 11 is
determined not to be specifically enforceable, the Company shall nevertheless
be entitled to recover monetary damages as a result of Executive's breach of
such provision.

                  Executive agrees that the provisions of this Section 11 are
reasonable and properly required for the adequate protection of the business
and the goodwill of the Company.

                  SECTION 12. NONDISCLOSURE. The parties hereto agree that
during the course of his employment by the Company, Executive will have
access to, and will gain knowledge with

<PAGE>

                                                                               5

respect to, the Company's Confidential Information (as defined below). The
parties acknowledge that unauthorized disclosure or misuse of such
Confidential Information would cause irreparable damage to the Company and
its subsidiaries. Accordingly, Executive agrees to the nondisclosure
covenants in this Section 12. Executive represents that his experience and
capabilities are such that the provisions of Section 11 and this Section 12
will not prevent him from earning his livelihood. Executive agrees that he
shall not (except as may be required by law), without the prior written
consent of the Company during his employment with the Company under this
Agreement, and any extension or renewal hereof, and thereafter for so long as
it remains Confidential Information, use or disclose, or knowingly permit any
unauthorized person to use, disclose or gain access to, any Confidential
Information; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that Executive may disclose Confidential
Information to a person to whom disclosure is reasonably necessary or
appropriate in connection with the performance by Executive of his duties
under this Agreement. Upon termination of this Agreement for any reason,
Executive shall return to the Company the original and all copies of all
documents and correspondence in his possession relating to the business of
the Company or any of its affiliates, including but not limited to all
Confidential Information, and shall not be entitled to any lien or right of
retention in respect thereof.

                  For purposes of this Agreement, "Confidential Information"
shall mean all business information (whether or not in written form) which
relates to the Company, any of its affiliates or their respective businesses
or products and which is not known to the public generally, including but not
limited to technical information or reports; trade secrets; unwritten
knowledge and "know-how"; operating instructions; training manuals; customer
lists; customer buying records and habits; product sales records and
documents, and product development, marketing and sales strategies; market
surveys; marketing plans; profitability analyses; product cost; long-range
plans; information relating to pricing, competitive strategies and new
product development; information relating to any forms of compensation and
other personnel-related information; contracts; and supplier lists.
Confidential Information shall not include such information known to
Executive prior to his involvement with Ripplewood.

                  SECTION 13. SEVERANCE. If Executive's employment hereunder
is terminated (1) upon a breach by the Company of this Agreement; (2) by the
Company for any reason other than for "Good Cause" (as defined below), or (3)
by the Company as a result of the occurrence of the death or total disability
of Executive (total disability meaning the failure of Executive to perform
his normal required services hereunder for a period of three consecutive
months during the term hereof by reason of Executive's mental or physical
disability, as determined by an independent physician reasonably satisfactory
to Executive and the Company) the Company shall pay to Executive as severance
pay a lump sum cash payment in the amount of his Base Salary and Guaranteed
Bonus (in each case prorated for any portion of a year less than a full year)
for the longer of (i) the balance of the Term of this agreement and (ii)
eighteen months. Payment of such severance pay will be made within thirty
(30) days of such termination. Executive shall have the option of receiving
the severance pay specified in the preceding sentence in the form of salary
continuation payments for 18 months (the "Severance Period"). In the event
that Executive elects to receive severance pay in the form of salary
continuation payments, Executive shall continue to receive medical, dental,
and vision coverage for the Severance Period subject to employee's payment of
the costs of such benefits to the extent such benefits are paid for by active
employees. For purposes of this Agreement, termination for "GOOD CAUSE" shall
exist upon the occurrence of any of the following: (i) Executive is convicted
of, pleads guilty to, confesses to, or enters a plea of nolo contendere to,
any felony or any crime that involves moral turpitude or any act of fraud,
misappropriation or embezzlement; (ii) Executive has wilfully engaged in a
fraudulent act to the damage or prejudice of the Company or any affiliate of
the Company; (iii) any act or omission by Executive involving

<PAGE>

                                                                               6

malfeasance or gross negligence in the performance of Executive's duties to
the Company; or (iv) Executive otherwise wilfully fails to comply in any
material respect with the terms of this Agreement or deviates in any material
respect from any reasonable written policies or reasonable directives of the
Board of Directors and, within 30 days after written notice from the Company
of such failure or deviation, Executive has not corrected such failure.

