DAYTON, Ohio. April 26, 2001 -- The Mead Corporation's Board of Directors has declared a regular quarterly dividend of 17 cents per common share. The payment of the dividend will be made on June 1, 2001, to shareowners of record May 7, 2001. The Mead Corporation, a forest products company with approximately $4.4 billion in annual sales in 2000, is one of the leading North American producers of coated paper, coated paperboard and consumer and office products, a world leader in multiple packaging and specialty paper, and a producer of high-quality corrugating medium. In management of the company's more than two million acres of forests, Mead is committed to practicing principled forest stewardship and using resources in a responsible and sustainable manner. For additional information about Mead, visit the company's website at www.mead.com.