                  SECTION 14. OPTIONS TO PURCHASE AND SELL COMMON STOCK.
(a)(i) If Executive's employment is terminated for any reason, the Company
shall have an option to purchase all or any portion of Executive's shares of
Common Stock (including any shares obtained or obtainable through the
exercise of any option) at a purchase price equal to the Fair Market Value
(as defined below), determined in accordance with Section 14(b) as of the
date of such termination. The Company shall within 90 days of such date of
termination give notice in writing to Executive of its election to exercise
or not to exercise such option, which notice shall set forth the portion, if
any, of Executive's shares of Common Stock that the Company elects to
purchase. The purchase of Executive's shares of Common Stock shall take place
at the principal office of Ripplewood, currently located at One Rockefeller
Plaza, New York, New York, on the date specified by the Company (not later
than the later of the twentieth business day following the receipt by
Executive of the required notice from the Company and the satisfaction of any
legal requirements to the purchase of Executive's shares of Common Stock).
The consideration for the purchase of Executive's shares of Common Stock
shall be paid by delivery to Executive of a certified or bank check made
payable to Executive or by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a
bank account designated by Executive, against delivery of certificates or
other instruments representing Executive's shares of Common Stock so
purchased, appropriately endorsed by Executive, free and clear of all
security interests, liens, claims, encumbrances, charges, options,
restrictions on transfer, proxies and voting and other agreements of whatever
nature. The Company may assign its rights under this Section 14 to any person.

                  (ii) If Executive's employment is terminated by the Company
for other than Good Cause, Executive shall have an option to sell to the
Company all or any portion of Executive's shares of Common Stock purchased on
the Closing Date pursuant to Section 8 (but not shares acquired at a later
date through the exercise of options or otherwise) then held by Executive at
a purchase price equal to the Fair Market Value of such shares, determined in
accordance with Section 14(b) as of the date of such termination; PROVIDED,
that to the extent that the Board of Directors of the Company reasonably
determines that such purchase, if made, would (x) cause the Company to be or
remain in default under any agreements with lenders or financing sources,
despite commercially reasonable efforts by the Company to obtain consents or
amendments necessary to permit such purchase, or (y) conflict with the terms
(including with respect to priority of payment) of the 15% Senior
Exchangeable Preferred Stock Due 2011, par value $0.01 per share, of the
Company, the Company shall be relieved of its obligations to make such
purchase under this Section 14(a)(ii) while and to the extent such conditions
continue to exist. Executive shall within 90 days of such date of termination
give notice in writing to the Company of his election to exercise or not to
exercise such option, which notice shall set forth the portion, if any, of
Executive's shares of Common Stock that Executive elects to sell. The sale of
Executive's shares of Common Stock shall take place at the principal office
of Ripplewood, currently located at One Rockefeller Plaza, New York, New
York, on the date specified by Executive (not later than the later of the
twentieth business day following the receipt by the Company of the required
notice from Executive and the satisfaction of any legal requirements to the
sale of Executive's shares of Common Stock). The consideration for the sale
of Executive's shares of Common Stock shall be paid by delivery to Executive
of a certified or bank check made payable to Executive or by wire transfer of
immediately available funds to a bank account designated by Executive,
against delivery of certificates or other instruments representing

<PAGE>

                                                                             7

Executive's shares of Common Stock so purchased, appropriately endorsed by
Executive, free and clear of all security interests, liens, claims,
encumbrances, charges, options, restrictions on transfer, proxies and voting
and other agreements of whatever nature.

                  (b)(i) If a determination of the Fair Market Value of any
shares of Common Stock is required by this Agreement when there is no public
trading market for shares of Common Stock, such "Fair Market Value" shall be
such amount as is determined in good faith by the Company's Board of
Directors as of the date such Fair Market Value is required to be determined
hereunder. In making a determination of such Fair Market Value, the Company's
Board of Directors shall give due consideration to such factors as it deems
appropriate, including, without limitation, the earnings and certain other
financial and operating information of the Company and its subsidiaries in
recent periods, its potential value and that of its subsidiaries as a whole,
its future prospects and that of its subsidiaries and the industries in which
they compete, its history and management and that of its subsidiaries, the
general condition of the securities markets and the fair market value of
securities of privately owned companies (with transfer restrictions) engaged
in businesses similar to those of the Company's, if any. The Fair Market
Value as determined in good faith by the Company's Board of Directors shall
be binding and conclusive upon Executive.

                  (ii) If a determination of the Fair Market Value of any
shares of Common Stock is required by this Agreement when there is a public
trading market for shares of Common Stock, such "Fair Market Value" shall
mean the average daily closing sales price of shares of Common Stock for the
ten consecutive trading days preceding the date the Fair Market Value is
required to be determined hereunder. The closing price for each day shall be
the last reported sales price regular way or, in case no such reported sale
takes place on such day, the average of the reported closing bid and asked
prices regular way, in either case on the principal national securities
exchange on which shares of Common Stock are listed and admitted to trading,
or, if not listed and admitted to trading on any such exchange, on the NASDAQ
National Market System, or, if not quoted on the National Market System, the
average of the closing bid and asked prices in the over-the-counter market as
furnished by any New York Stock Exchange member firm selected from time to
time by the Company's Board of Directors for that purpose.

                  SECTION 15. TERMINATION; SURVIVAL. This Agreement shall
terminate upon the earlier of (x) the termination of the Recapitalization
Agreement pursuant to its terms; or (y) the termination of Executive's
employment by the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Sections 11, 12, 14
and 16 and, if Executive's employment terminates in a manner giving rise to a
payment under Section 13, Section 13 shall survive the termination of this
Agreement.

                  SECTION 16. MISCELLANEOUS. (a) This Agreement shall inure
to the benefit of and shall be binding upon Executive and his executor,
administrator, heirs, personal representative and permitted assigns, and the
Company and its successors and permitted assigns; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that
Executive shall not be entitled to assign or delegate any of his rights or
obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Company.

                  (b) This Agreement shall be deemed to be made in, and in
all respects shall be interpreted, construed and governed by and in
accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the
conflicts of law principles of such State. No provision of this Agreement or
any related document shall be construed against or interpreted to the
disadvantage of any party hereto by any court or other governmental or
judicial authority by reason of such party having or being deemed to have
structured or drafted such provision.

<PAGE>

                                                                               8

                  (c) This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between
the Company and Executive with respect to Executive's employment by the
Company after the Closing Date, and, effective as of the Closing Date,
supersedes all prior agreements, if any, whether written or oral, between
them, relating to Executive's employment by the Company or any of its
subsidiaries, including, without limitation, the Employment Agreement between
Executive and JLC dated as of July 14, 1999 the ("JLC Employment Agreement").
All prior agreements between the Company or any of its subsidiaries and
Executive with respect to Executive's employment by the Company or any of its
subsidiaries, including those agreements set forth on Schedule II attached
hereto, shall terminate and be without further force or effect as of the
Closing. Executive hereby releases the Company its subsidiaries and its
affiliates from any claims or rights under such agreements, without any
liability or other adverse consequence to the Company, its affiliates or its
subsidiaries. The JLC hereby releases Executive from any claims or rights
under such agreements, without any liability or other adverse consequence to
Executive.

                  (d) All notices or other communications required or
permitted by this Agreement shall be made in writing and any such notice or
communication shall be deemed delivered when delivered in person, transmitted
by telecopier, or one business day after it has been sent by a nationally
recognized overnight courier, at the address for notices as follows:

                           (i)      if to the Company,

                                    WRC Media Inc.
                                    c/o Ripplewood Holdings L.L.C.
                                    One Rockefeller Plaza
                                    32nd Floor
                                    New York, New York 10020
                                    Attention:  Mr. Timothy C. Collins
                                                Mr. Charles L. Laurey
                                    Facsimile: (212) 582-4110

                           (ii)     if to Executive,

                                    Mr. Martin E. Kenney, Jr.
                                    West Greenlawn Road
                                    Paoli, PA 19301
                                    Facsimile: (610) 993-8798

Communications by telecopier also shall be sent concurrently by overnight
courier, but shall in any event be effective as stated above. Each party may
from time to time change its address for notices under this Section 16(d) by
giving at least five days' notice of such changed address to the other
parties hereto.

                  (e) This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement,
and shall become effective when one or more of the counterparts have been
signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other parties, it being
understood that all parties need not sign the same counterpart.

                  (f) The headings contained in this Agreement are for
reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.

<PAGE>

                                                                               9

                  (g) No failure or delay by Executive or the Company in
exercising any right or power hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof,
nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any
abandonment of any steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other
or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power.
Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be waived, amended or
modified except pursuant to an agreement in writing entered into by Executive
and the Company.

                  (h) Any controversy, dispute or claim arising out of, in
connection with, or in relation to the interpretation, performance,
non-performance, validity or breach of this Agreement or otherwise arising
out of, or in any way related to, this Agreement shall be determined, at the
request of any party, by arbitration conducted in New York City, before and
in accordance with the then-existing Rules for Commercial Arbitration of the
American Arbitration Association, and any judgment or award rendered by the
arbitrator shall be final, binding and unappealable, and any judgment may be
entered by any state or Federal court having jurisdiction thereof. In its
award the arbitrator shall allocate, in its discretion, among the parties to
the arbitration all costs of the arbitration, including the fees and expenses
of the arbitrator and reasonable attorneys' fees, costs and expert witness
expenses of the parties.

                  (i) All amounts paid hereunder will be net of any
applicable withholdings required by existing or future tax laws.

<PAGE>

                                                                              10
                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

                                                              WRC MEDIA INC.,

                                          by /s/ Charles Laurey
                                            ------------------------
                                            Name:  Charles Laurey
                                            Title: Secretary

                                            ------------------------
                                            Martin E. Kenney

EAC III L.L.C. hereby agrees to the
provisions of Section 8 and Section 9

EAC III L.L.C.,

by RIPPLEWOOD PARTNERS, L.P.,
   its Sole Member,

by RIPPLEWOOD HOLDINGS L.L.C.,
   its General Partner,

     by /s/ Robert Lynch
       ---------------------------
         Name:  Robert Lynch
         Title: Treasurer

JLC Learning Corporation
hereby agrees to the provisions of
Section 16(c)

JLC LEARNING CORPORATION

     by /s/ Charles Laurey
       ---------------------------
         Name:  Charles Laurey
         Title: Secretary

<PAGE>

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

                                          WRC MEDIA INC.,

                                          by
                                            ------------------------
                                            Name:
                                            Title:

                                             /s/ Martin E. Kenney Jr.
                                            ------------------------
                                            Martin E. Kenney

EAC III L.L.C. hereby agrees to the
provisions of Section 8 and Section 9

EAC III L.L.C.,

by RIPPLEWOOD PARTNERS, L.P.,
   its Sole Member,

by RIPPLEWOOD HOLDINGS L.L.C.,
   its General Partner,

     by
       --------------------------
         Name:
         Title:

JLC Learning Corporation
hereby agrees to the provisions of
Section 16(c)

JLC LEARNING CORPORATION

     by
       -------------------------
         Name:
         Title:

<PAGE>

                                      This Agreement is made as of November   ,
                                 1999, between WRC Media Inc., a Delaware
                                 corporation ("the Company"), and Martin E.
                                 Kenney, Jr., an individual resident of the
                                 State of Pennsylvania (the "Executive").

     Pursuant to the terms of the Employment Agreement, dated as ofthe date
hereof, among the Company, EAC III L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability
company, JLC Learning Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and Executive,
(i) Executive is purchasing 16,128 shares of Common Stock, par $18.60065 per
share in cash for an aggregate purchase price of $300,000 (the "Purchase
Price") and (ii) the Company is paying to Executive a transaction fee (the
"Transaction Fee") of $375,000.

     Executive and the Company hereby agree that the Purchase Price shall be
deducted from the Transaction Fee so that, upon the transfer of $75,000 from
the Company to Executive, the Executive shall have paid the Purchase Price in
full and the Company shall have paid the Transaction Fee in full.

                                       WRC MEDIA INC.,

                                       by
                                           ---------------------------------
                                           Name:
                                           Title:

                                           /s/ Martin E. Kenney, Jr.
                                           --------------------------------
                                           Martin E. Kenney, Jr.

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